A specification for ceramic wall tiles is a written description of exactly what you are buying and how it will be checked. It should cover the product, its technical properties, the grade and sorting rules, the packing, the documents and the inspection.
Send the same specification to every factory you are comparing and attach it to the purchase order. It turns a vague request into a contract both sides can check. The floor tile version is in how to write a specification for vitrified floor tiles.
1. Product description
- Product type: glazed ceramic wall tile, group BIII under ISO 13006 and EN 14411 Annex L.
- Body: red or white body, as agreed.
- Nominal size and work size in millimetres, with the tolerance.
- Thickness in millimetres, with the tolerance.
- Rectified or non-rectified edges.
- Finish: gloss, matt, satin or structured, as on the approved sample.
- Design codes for each base, decor and highlighter tile, and the number of faces for each design.
- Use: interior walls only, or interior and exterior walls.
2. Technical requirements
State the test method and the requirement for each property. EN 14411 Annex L gives the minimum values for BIII tiles; you can ask for better.
- Dimensions and surface quality: to ISO 10545-2, within the EN 14411 limits for the group.
- Water absorption: above 10% to ISO 10545-3, with the declared average.
- Breaking strength: to ISO 10545-4, at least 600 N for tiles 7.5 mm or thicker and 200 N for thinner tiles, per EN 14411 Annex L.
- Crazing resistance: to ISO 10545-11, with no crazing.
- Chemical resistance: to ISO 10545-13, with the class required for household cleaning products.
- Stain resistance: to ISO 10545-14, with the class required.
- Frost resistance: to ISO 10545-12, only if the tile is to be used outside in a frost climate.
Ask for recent test reports from an accredited laboratory, and reserve the right to have your production lot tested independently.
3. Grade, shade and calibre
- The grade ordered, with the factory's written grade definition and allowed defects per box attached.
- One batch, one shade and one calibre per design in the shipment, unless agreed otherwise in writing.
- Decor and base tiles of each concept to match the approved laid-out panel.
- The approved sample, signed and dated, as the reference for colour, finish and print quality.
4. Packing and marking
- Pieces, square metres and weight per box.
- Box type and print, including private-label artwork if used.
- Box markings: design code, size, grade, shade, calibre, batch and production date.
- Pallet type, ISPM 15 compliance where needed, boxes per pallet, corner boards, straps and wrap.
- Loading plan with boxes and pallets per design and total weight per container.
5. Inspection and documents
- Pre-shipment inspection by you or your agent, with sampling to ISO 2859-1 at an agreed inspection level and AQL.
- The right to reject or have re-sorted any lot that fails the specification.
- Photographs of the loaded container before sealing.
- Documents: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, test reports and any certificates your market requires.
- Breakage allowance and claim process, as agreed in the contract.
Sampling levels are explained in AQL for tile inspection, and the report you should receive is described in what a tile pre-shipment inspection report should include.
Next step
We draft the specification with you, send it to short-listed plants and inspect production against it before loading. To write yours, book a free sourcing review.