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título:HOW AND WHY. BUYER'S AND USER'S GUIDE TO ITALIAN CERAMIC TILES

Contenidos:

This is a guide to the purchase and use of ceramic tiles.

Ceramic tile is a construction material specifically intended to cover floors and walls. As a construction material, it is the purview of the professional engineer, just as bricks and reinforced cement for buildings are. But as a finishing material that contributes to the look of an environment, ceramic tiles also have a design function, and must appeal to the final user.

The final user is not an expert in materials and construction but s/he has clear decision-making power in the selection and purchase of tiles; thus s/he plays an important role in the planning of the tiled surface.

Appropriate tile selection will critically affect the quality and durability of the tiled surface, and hence the user’s level of satisfaction.

This guide is addressed to all those involved in the selection of ceramic tile, as well as to all endusers: both “professionals” in the field like designers, engineers and tile installers, and final users of the tiled area who are generally not technical experts.

The non-professional user we will call the Homeowner. In this guide she represents the final user of the tiled area: an individual with specific needs and expectations, but only scant technical knowledge of the materials involved or of construction parameters.

The professional user we will call the Specifier. In this guide he represents an expert in home construction and in particular of floors and walls covered with ceramic tile.

The structure of this guide reflects its double orientation: every issue is considered on two levels. One level is simpler and qualitative (but not superficial or obvious), and uses no technical terminology; this is addressed to the Homeowner. A second, more detailed level of inquiry, complete with data, measurements and methodology, is addressed to the Specifier.

We come now to the contents and structure of the guide.

The diagram on page 7 presents the Homeowner and the Specifier standing before a floor or wall that must be covered with a material that meets both their needs.

By the end of the process, we would hope that the Homeowner and the Specifier will cover the floor or wall with ceramic tiles for a successfully finished surface that is beautiful, long-lasting and safe. (We will consider each of these qualities below).

The contents of this guide trace the stages of the process that will lead the Homeowner and the Specifier toward this resolution. Because there are three such stages, the guide is divided into three parts:

• The first part (WHY Ceramic Tiles) leads readers to consider the general properties of ceramic tiles in order to make an educated selection just of this covering material.
• The second part (WHICH Ceramic Tiles) follows the Homeowner and the Specifier as they identify the type of ceramic tiles most suitable for the area to be tiled, and most appropriate for their respective needs.
• The third part (From TILES to the TILED SURFACE) guides readers through an analysis of the various stages starting with the selected tiles and concluding with the actual tiling. The critical importance of these activities (design, installation, use and maintenance) is stressed so as to ensure the full achievement of our final purpose: a beautiful, lasting, and safe tiled surface.

The structure of this guide clearly reflects its final aim.

The Italian ceramic tile industry is the world leader in tile quality and production and the originator of product and process innovations. Active on all world markets, it has widely increased its product range in recent years to offer tiles distinguished by great beauty and ever more sophisticated technical properties.

The range of environments in which tiles can be suitably used has expanded just as rapidly. The user of ceramic tiles enjoys an extremely broad selection, with infinite technical and design possibilities. This broad selection accounts for Italian tile’s highly competitive status in the industry: a broad selection whose value is enhanced not only by the promotion of a broader use of ceramic tiles, but also by an all-important education in the correct use of these tiles, as a critical requisite to consumer satisfaction.

These are the multiple aims of this guide: to promote the value of ceramic tile, to highlight the advances made through intensive research and development, and to contribute to the complete satisfaction of an educated consumer equipped to make an appropriate selection and use of ceramic tile.

Índice:

Presentation	1
Part 1
Why Ceramic Tiles	9
Introduction	10
1.1 - Available materials	17
1.2 - What are ceramic tiles	24
1.3 - Broad selection	33
1.4 - Functionality and durability	37
1.5 - User safety	49
1.6 - Environmental responsibility	60
Part 2
Which Ceramic Tiles	75
Introduction	76
2.1 – Types	83
2.2 – Regulations	95
2.3 - Technical properties	108
2.4 - Technical specifications	133
2.5 - Environments for potential use	140
2.6 - Technical standards for selection	147
2.7 - Aesthetic standards for selection	149
Part 3
From tiles to tiled surface	165
Introduction	166
3.1 - The tile job	173
3.2 - Tile supplies	184
3.3 – Installation	188
3.4 - Use and maintenance	194
3.5 - Defects and complaints: prevention and management	198
Appendix
1 - EN ISO norms for ceramic tiles. Testing methods	206
2 - EN ISO norms for ceramic tiles. Requisites	217
3 - UNI-CERTIQUALITY designation	225
4 - Categories of selection	228
5 - The Centro Ceramico in Bologna	230
6 - Ceramic Arbitration Board Constitution and Rules of Procedure	234
Sources	237