CHARACTERISTICS AND REQUIREMENTS OF TERRAZZO TILES FOR INTERNAL AND

EXTERNAL FLOORS
The following table details the characteristics envisaged in the respective
standards:
Terrazzo tile characteristics

Dimensional quality
Length and width
Thickness
Straightness of fair face edge
Flatness of the fair face
Surface characteristics and visual
appearance
Bending strength/breaking load
Abrasion resistance
Slip resistance
Water absorption
Reaction to fire[1]
Thermal conductivity
Climate resistance

Water absorption

Resistance to frost/thaw cycles

External fire performance

For internal use

[EN 13748-1]

For external use

[EN 13748-2]

NOTE: Standards EN 13748-1 and EN 13748-2 include test methods for evaluating these characteristics or explicitly refer to other
standards. Tests are carried out on terrazzo tiles at least 28 days old.
[1] Terrazzo tiles need not be tested and are automatically classified as Alfl

Dimensional quality
Minimum thickness is only considered for double-layer terrazzo tile, two
classes being envisaged, depending on whether mechanical polishing processes are
applied after the tiles have been installed. The classes and their related codes are the
same, independently of the intended location:
Class I (Th I):
Class II (Th II):
[*]

Terrazzo facing layer thickness of 4 mm or more

Terrazzo facing layer thickness of 8 mm or more, if the
product is going to be polished after it has been installed [*]

In terrazzo tiles with relief, a minimum thickness of 2 mm is required of the facing layer at the bottom
of the groove or bas-relief

Artificial stone. Cement conglomerates (terrazzo)

Characteristics and requeriments of terrazzo tiles for internal and external floors

DIMENSIONAL TOLERANCES
Characteristic

Internal or external use

Side length or width

Thickness (thickness < 40 mm)
Thickness (thickness 40 mm)
Straightness of edges [1]
Flatness [2]
[ 1]
[ 2]

0.3%
2 mm
3 mm
0.3 %
0.3 %

Measured as maximum difference between the edge and a standard straightedge and expressed as a % in regard to the length
of that edge.
Measurement of the maximum deviation at any point in regard to the diagonal of the tile. This is not considered in textured
tiles.

Surface quality
Defined as the absence of projections, depressions, exfoliations, and cracks in
the fair face, based on visual inspection at a distance of 2 m, with natural light and dry
environment. Smaller holes may be permanently filled, without it being necessary to
define these. In addition, it is stated that when colorations are applied, they shall be
contained in the terrazzo facing layer or throughout the tile.
Slight variations in colour consistency between different lots of tiles, assignable
to shade variations in cements and aggregates, changes in the manufacturing process,
and/or environmental conditions, are allowed. The manufacturer shall define what is
considered a lot.
Moisture variations can lead to small differences in colour, which is why
maximum protection is always recommended during storage before installation.
Bending strength/breaking load
There are different classes for these parameters, with their corresponding
marking, depending on whether the terrazzo tiles are intended for interiors or exteriors.
TERRAZZO TILES FOR INTERNAL USE

Bending strength (MPa)

The average strength of the four test pieces shall be 5 MPa or greater
No individual test value shall be below 4 MPa
Breaking load (kN)

Class

Marking

Requirement

1(*)

BL I

No requirements

BL II

Tile surface area 1100 cm2

No individual value < 2.5 kN

BL III

Tile surface area > 1100 cm2

No individual value < 3 kN

(*)

For the use of this class it is required that the installation substrate or base shall be rigid, and that the tiles shall be installed on a
mortar bed.

Artificial stone. Cement conglomerates (terrazzo)

Characteristics and requeriments of terrazzo tiles for internal and external floors

TERRAZZO TILES FOR EXTERNAL USE

Bending strength (MPa)
Class

Marking

Average strength

Individual strength

ST

3.5

2.8

TT

4.0

3.2

UT

5.0

4.0

Breaking load (kN)

(*)

30(*)

3T

3.0

2.4

45

4T

4.5

3.6

70

7T

7.0

5.6

110

11T

11.0

8.8

140

14T

14.0

11.2

250

25T

25.0

20.0

300

30T

30.0

24.0

For class 30, it is recommended to install the terrazzo tile on a rigid continuous deck.

Abrasion resistance
Just as with natural stone, resistance to impairment of appearance by abrasion,
here called abrasive wear, is evaluated by measuring the groove made by a disc on the
fair face (deep abrasion). In this case, the test method is included in European standard
EN 13748-1. An alternative method [Bhm test method] is also put forward, which
measures volume loss of the test piece caused by the action of a rotating disc that exerts
a constant force of 294 N on the tile surface while it rotates, with artificial corundum
being fed between the test piece and the disc. The volume loss is measured after 16
cycles of 22 revolutions per cycle.

Artificial stone. Cement conglomerates (terrazzo)

Characteristics and requeriments of terrazzo tiles for internal and external floors

1-Test piece holder 2-Counterweight 3-Test piece 4-Test track 5-Load 6-Rotating disc

Bhm test method for the measurement of abrasion resistance

In terrazzo tiles for use in interiors, it is assumed that the abrasive wear
requirement is met if:
No test piece provides a groove exceeding 25 mm, by the deep abrasion
method
No test piece provides a volume loss per unit surface area exceeding
g 30
3
2
cm /50 cm with the Bhm test
Terrazzo tiles for use in exteriors feature four classes with their corresponding
marking codes, as shown in the following table.
ABRASION RESISTANCE OF TERRAZZO TILES INTENDED FOR EXTERIORS
Class Marking

Deep abrasion test

groove length in mm

Bhm test
volume loss per unit surface area
cm3/cm2

Characteristic not measured

26

26/50

23

20/50

20

18/50

Slip resistance
The standard states that unpolished, dry terrazzo tile exiting the factory has
satisfactory non-slip performance. As a result, this consideration should be taken into
account in customarily dry internal locations.
However, now that the Technical Building Code (CTE) has been approved in
Spain, the slip resistance shall be characterised of all tiles intended for floors for private
communal use and in publicly trafficked architecture, in dry and wet surface conditions,
based on the demands of the document on safety against risk of pedestrian slip-falls [SU
1 of the CTE], as already mentioned for both ceramic tiles and natural stone tiles.

