BRITISH STANDARD BS 6431-1:

1983
EN 87:1991
Incorporating
Amendment No. 1

Ceramic floor and wall

tiles —
Part 1: Specification for classification
and marking, including definitions and
characteristics

The European Standard EN 87:1991 has the status of a

British Standard

UDC 691.433 – 41 – 033.6:693.6/7:69.022.3/4:69.025.334.2

BS 6431-1:1983

Cooperating organizations

The European Committee for Standardization, under whose supervision this

European Standard was prepared, comprises the national standards
organizations of the following Western European countries:

Austria Oesterreichisches Normungsinstitut

Belgium Institut belge de normalisation
Denmark Dansk Standardiseringsraad
Finland Suomen Standardisoimisliito, r.y.
France Association française de normalisation
Germany Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V.
Greece Hellenic Organization for Standardization
Iceland Technological Institute of Iceland
Ireland National Standards Authority of Ireland
Italy Ente Nazionale Italiano di Unificazione
Luxembourg Inspection du Travail et des Mines
Netherlands Nederlands Normalisatie-instituut
Norway Norges Standardiseringsforbund
Portugal Instituto Portuguès da Qualidade
Spain Asociación Española de Normalización y Certificación
Sweden Standardiseringskommissionen i Sverige
Switzerland Association suisse de normalisation
United Kingdom British Standards Institution

This British Standard was

published under the
authority of the Board
of BSI and comes
into effect on
30 December 1983 Amendments issued since publication

© BSI 07-1999 Amd. No. Date of issue Comments

The following BSI references

7088 July 1992 Indicated by a sideline in the margin
relate to the work on this
standard:
Committee reference CLB/2
Draft for comment 76/12984 DC

ISBN 0 580 136140

 BS 6431-1:1983

Contents

Page
Cooperating organizations Inside front cover
National foreword ii
Foreword 2
1 Scope 3
2 References 3
3 Definitions 3
4 Classification 4
5 Characteristics 4
6 Marking and specification 4
7 Ordering, sampling and acceptance conditions 5
National appendix A 8
National appendix B Inside back cover
Figure 1 — Symbols used to define dimensions 4
Table 1 — General definition of dimensions 4
Table 2 — Classification of ceramic tiles according to their groups
and their specific product standard 5
Table 3 — Characteristics for different application 6

© BSI 07-1999 i
BS 6431-1:1983

National foreword

This Part of this British Standard has been prepared under the direction of the
Clay Products Standards Committee and is the English language version of
EN 87:1991 “Ceramic floor and wall tiles. Definitions, classification,
characteristics and marking” published by the European Committee for
Standardization (CEN).
EN 87 was produced as a result of international discussion in which the UK took
an active part.
Attention is drawn to the use in this standard of the comma as a decimal marker.
This is to accord with European practice, but it should be noted that it is current
practice in British Standards to use a full point on the baseline as a decimal
marker.
Additional information. It is unlikely that standards for the group C tiles,
made by a cast process, will be published as there is now only a small production
of this type in Europe.
When marking or specifying a product (see 6.1 and 6.2) the manufacturer may
mark or specify by reference to either the European Standard or the British
Standard.
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 title page, pages 2 to 8, an inside back cover 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 07-1999
EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 87
NORME EUROPÉENNE
July 1991
EUROPÄISCHE NORM

UDC 691.433 – 41 – 033.6:693.6/.7:69.022.3/4:69.025.334.2

Descriptors: Tiles, coating slabs, ceramic coatings, classifications, dimensions, designations

English version

Ceramic floor and wall tiles — Definitions, classification,

characteristics and marking

Carreaux et dalles céramiques pour sols Keramische Fliesen und Platten für
et murs — Définitions, classification, Bodenbeläge und Wandbekleidungen —
caractéristiques et marquage Begriffe, Klassifizierung. Anforderungen und
Kennzeichnung

This European Standard was approved by CEN on 1991-07-17. 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,
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

© CEN 1991 Copyright reserved to all CEN members

Ref. No. EN 87:1991 E
EN 87:1991

Foreword
This European Standard was drawn up by the
Technical Committee CEN/TC 67 “Ceramic tiles”
the Secretariat of which is held by UNI.
This European Standard was adopted by CEN on
the strength of its acceptance by the following
member countries:
Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway,
Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom.

