ISO 10545-7:1996

Overview

ISO 10545-7:1996 specifies a laboratory method to determine resistance to surface abrasion of glazed ceramic tiles used as floor covering. The test measures how the glazed surface wears when subjected to a controlled abrasive action and classifies glazed tiles according to the degree of visible wear. This standard is intended for tile manufacturers, test laboratories, product specifiers and quality assurance teams needing reliable, repeatable abrasion data for glazed floor tiles.

Key Topics and Requirements

• Scope: Applies to all glazed ceramic tiles used for floor covering.
• Test principle: Abrasion by rotation of an abrasive load on the glazed surface, followed by visual comparison between abraded and unabraded tiles.
• Abrasive load composition:
  • Steel balls: 70.0 g (5 mm), 52.5 g (3 mm), 43.75 g (2 mm), 8.75 g (1 mm)
  • White fused aluminium oxide, grain size F80 (ISO 8486) - 310 g
  • 20 ml deionized or distilled water
• Apparatus:
  • Rotating supporting plate at 300 r/min with eccentricity 225 mm (gives a 45 mm diameter motion)
  • Specimen holder internal diameter 83 mm (test area ≈ 54 cm²)
  • Visual assessment box with fluorescent lighting (6 000–6 500 K) at 300 lx
  • Drying oven at (110 ± 5) °C
• Specimens and sampling:
  • Test specimens representative of the sample; typical size 100 mm × 100 mm
  • 11 specimens required plus 8 for visual assessment
• Procedure:
  • Sequential abrasion stages at 100, 150, 600, 750, 1 500, 2 100, 6 000, 12 000 revolutions
  • After each stage, one specimen is removed and visually compared; consensus of at least three observers needed
  • Stain-resistance testing (ISO 10545-14) is required for the highest abrasion class
• Classification: Tiles are classified into abrasion classes (1–5) based on the revolution count at which visual failure appears. Class 5 requires passing the stain-resistance test on the abraded area.
• Calibration (Annex A): Option to calibrate apparatus using float glass by either mass loss (target mean 0.032 ± 0.002 mg/mm² at 6 000 rev) or gloss change (target mean loss 50 ± 5% after 1 000 rev).

Applications and Who Uses It

• Tile manufacturers: product development, quality control, and performance claims for glazed floor tiles.
• Independent test laboratories: standardized, repeatable testing for product certification.
• Architects and specifiers: selecting glazed tiles suitable for expected traffic and wear.
• Regulators and procurement: compliance checks for flooring in public or commercial spaces.
• Flooring installers: verifying product suitability for intended usage and traffic classes.

Related Standards

• ISO 10545 series (Parts 1–17) - other performance tests for ceramic tiles (e.g., dimensions, water absorption, deep abrasion, stain resistance).
• ISO 10545-14 - Determination of resistance to stains (used in conjunction with ISO 10545-7 for highest abrasion class validation).
• ISO 8486 - grain size designation for bonded abrasives (reference for F80 abrasive).

Keywords: ISO 10545-7:1996, ceramic tiles, glazed tiles, abrasion resistance, surface abrasion test, floor covering, abrasion apparatus, tile classification, stain resistance.