APPOINTMENTS & NEWS 5
NEWS FEATURE
Large format tiles offer aesthetic freedom
Nick Bratt, national technical sales manager for tile adhesive manufacturer Palace Chemicals, outlines some of the issues around specifying the new generation of large format tiles.
L
arge format porcelain panels are now increasingly seen in both commercial and residential installations. With modern digital printing techniques, they offer exciting new design opportunities for architects. They feature a no-nonsense, sleek and unfussy aesthetic, due to the reduced number of grout lines, allowing a clean and uninterrupted finish. When used in hygiene- sensitive environments, they also offer easier cleaning, along with health and wellbeing benefits. According to British Standard BS 5385 Part 1:2018, a ceramic panel is a tile with a surface area >1 m2, with any tile edge >1,200 mm, whereas a large format ceramic tile is defined as a ceramic tile with a surface area greater than 3,600 cm2, but no tile edge greater than 1,200 mm. There are specific requirements relating to the installation of large format tiles and panels, due to their size and weight. What happens ‘behind the tile’ is a very important part of the specification process, so designers need to look beyond the aesthetic aspects. The main requirements are included in the British Standard BS 5385 Part 3:2024. This states: “Thin ceramic panels should be handled with specially designed equipment for supporting them in order to prevent possible fracture during and after removal from the manufacturer’s original packaging, as well as for the actual installation of the panels.” It will be noted that handling issues can be particularly challenging in refurbishment projects or where it is required to negotiate stairways. The British Standard also states: “Depending upon the size of the panel, sufficient bedding adhesive should be spread to install one panel at a time to avoid possible ‘skinning’ of the adhesive which could have a detrimental effect upon the performance of the adhesive bond.”
In accordance with BS 5385 Part 1:2018: “Where tiles greater than 0.1 m2 face area are required to be fixed to walls above 3 m above floor level they should be secured by mechanical fixings.” For tiles that are being fitted at heights below 3 m, the choice of adhesive is important to ensure that a solid bed is achieved. This will require applying adhesive to the substrate and also back-buttering the tiles. Particular attention should be paid to the application of adhesive to the backs of thin ceramic tiles and panels so that the edges and corners are properly covered with adhesive. We would also advise that the type of adhesive should be specified at the design stage. A lightweight thixotropic adhesive should be considered. It is also important that the substrate should comprise a bespoke tile backerboard to support the additional weight.
Supplied by Nick Bratt, national technical sales manager for Palace Chemicals
WWW.BUILDINGCONSTRUCTIONDESIGN.CO.UK
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26
