BRITISH STANDARD BS EN ISO

10545-10:1997

Ceramic tiles —
Part 10: Determination of moisture
expansion

The European Standard EN ISO 10545-10:1997 has the status of a

British Standard

ICS 91.100.20
BS EN ISO 10545-10:1997

Committees responsible for this

British Standard

The preparation of this British Standard was entrusted to Technical

Committee B/539, Ceramic tiles and other rigid tiling, upon which the
following bodies were represented:

Association of Building Engineers

British Adhesives and Sealants Association
British Ceramic Research Ltd.
British Ceramic Tile Council
Building Research Establishment
Chartered Institute of Building
Concrete Society
Construction Confederation
Consumer Policy Committee of BSI
Contract Flooring Association
Federation of Master Builders
Federation of Resin Formulators and Applicators
Health and Safety Executive
Institute of Clerks of Works of Great Britain
London Underground Ltd.
Mortar Producers’ Association
National Federation of Clay Industries
National Federation of Terrazzo, Marble and Mosaic Specialists
National Master Tile Fixers’ Association
National Tile, Faience and Mosaic Fixers’ Society
Natural Slate Quarries Association
Royal Institute of British Architects
Stone Federation

This British Standard, having

been prepared under the
direction of the Sector Board
for Building and Civil
Engineering, was published
under the authority of the
Standards Board and comes
into effect on Amendments issued since publication
15 November 1997
Amd. No. Date Comments
© BSI 04-2000

The following BSI references

relate to the work on this
standard:
Committee reference B/539
Draft for comment 93/102978 DC

ISBN 0 580 28659 2

 BS EN ISO 10545-10:1997

Contents

Page
Committees responsible Inside front cover
National foreword ii
Foreword 2
1 Scope 3
2 Definition 3
3 Principle 3
4 Apparatus 3
5 Test specimens 3
6 Procedure 3
7 Expression of results 3
8 Test report 4
Annex A (informative) Remarks on the moisture expansion
of ceramic tiles 5

© BSI 04-2000 i
BS EN ISO 10545-10:1997

National foreword

This British Standard has been prepared by Technical Committee B/539 and is
the English language version of EN ISO 10545-10:1997 Ceramic tiles — Part 10:
Determination of moisture expansion, published by the European Committee for
Standardization (CEN). It is identical with ISO 10545-10:1995, published by the
International Organization for Standardization (ISO). It supersedes
BS 6431-21:1984, which will be withdrawn when Parts 1 to 16 of BS EN
ISO 10545 have all been published.
This Part of BS EN ISO 10545 was originally drafted by CEN/TC 67, Ceramic
tiles, as EN 155, published in 1984, and confirmed in 1991. Subsequently the
European Standard was revised by ISO as a Part of ISO 10545, which has now
been approved by CEN as a Part of EN ISO 10545.
The technical changes from the method described in BS 6431-21 are as follows.
The method now applies both to glazed and unglazed tiles regardless of their
water absorption. The number of test specimens is reduced from seven to five. For
the pretreatment by refiring, the tiles are heated to 550 °C at 150 °C/h and held
at that temperature for 2 h. An informative annex recommends a maximum limit
of 0,06 % moisture expansion for tiles fixed directly to new concrete.
A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii,
the EN ISO title page, pages 2 to 5 and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on the
inside front cover.

ii © BSI 04-2000
EUROPEAN STANDARD EN ISO 10545-10
NORME EUROPÉENNE
July 1997
EUROPÄISCHE NORM

ICS 91.100.20 Supersedes EN 155:1991

Descriptors: Ceramics, tiles, tests, expansion tests, humidity

English version

Ceramic tiles — Part 10: Determination of moisture

expansion
(ISO 10545-10:1995)

Carreaux et dalles céramiques — Partie 10: Keramische Fliesen und Platten — Teil 10:
Détermination de la dilatation à l’humidité Bestimmung der Feuchtigkeitsdehnung
(ISO 10545-10:1995) (ISO 10545-10:1995)

This European Standard was approved by CEN on 1997-05-01. CEN members

are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which
stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a
national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national
standards may be obtained on application to the Central Secretariat or to any
CEN member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French,
German). A version in any other language made by translation under the
responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the
Central Secretariat has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland and United Kingdom.

CEN
European Committee for Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation
Europäisches Komitee für Normung
Central Secretariat: rue de Stassart 36, B-1050 Brussels

© 1997 CEN — All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN
national Members.
Ref. No. EN ISO 10545-10:1997 E
EN ISO 10545-10:1997

