ISO ≠ ANSI: Understanding Tile Standards for the U.S. Market
If your products are tested to ISO 13006, they may not comply with ANSI A137.1.
Here is where they differ:
| ANSI A137.1 (ASTM) | ISO 13006 | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bond Strength | Required (ASTM C482) | Not required | ANSI A137.1 adds this essential test. Bond strength is an important evaluation to ensure the proper bond of the tile to a substrate can be achieved. If not tested, bond issues can arise years after installation. |
| Breaking Strength | ASTM C648 (point load) | ISO 10545-4 (3-point bend) | There is no way to determine if a product will meet ANSI A137.1 breaking strength criteria from the ISO test result. Strength is of upmost importance when it comes to ensuring the durability of an installation |
| Crazing Resistance | Up to 150 psi steam pressure (ASTM C424) | Up to 75 psi steam pressure (ISO 10545-11) | ANSI A137.1 requires testing at double the pressure of ISO. This more stringent test requirement can avoid problems with crazing once installed, something that can’t be fixed without ripping old tile out and replacing it completely. |
| Freeze/Thaw Resistance | 300 cycles, full saturation (ASTM C1026) | 100 cycles, partial saturation (ISO 10545-12) | There are products that show no damage during ISO testing but have issues with the ASTM C1026 test method. The ASTM method requires 3x the number of freeze/thaw cycles than the ISO method. Additionally, the ASTM method requires the product to be fully saturated before testing, then during the freezing cycle the tile sits within the water bath creating the possible extreme conditions tile may have to endure when installed in freeze/thaw applications. |
| Dynamic Coefficient of Friction (DCOF) | Required (ANSI A326.3) | Not covered | It is essential to understand slip resistance characteristics of a flooring material. Without this information, the product may be used in an inappropriate application, leading to potentially dangerous conditions. |
| Dimensional Tolerances | Tighter limits on variation (ASTM C485, C499, C502) | Broader tolerances (ISO 10545-2) | Less stringent tolerances may lead to difficulties installing and even failures due to lippage or other spacing problems. |
| Mosaic Tiles | Included | Not covered | This is a very popular product category that isn’t covered in ISO at all. ANSI A137.1 has a table of criteria for mosaics that has requirements like all other tile products. There is no reason a mosaic product shouldn’t be held to the same level of scrutiny. |
Bottom line: Meeting the ISO 13006 specification does not guarantee compliance with ANSI A137.1.