ceramic tiling to floor and wall Instructions for design, installation and maintenance

UNI 11493 ceramic tiling to floor and wall Instructions for design, installation and maintenance (excerpt)


It was finally introduced in Italy a technical standard relating to the laying of ceramic tiles. The standard applies to ceramic tiles on floors and walls, internal and external, mainly installed with adhesive, but also with cement mortar.
This standard is a revolution in the industry, as it introduces a normative level of the fundamental concepts in order to achieve durable ceramic coatings. These concepts, until now known only to experts in the area, but often the subject of discussion, will now be regulated at the national level and can be used both at the project level within the specifications, and practical, representing a common language for all operators in the sector in their interest and in particular in the final customers.
The standard based quality ceramic tiling on the compliance with the general requirements:
-Regularity
-Durability
-Maintainability
-Security
-Sustainability


Compliance with these requirements must be achieved with the contribution of all the essential "functions" involved in the design, installation, use and maintenance of the tiling.
All parties / functions involved in the design and installation of ceramic tiling and their responsibilities are clearly defined within the standard itself (client, designer, director jobs, installer, manufacturers of various materials, vendors of different materials).
Also introduces elements of fundamental importance such as:
- The minimum width of the joints; Laying in the so-called "closed joint" will no longer be allowed. The width of the joints must be established in the project, considering all the necessary aspects.

7.10.2 Width of joints
The pose in the so-called "closed joint" is not accepted. In no case can be prescribed or adopted a joint width of less than 2 mm.
The width of the joints should be established, in the project, considering the following aspects:
type of tiles (pressed / extruded, adjusted / unadjusted);
size of the tiles;
dimensional tolerances required for the tiles;
coefficient of thermal expansion of the materials constituting the tiling;
mechanical properties (deformation / elastic modulus) of the installation materials (adhesive material for joints);
location and path of the joints;
mechanical properties (stiffness, dimensional stability) of the support;
target environment (internal / external) and operating conditions provided.

As a guideline, the design specifications the width of the joints can range from 2-3 mm - tiles obtained by pressing, with good dimensional regularity (rectified tiles) in indoor environments, on both rigid and dimensionally stable - up to 6-8 mm, in situations opposite.


Also introduces elements of fundamental importance such as:
The minimum width of the joints; Laying in the so-called "closed joint" will no longer be allowed. The width of the joints must be established in the project, considering all the necessary aspects.
The definition and requirements relating to the joints (structural, fractionation, expansion, perimeter) and their backgrounds.
The attention to particular points (steps, outdoor surfaces in contact with the ground, facades, etc..);
The concept and definition of the application of the adhesive with the technique of "buttering" when necessary.
The minimum characteristics of the media on which your next scheduled installation of a ceramic coating in relation to the stresses of every kind which the surface will be subject.
The selection and specification of the adhesive function of the project data.
The adoption of a suitable mechanical fastening of safety in the case of tile sizes up to 30 x 30 cm, cutlery in the facade.

Facades
In the case of tiles with greater side exceeding 30 cm, must be evaluated by the designer the need to require the adoption of a suitable mechanical fastening of safety (for example, made from steel hooks fixed in the holder) taking into account the specific exposure conditions, the quality of the support of the design and installation (size escapes, lattice expansion joints etc.).
For systems of tiles on the exterior façade made of several innovative techniques, we will abide by the directions and instructions of the manufacturer.

(...) The media must have a cohesive strength to strength (tear) and adhesion to the underlying supporting layer not less than 1 N/mm2.