Floor Tile Hardness Scale

Known as the pei scale it is the standard consumers can rely on and refer to in order to determine which tiles to buy according to purpose and location.

Floor tile hardness scale.

To give the consumer a relative measurement of scratch resistance of tile and stone manufacturers and suppliers use the moh s hardness scale. This is a rating that describes the material s coefficient of friction or cof. The pei scale was established by the porcelain enamel institute to help create standards consumers could rely on to help determine which tiles to buy for which purpose. Tiles are vitrified i e.

The rating is for all enamel coated tiles including ceramic and porcelain products. The pei rating is and indication of tile hardness and pei floor ratings are valuable to guide tile choices for different projects. The mohs scale of mineral hardness is a qualitative scale that characterizes the scratch resistance of various minerals through the ability of a harder material to scratch a softer material. Ceramic tile will be scratched by glass but not by a copper coin.

Ceramic and porcelain tiles are rated though most people seem to be more concerned about the. The lower the number the softer. In short a higher number rating on the janka scale equates to a harder wood species. Understanding how the janka hardness scale works is simple.

The pei rating indicates the tile hardness and these ratings are valuable to help in tile choices for different projects. It does not measure the fracture strength of the entire tile nor does it offer any rating of the slip resistance of the tile. It should be noted that the pei rating involves testing of only the surface wear layer of a tile s enamel glazing. The wood hardness scale gives part of the picture of how scratch resistant wood is like the mohs scale of hardness addresses the scratch resistance of.

It has created a pei rating for all types of tile materials including flooring tiles wall tiles and more. A janka rating provides a great barometer for determining how well a particular floor may withstand denting and wear. The pei categorization primarily defines the hardness and durability of the various ceramic products that are tested. This hardness scale as with many hardness scales is a relative measure and doesn t give the entire picture of how durable the material being measured is.