Foreword According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal

Regulations, the national standards organizations
The text of the International Standard from of the following countries are bound to implement
Technical Committee ISO/TC 189, Ceramic tiles, of this European Standard: Austria, Belgium,
the International Organization for Standardization Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France,
(ISO) has been taken over as a European Standard Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,
by Technical Committee CEN/TC 67, Ceramic tiles, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal,
the secretariat of which is held by UNI. Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the
This European Standard supersedes EN 155:1991. United Kingdom.
EN ISO 10545 consists of the following Parts, under
the common title Ceramic tiles. Endorsement notice
— Part 1: Sampling and basis for acceptance; The text of the International Standard
— Part 2: Determination of dimensions and ISO 10545-10:1995 has been approved by CEN as a
surface quality; European Standard without technical
— Part 3: Determination of water absorption, modifications.
apparent porosity, apparent relative density and
bulk density;
— Part 4: Determination of modulus of rupture
and breaking strength;
— Part 5: Determination of impact resistance by
measurement of coefficient of restitution;
— Part 6: Determination of resistance to deep
abrasion for unglazed tiles;
— Part 7: Determination of resistance to surface
abrasion for glazed tiles;
— Part 8: Determination of linear thermal
expansion;
— Part 9: Determination of resistance to thermal
shock;
— Part 10: Determination of moisture expansion;
— Part 11: Determination of crazing resistance for
glazed tiles;
— Part 12: Determination of frost resistance;
— Part 13: Determination of chemical resistance;
— Part 14: Determination of resistance to stains;
— Part 15: Determination of lead and cadmium
given off by glazed tiles;
— Part 16: Determination of small colour
differences;
— Part 17: Determination of coefficient of friction.
This European Standard shall be given the status of
a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by
January 1998, and conflicting national standards
shall be withdrawn at the latest by January 1998.

2 © BSI 04-2000

1 Scope
This part of ISO 10545 specifies a method for
determining the moisture expansion of ceramic
tiles.
2 Definition
For the purposes of this part of ISO 10545, the
following definition applies.
2.1
moisture expansion
proportional accelerated expansion that results
from subjecting reheated tiles to extended
immersion in boiling water
3 Principle
Determination of accelerated moisture expansion by
subjecting a reheated tile to boiling water and
measuring the proportional change in length.
4 Apparatus
4.1 A suitable type of measuring frame, fitted with a
micrometer, dial gauge, transducer or similar
device, with an accuracy of at least 0,01 mm.
4.2 Reference bars of nickel steel (Invar), of
approximately the same length as the test
specimens, fitted with an insulated grip.
4.3 Kiln, capable of firing up to 600 °C, at a rate of
temperature rise of 150 °C/h and with a control over
the temperature of ± 15 °C.
4.4 Vernier calipers, or other suitable apparatus for
linear measurement to the nearest 0,5 mm.
4.5 Boiling apparatus, for maintaining the test
specimens in boiling deionized or distilled water
for 24 h.
5 Test specimens
A sample consists of five whole tiles. If the size of the
measuring frame is such that whole tiles do not fit,
a test specimen shall be cut from the centre of each
tile with a minimum length of 100 mm, a minimum
width of 35 mm and the thickness of the tile.
In the case of extruded tiles, the length of the test
specimens shall be in the direction of the extrusion.
The test specimens shall be prepared as required for
the chosen measuring device (4.1).
© BSI 04-2000
EN ISO 10545-10:1997
6 Procedure
6.1 Refiring
Refire the test specimens in a kiln (4.3) with a rate
of temperature rise of 150 °C/h and a 2 h step
at (550 ± 15) °C. Allow the test specimens to cool
inside the kiln. Remove them when the temperature
falls to (70 ± 10) °C and then keep them at room
temperature for 24 h to 32 h in a dry desiccator.
Should any of the tiles crack on refiring, carry out a
further refiring on a fresh tile with slower heating
and cooling rates.
Determine the initial length of each test specimen,
to the nearest 0,5 mm, by comparing with a
reference bar of nickel steel (4.2). Measure the test
specimen twice, with 3 h between measurements.
6.2 Treatment in boiling water
Bring the deionized or distilled water to the boil in
the boiling apparatus (4.5). Immerse the test
specimens in the boiling water for 24 h
consecutively, ensuring that there is at least 5 cm of
water above the specimens, and that they do not
touch each other or touch the base or sides of the
container.
Remove the test specimens from the boiling water.
Allow them to cool to room temperature, ensuring
that the test specimens do not touch each other.
Measure them 1 h after removal from the boiling
apparatus, and again after a further 3 h. Record the
measurements as in 6.1.
For each test specimen, determine the mean of the
two measurements prior to treatment in boiling
water, the mean of the two measurements after
treatment in boiling water, and then determine the
difference between the two mean values.
7 Expression of results
The moisture expansion, expressed in millimetres
per metre, is calculated using the formula
%l
------- ´ 1 000
L
Where
%l is the difference between the two mean
values, in millimetres;
L is the mean initial length, in millimetres,
of the test specimen.
The moisture expansion, expressed as a percentage,
may be calculated using the formula
%l
------- ´ 100
L
3
EN ISO 10545-10:1997

8 Test report
The test report shall include the following
information:
a) reference to this part of ISO 10545;
b) a description of the tiles and the size of the
specimens;
c) the moisture expansion of each test specimen,
underlining the maximum value obtained;
d) the average moisture expansion of the tiles.

4 © BSI 04-2000
 EN ISO 10545-10:1997

Annex A (informative)
Remarks on the moisture expansion of
ceramic tiles
The majority of glazed and unglazed tiles have
negligible natural moisture expansion that does not
contribute to tiling problems when tiles are
correctly fixed.
However, with unsatisfactory fixing practices and in
certain climatic conditions, natural moisture
expansion may aggravate problems, especially
when tiles are directly fixed to inadequately aged
concrete substrates. In these cases, a maximum
limit of 0,06 % moisture expansion is recommended
when the test is used.

© BSI 04-2000 5
BS EN ISO
10545-10:1997
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