ISO 11618:2015

Overview

ISO 11618:2015 defines classification and performance requirements for pedestrian walkway sealants used in buildings and civil engineering works. It covers elastic, non-sag or self‑leveling sealants for floor joints designed to carry pedestrian loads (walkways, plazas, parking garages, balconies, terraces, warehouses, trolley areas). The standard excludes chemical containment and cold‑applied joint sealants for roads, airfields and sewage treatment plants, and notes that local codes may impose additional requirements.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Sealant classes (movement capability): ±25%, ±20%, and ±12.5% movement categories determine which joints a sealant can accommodate.
• Subclasses:
  • Modulus: Low‑modulus (LM) vs high‑modulus (HM) based on secant tensile modulus thresholds (e.g., 0.4 N/mm² at +23 °C and 0.6 N/mm² at −20 °C).
  • Application environment: EXT (exterior; also suitable for interior) vs INT (interior only).
  • Elastic recovery: Class 12.5 requires ≥40% recovery; class 20/25 have higher recovery criteria (e.g., ≥60–70%).
• Performance tests (normative references): tensile properties (ISO 8339, ISO 8340), elastic recovery (ISO 7389), adhesion/cohesion (ISO 9047, ISO 10590), tear resistance (ISO 19863), volume change (ISO 10563), cure rate (ISO 19861), and durability cycling (ISO 19862).
• Conditioning protocols: Method A - 28 days at (23 ± 2) °C and (50 ± 10)% RH; Method B - Method A plus heat/water accelerated cycles (70 °C oven and water immersion sequences).
• Failure criteria: adhesion or cohesion loss >2 mm or visible light transmission through extended durability specimens; tests are performed in triplicate with specified pass/fail rules.
• Designation format: ISO 11618 - TYPE - CLASS - SUBCLASS (e.g., ISO 11618 - 25HM - EXT 6 - M1p).

Practical applications and users

Who uses ISO 11618:2015:

• Architects, structural and civil engineers specifying floor and joint sealants for pedestrian areas
• Specification writers and building code consultants
• Sealant manufacturers and product development teams (for product classification and data sheets)
• Independent test laboratories and quality control teams performing conformity testing
• Contractors and facility managers selecting sealants for plazas, walkways, parking decks, balconies, terraces, and warehouses

Practical value:

• Ensures appropriate sealant selection for joint movement and environmental exposure
• Provides reproducible test methods and pass/fail criteria for product conformity
• Helps reduce failures (adhesion/cohesion, tearing, volume loss) in pedestrian flooring joints

Related standards

Relevant referenced standards include ISO 6927, ISO 7389, ISO 8339, ISO 8340, ISO 9047, ISO 10563, ISO 10590, ISO 13640, ISO 19861, ISO 19862, ISO 19863, and test guidance for natural stone staining potential (ISO 16938‑1 / ISO 16938‑2).