Overview
EN ISO 10545-7:1998 specifies a standardized method for determining the resistance to surface abrasion of glazed ceramic tiles used as floor covering. The procedure evaluates wear by rotating an abrasive load on the glazed surface and assessing the visual failure of the glaze against unabraded reference tiles. The standard supports durable product selection, quality control and comparative performance testing for manufacturers, test labs and specifiers.
Key Topics
- Scope and purpose: Method for glazed tiles intended for floor use; focuses on surface abrasion resistance and subsequent stain testing where applicable.
- Abrasive load composition: The standardized abrasive load includes specified masses of steel balls (several diameters), white fused aluminium oxide (grain size F80) and water as described in the standard.
- Apparatus and operation:
- Rotating supporting plate running at 300 r/min with an eccentricity producing a 45 mm circular motion of the specimens.
- Specimen holders give a test area of about 54 cm2; the apparatus runs for preset revolutions and switches off automatically.
- Visual assessment is performed in a viewing box with neutral-gray background and fluorescent illumination (6 000–6 500 K) at 300 lux.
- Specimens and sample size:
- Test specimens should represent the tile sample and account for colour/decorative variations.
- The procedure requires eleven specimens for the main test plus eight for visual assessment; usual facial size is 100 mm × 100 mm.
- Test stages and failure assessment:
- Abrasion stages use incremental revolutions (examples given in the standard include 100, 150, 600, 750, 1 500, 2 100, 6 000 and 12 000 revolutions).
- After each stage, an abraded specimen is visually compared with unabraded tiles by at least three observers at 2 m distance in a darkened room.
- Classification is assigned according to the abrasion stage at which visual failure is observed; Class 5 requires passing the stain-resistance test (ISO 10545-14) on the abraded area.
- Calibration and verification:
- Annex A describes calibration using float glass; acceptable mean mass loss after 6 000 revolutions is (0.032 ± 0.002) mg/mm² of abraded area.
- An alternative calibration criterion is mean gloss loss at 1 000 revolutions of (50 ± 5) % (60° specular gloss).
Applications
- Product development and quality control for manufacturers of glazed ceramic tiles intended for floors.
- Comparative performance testing for procurement and specification in commercial and residential flooring projects.
- Acceptance testing by laboratories and certification bodies to demonstrate abrasion performance and durability.
Related Standards
- ISO 10545-14 (Resistance to stains) - referenced for classification to Class 5 and for post-abrasion stain testing.
- Other parts of ISO 10545 series address dimensional, mechanical, thermal and chemical properties relevant to comprehensive ceramic tile assessment.
This content summarizes the practical elements of EN ISO 10545-7:1998 to aid specification, test planning and interpretation of abrasion test results for glazed floor tiles. For complete procedural detail and mandatory values follow the full standard text.