2 © BSI 07-1999
 EN 87:1991

1 Scope 3.5
twice-fired
This European Standard gives definitions,
classification, characteristics and marking glazed after a first firing then fired a second time
requirements for ceramic tiles generally used for 3.6 Extruded tiles (shaping A)
floor and wall surfaces. Ceramic tiles also include
Tiles whose body is shaped in the plastic state in an
mosaics, factory slabs, pavers and components for
extruder, the column obtained being cut into tiles of
swimming pools, as well as the corresponding
predetermined lengths.
accessories (edge, corner and skirting tiles and
beads and other pieces). 3.6.1
split tiles (spaltplatten)
This standard applies to tiles of the best commercial
quality (first quality) unless otherwise specified in formed as double tiles which are separated after
the relevant product standard. firing to obtain single tiles. They can be glazed or
unglazed and have characteristic parallel ridges on
2 References the back
Apart from this European Standard other standards 3.6.2
relating to ceramic tiles are as follows: quarry tiles
2.1 Product standards for each group of products tiles that are cut in succession from a single
(see Table 2). extruded column, are either pressed or not pressed
2.2 Standards for test methods for the and are sometimes glazed
determination of characteristics (see Table 3). 3.7
2.3 ISO standards to which reference is made in the dust pressed tiles (shaping B)
standard are as follows: tiles formed from a body reduced to powder or small
ISO 1803, Tolerances for building — Vocabulary. grains and shaped in moulds at high pressure. They
ISO 1006, Modular co-ordination — Basic may be glazed or unglazed
module. 3.8
cast tiles (shaping C)
3 Definitions the body is cast into a mould or on to a porous
3.1 refractory batt which absorbs the water. They can
ceramic tiles be glazed or unglazed
thin slabs made from clays, silica, fluxes, colourings 3.9
and other mineral raw materials, generally used as water absorption (E)
coverings for floors, walls or facades. They are the water absorption (% by mass) measured in
prepared by grinding, sieving, mixing, accordance with EN 99
moistening, etc., and are shaped by pressing,
3.10
extruding, casting or other processes, usually at
coordinating size
room temperature. They are then dried and
subsequently fired at a high temperature the size of a coordinating dimension (see ISO 1803)
tiles can be glazed (GL), unglazed (UGL) or engobed 3.11
and are incombustile and unaffected by light nominal size
3.2 the size used to describe the product
glaze 3.12
a vitrified covering which is practically work size
impermeable the size of a tile specified for manufacturing to
3.3 which the actual size has to conform within
engobe specified permissible deviations
a clay-based covering with a matt finish which can 3.13
be permeable or impermeable actual size
3.4 the size obtained by measuring a tile in accordance
once-fired with EN 98
glazed before firing

© BSI 07-1999 3
EN 87:1991

3.14 c) with a reference to the European/national

tolerance standards with which they comply;
the difference between the permissible limits of size d) with the nominal size and work size,
3.15 sizes modular (M) or non-modular, e.g.
NOTE These are only defined for rectangular tiles. If the sizes
M 100 mm × 100 mm (W = 98 mm × 98 mm)
of non-rectangular tiles are required, they are defined by the or 152 mm × 152 mm
smallest rectangle into which they will fit. (W = 152.4 mm × 152.4 mm);
3.15.1 e) with the nature of the tile surface, i.e. whether
modular sizes glazed or unglazed.
this covers tiles and sizes based on M Table 1 — General definition of dimensions
(see ISO 1006-1 where M = 100 mm), 2M, 3M, Dimensions Symbol Modular Non-modular
and 5M and also their multiples or subdivisions,
except for tiles with a surface area of less N2 + J
Coordinating
than 9 000 mm2 dimension
C W+J or
NOTE The most important examples of modular sizes are listed W+J
in the individual product standards. A general definition of
dimensions is given in Table 1. Nominal N1 W+J —
3.15.2 dimension N2 — N2 + W
non-modular sizes
Work dimension W W W
the sizes commonly sold in CEN countries,
excluding those that are based on M Joint width J J J

