WATER ABSORBTION ( EN ISO 10545-3 / ASTM C373 )

Other than hardness, a particular and important consideration for porcelain tile is moisture
absorption. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has developed a rating for
moisture absorption by tiles. This rating is actually a procedure to test a tiles permeability to
water. It consists of boiling the tile in water and measuring its gain in weight from the original
dry state.
Water absorption rates are a measurement of how much moisture a specific type of porcelain
tile is likely to absorb on an ongoing basis. Some types of tile may crack if the moisture
penetration is too high. Descriptions of the types of porcelain tile most suitable for your
project comprise of four ratings, and are classified as under:
(Low dense)
Dry pressed Tile with water absorption of more than %10 percent I=L 2:BIII
(Medium dense)
Dry pressed Tile with water absorption ; %3 < A (absorbtion) < %6 l=J 2:BIIa
(High Dense)
Dry pressed Tile with water absorption ; %0.5 < A (absorbtion) < %3 l=H 2:BIb
(Extremely dense)
Dry pressed Tile with water absorption of % 0.5 percent or less I=G 2:Ba. This is where
porcelain tile is categorized
Reflecting the density of the tile body, ceramic tile are also classified by their water
absorption rate apart from the resistance to wear and tear. The water absorption rate is
directly related with the suitability of the various types of tile for interior or exterior
applications. For exterior applications, the selected tiles must have a very low water
absorption rate, especially in climates subjected to rainfall, freezing and thawing cycles. A low
water absorption rate also enables a tile to absorb food or beverage stains on a lesser
percentage. This is usually a porcelain tile, which has a moisture absorption rating of less than
0.5 %