Specification

Tile Specifications
STANDARDS &
REGULATIONS
TILE SPECIFICATIONS PAGE 1 OF 3
Meier Park Silver Strand
12 in. x 24 in. tile shown in brick pattern
PORCELAIN/CERAMIC TEST RESULTS
Daltile has always been proud to support solutions that better our industry. That’s why we’re among the first
to join the Tile Council of North America in testing our products with DCOF AcuTest
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, a new industry standard
used to measure dynamic coecient of friction (DCOF). DCOF AcuTest
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assesses a product’s suitability for the
commercial environment and the specific usability needs of the application.
A Measure of Friction
Friction is the force that resists the sliding motion of one surface against another. Contaminants, such as liquids,
can alter the measurement of friction. There are two types of friction: static (SCOF) and dynamic (DCOF). SCOF is
the ratio of forces necessary to start two surfaces sliding. This is what the former American Society for Testing and
Materials (ASTM) C1028 static test measured. DCOF is the ratio of forces necessary to keep two surfaces sliding.
Out with the Old, In with the New
Dal-Tile, in partnership with the Tile Council of North America (TCNA), is proud to endorse the DCOF AcuTest
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because it’s the most accurate method for determining whether or not a product is suitable for a commercial
environment.
• Similar to measuring the speed of a car in both mph and kph, friction can also be measured on two scales
(DCOF and SCOF). The new 0.42 wet (DCOF) is replacing the old reference of 0.60 COF wet, which has long
been the benchmark for friction in commercial applications.
• The new, more stringent DCOF AcuTest
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uses a portable robot that, unlike ASTM C1028, gives realistic values
on very smooth surfaces.
While the industry standard is changing, the quality you can count on from us remains the same.
Visit www.daltile.com/DCOF to learn more.
Water Absorption, ASTM C373-88
Water absorption is measured using ASTM C373-88. Individual tiles are weighed, saturated with water, then
weighed again. The percent dierence between the two conditions is referred to as the water absorption value.
Tiles are classified according to water absorption percentages as follows:
value. Tiles are classified according to water absorption percentages as follows:
Impervious Tiles exhibiting 0.5% or less.
Vitreous Tiles exhibiting more than 0.5%, but not more than 3.0%.
Semi-Vitreous Tiles exhibiting more than 3.0%, but not more than 7.0%.
Non-Vitreous Tiles exhibiting more than 7.0%.
Scratch Hardness – Mohs Scale Ratings
The relative hardness of glazed tile is an important issue that should be addressed when selecting a tile. The test
is performed by scratching the surface of the tile with dierent minerals and subjectively assigning a “Mohs Scale
of Mineral Hardness” number to the glaze. The softest mineral used is talc (“1” rating)—the hardest is a diamond
(“10” rating). Other minerals of varying hardness providing Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness values of 5 or more are
suitable for most residential floor applications. A value of 7 or greater is normally recommended for commercial
applications.