4 Classification
Ceramic tiles are divided into groups according to
their method of manufacture and their water
absorption (see 3.9 and Table 2). The groups do not
presuppose the usage of the products.
4.1 Methods of manufacture. See 3.6 (extruded
tiles), 3.7 (dust pressed tiles) and 3.8 (cast tiles).
4.2 Water absorption groups
4.2.1 Tiles of low water absorption (Group I)
E u 3 %.
4.2.2 Tiles of medium water absorption (Group II)
3 % < E u 10 %.
Group II is further divided as follows:
a) 3 % < E u 6 % (Group IIa)
b) 6 % < E u 10 % (Group IIb).
4.2.3 Tiles of high water absorption (Group III)
E > 10 %.

5 Characteristics Figure 1 — Symbols used to define

dimensions
Characteristics for different applications of ceramic
floor and wall tiles are given in Table 3.

6 Marking and specification

6.1 Marking. Ceramic tiles and/or their packaging
shall be marked as follows:
a) with the manufacturer’s trademark and/or a
suitable work’s mark and the country of origin;
b) with their quality;

4 © BSI 07-1999
 EN 87:1991

Table 2 — Classification of ceramic tiles according to their

groups and their specific product standard
Shaping Water absorption

Group I Group IIa Group IIb Group III

Eu3% 3%<Eu6% 6 % < E u 10 % E > 10 %

A Group AI Group AIIa Group AIIb Group AIII

EN 121 EN 186 EN 187 EN 188
B Group BI Group BIIa Group BIIb Group BIII
EN 176 EN 177 EN 178 EN 159
C Group CI Group CIIa Group CIIb Group CIII
... ... ... ...
6.2 Specification. A brief specification shall be 7 Ordering, sampling and acceptance
supplied which shall include the following: conditions
a) the description of the tile, e.g. split, dust When an order is placed, items such as size,
pressed etc.;
thickness, nature of surface, colour, relief and any
b) the number of the relevant standard, special properties shall be agreed by the parties
e.g. EN 121; concerned.
c) the classification as given in this standard Reference shall be made to the individual product
(see Table 2); standards which deal with the appropriate
d) the nominal size and the work size; tolerances, requirements and acceptance conditions
e) the nature of the tile surface: whether glazed or for each product group.
unglazed. Sampling and basis for acceptance are described in
a separate standard (EN 163).

© BSI 07-1999 5
EN 87:1991

Table 3 — Characteristics for different applications

Floors Walls Test methods

Interior Exterior Interior Exterior

Dimension and surface quality

a) Length and width X X X X 

b) Thickness X X X X 

c) Straightness of sides X X X X 


d) Rectangularity X X X X  EN 98

e) Surface flatness (curvature and 

warpage) X X X X 

f) Surface quality X X X X 


Physical properties
g) Water absorption X X X X EN 99
h) Modulus of rupture X X X X EN 100
j) Scratch hardness of surface X X X X EN 101
k) Resistance to deep abrasion of unglazed
tiles X X EN 102
l) Resistance to surface abrasion of glazed
tiles X X EN 154
m) Linear thermal expansion a X X X X EN 103
n) Resistance to thermal shock X X X X EN 104
p) Crazing resistance of glazed tiles X X X X EN 105
q) Frost resistanceb X X X X EN . . .
r) Moisture expansion of unglazed tiles
with water absorption, E > 6 % X X X X EN 155

Chemical resistance

s) Resistance to staining of glazed tiles X X X X 
 EN 106
t) Resistance to household chemicals and  Unglazed tiles
swimming pool water cleansers X X X X 
 EN 122
u) Resistance to acids a X X X X  Glazed tiles

v) Resistance to alkalisa X X X X 
a Only where particular conditions require.
b For tiles intended to be used in situations where frost conditions may apply.