Artificial stone. Cement conglomerates (terrazzo)

Characteristics and requeriments of terrazzo tiles for internal and external floors

For the sake of safety, it is advisable to test this characteristic in all unpolished
terrazzo tiles, since they may be intended for interiors with risk (floors that are often
wet, floors that can be accessed from outside, etc.)
If the tiles display reliefs or a rough surface texture, it may be assumed that they
are slip resistant, though this statement cannot be generalised, since terrazzo tiles with
certain polished (or even unpolished) high reliefs exhibit poor wet anti-slip performance
(for example, in pavements and outdoor urban paving).
The test values and demands according to the above SU 1 document of the
Spanish CTE are given below.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Sample holder
Sample
Adjustable mass
Water inlet
Adjustable abrasive hopper and dispensers
Polishing wheel
Rubber ring

Flat-bed polishing machine

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Scale C (126 mm slip length)

Scale F (76 mm slip length)
Pointer
Pendulum arm
Rubber slider
Levelling screw
Test piece
Bubble level indicator
Vertical adjustment screw

Pendulum friction tester

FLOOR CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO SU 1

Slip resistance Rd

Floor classes

Rd 15

Class 0

15 < Rd 35

Class 1

35 < Rd 45

Class 2

Rd > 45

Class 3

Artificial stone. Cement conglomerates (terrazzo)

Characteristics and requeriments of terrazzo tiles for internal and external floors

FLOOR CLASS AS A FUNCTION OF SLIP RISK

Area

Floor class

Dry internal areas

-

surfaces with a slope of less than 6%

surfaces with a slope of 6% or higher and stairs

Class 1
Class 2
(1)

Wet internal areas, such as bathrooms, kitchens, indoor swimming pools, etc.
-

surfaces with a slope of less than 6%

Class 2

surfaces with a slope of 6% or higher and stairs

Class 3

Internal areas in which, in addition to water, there may be agents that reduce slip
resistance (grease, lubricants, etc.), such as industrial kitchens, slaughter houses,
garages, areas of industrial use, etc.

Class 3

External areas. Swimming pools (2)

Class 3

(1)

(2)

These include floor areas around building entrances from outside, except when direct accesses to dwellings or to areas of
restricted use, as well as covered terraces, are involved.
In areas intended for barefoot users and swimming pool floors, in areas not deeper than 1.50 m.

In addition to the characterisation of the slip risk of terrazzo tiles that have been
subjected to mechanical polishing and subsequent lapping treatment, terrazzo tiles
should also be characterised that are intended for public flooring under a wide spectrum
of risks, including the presence of grease and other substances that encourage slipping.
In short, it is very important to determine the USRV (unpolished skid resistance
value) of a terrazzo tile, and it is to be appreciated when the manufacturer supplies that
value for a polished surface.
Water absorption
In terrazzo tiles it is sought to combine water absorption of the rear (generally of
the tile mass), which allows installation with mortar according to the different variants
of the traditional technique, with limited fair surface suction that will not encourage dirt
to lodge. As a result, standard EN 13748-1 establishes two test results to measure
absorption:

Per unit surface area, by capillarity at atmospheric pressure, expressed in

g/cm2, and measured after 24 h immersion
Total water absorption of the terrazzo tile, expressed as a % in relation to the
dry mass of the test tile

For tiles intended for interiors, maximum values of water absorption through
the fair face are set of 0.4 g/cm2 (for no individual tested piece) and of 8% for total
absorption.
In terrazzo tiles intended for exteriors, standard EN 13748-2 establishes certain
classes, linking total water absorption (in %) to the climate resistance parameter, which
correlates that absorption with the results of the frost/thaw cycle test, using dissolved
de-icer salts and evaluating the results by the mass loss of the test pieces, expressed in
Artificial stone. Cement conglomerates (terrazzo)
Characteristics and requeriments of terrazzo tiles for internal and external floors

kg/m2, after 28 cycles from +20 to -20C. The climate resistance classes are presented in
the following table.
CLASSES BY CLIMATE RESISTANCE (TERRAZZO TILES FOR EXTERNAL USE)
Class

Marking

Water absorption
(% by weight)

Mass loss after frost/thaw test

cycles (in kg/m2)

1
2

A
B

Not evaluated
#6 (as an average)

Not evaluated

Not evaluated
Not evaluated
1.0 as an average
No individual value > 1.5

Reaction to fire
Just as with ceramic tiles and natural stone tiles, terrazzo tiles need not be tested
in order to be automatically classified as Alfl [Commission Decision 96/603/CE], unless
they contain 1% by weight or more of the tile in organic matter. This consideration
extends to in-factory surface treatments that involve the application of organic products
(sealants, primers, etc.).
Fire resistance is a key characteristic that shall be included in the CE marking.
External fire performance
This parameter is included in standard EN 13748 for terrazzo tiles intended for
exteriors, as deck elements, the same consideration being applied as for the reaction to
fire (automatic classification as Alfl).
Thermal conductivity
Parameter to be considered when terrazzo tiles are intended for a construction
element that is required to provide thermal efficiency. In that case, the manufacturer
shall state the thermal properties using the data given in Table L.2 of standard EN
13369.

Artificial stone. Cement conglomerates (terrazzo)

Characteristics and requeriments of terrazzo tiles for internal and external floors