ISO 13006 is the international product standard for ceramic tiles. It defines terms, sorts tiles into groups by how they are formed and how much water they absorb, and sets the requirements each group must meet. EN 14411 is the European standard built on the same system, and it is the one used for CE marking in the EU.
Neither standard contains the test methods. Those sit in the ISO 10545 series. ISO 13006 says what result a tile must reach; ISO 10545 says how to measure it.
How the groups work
Each group is named by a letter and a Roman numeral. The letter is the forming method: A for extruded tiles and B for dry-pressed tiles. Almost every tile from Morbi is dry-pressed, so it falls in group B.
The numeral is the water absorption band. These are the dry-pressed groups:
- BIa has water absorption of 0.5% or less. This is porcelain, called vitrified in India.
- BIb has water absorption above 0.5% and up to 3%.
- BIIa has water absorption above 3% and up to 6%.
- BIIb has water absorption above 6% and up to 10%.
- BIII has water absorption above 10%, which covers most ceramic wall tiles.
Which group for which use
Our guide to ceramic, porcelain and vitrified tiles explains what these groups mean for use.
What the requirements cover
For each group, an annex of the standard sets the requirements. They cover dimensions and surface quality, water absorption, modulus of rupture and breaking strength, abrasion, thermal expansion, thermal shock, crazing, frost, chemical and stain resistance. Some properties are mandatory for the group. Others only need to be declared if the manufacturer claims them or the use needs them.
As an example, a BIa tile must have average water absorption of 0.5% or less, an average modulus of rupture of at least 35 N/mm², and a breaking strength of at least 1,300 N if it is 7.5 mm thick or more. Thinner BIa tiles have a lower breaking strength threshold of 700 N. Always check the current edition for the full table.
For surface quality, first-quality tiles must have at least 95% of tiles free of visible defects when viewed at the distance set in ISO 10545-2. This is the standard's definition of first quality. It is not the same as a factory's own Premium grade, which may be stricter or looser.
Why EN 14411 matters for the EU
EN 14411 is a harmonised standard under the EU construction products rules. That means a tile sold in the EU must have a Declaration of Performance and CE marking based on it. The declared values on that declaration come from EN 14411 tests. Our guide to CE marking for tiles covers what that involves.
Outside the EU, many buyers still use ISO 13006 or EN 14411 in contracts because they are clear and widely understood. In the US, the main reference is ANSI A137.1 instead, which is covered in our article on the ANSI A137.1 tile standard.
Using the standard in your contract
Name the standard and the group in your purchase order, for example "EN 14411 Group BIa, first quality". Then add any value you need above the standard minimum, such as a higher breaking strength for commercial floors or a slip rating. Ask for test reports that show each value against the requirement.
Next step
We write specifications against the right standard and check test reports before you pay the balance. To set up yours, book a free sourcing review.