6 © BSI 07-1999
blank 7
BS 6431-1:1983

National appendix A
The United Kingdom participation in the preparation of this European Standard was entrusted by the Clay
Products Standards Committee (CLB/-) to Technical Committee CLB/2 upon which the following bodies
were represented:

British Ceramic Research Association

British Ceramic Tile Council
British Standards Society
Builders’ Merchants’ Federation
Incorporated Association of Architects and Surveyors
National Federation of Building Trades Employers
National Federation of Clay Industries
National Master Tile Fixers’ Association
National Tile, Faience and Mosaic Fixers’ Society
Refractories Association of Great Britain
Royal Institute of British Architects

8 © BSI 07-1999
 BS 6431-1:1983

National appendix B
The British Standards corresponding to the European Standards and ISO Standards referred to in the text
are as follows:
European Standards British Standards (content identical)
BS 6431 Ceramic floor and wall tiles
EN 99 (1982) Part 11:1983 Method for determination of water absorption
EN 100 (1982) Part 12:1983 Method for determination of modulus of rupture
EN 102 (1982) Part 14:1983 Method for determination of resistance to deep abrasion. Unglazed tiles
EN 103 (1982) Part 15:1983 Method for determination of linear thermal expansion
EN 104 (1982) Part 16:1983 Method for determination of resistance to thermal shock
EN 105 (1982) Part 17:1983 Method for determination of crazing resistance. Glazed tiles
EN 106 (1982) Part 18:1983 Method for determination of chemical resistance. Unglazed tiles
The Technical Committee has reviewed the provisions of ISO 1006:1973 and ISO 1803:1973 to which
reference is made in the text, and has decided that they are acceptable for use in conjunction with this
standard. The related British Standards for these standards are BS 4011:1966 “Recommendations for the
co-ordination of dimensions in building. Co-ordinated sizes for building components and assemblies” and
BS 2900:1970 “Recommendations for the co-ordination of dimensions in buildings. Glossary of terms”
respectively.
Further European Standards in course of preparation will be published as further Parts of this British
Standard as follows:
European Standards British Standards (content identical)
BS 6431 Ceramic floor and wall tiles
EN 98 Part 10 Method for determination of dimensions and surface quality
EN 101 Part 13 Method for determination of scratch hardness
EN 121 Part 2 Extruded ceramic tiles with a low water absorption (E k 3 %). Group A1
EN 122 Part 19 Method for determination of chemical resistance. Glazed tiles
EN 154 Part 20 Method for determination of surface abrasion. Glazed tiles
EN 155 Part 21 Method for determination of moisture expansion using boiling water.
Unglazed tiles
EN 159 Part 9 Dust pressed ceramic tiles with a water absorption of E > 10 %. Group B III
EN 163 Part 23 Sampling and basis for acceptance
EN 176 Part 6 Dust pressed ceramic tiles with a low water absorption (E k 3 %). Group B I
EN 177 Part 7 Dust pressed ceramic tiles with a water absorption of 3 % < E k 6 %.
Group B IIa
EN 178 Part 8 Dust pressed ceramic tiles with a water absorption of 6 % < E k 10 %.
Group B IIb
EN 186-1 and Part 3 Extruded ceramic tiles with a water absorption of 3 % < E k 6 %. Group A IIa
EN 186-2
EN 187-1 and Part 4 Extruded ceramic tiles with a water absorption of 6 % < E k 10 %.
EN 187-2 Group A IIb
EN 188 Part 5 Extruded ceramic tiles with a water absorption of E > 10 %. Group A III
EN 2023) Part 22 Method for determination of frost resistance
3) In Table 3, this corresponds to item q).

© BSI 07-1999
BS 6431-1:
1983
EN 87:1991 BSI — British Standards Institution
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