Meeting British Standards For Tile Adhesives
The European Union states that every kind of construction material used needs a CE marking. This depicts their safety. British Standards state that tile adhesives have to meet safety specifications as set out before they will declare them fit for purpose.
To be used in Europe all construction materials including adhesives need to pass the safety test. Included in this is metallic components, timber, adhesives for tiles, plastic water pipes and gypsum blocks. The minimum requirement for a tile adhesive to pass the test is to conform by the BS EN 12004. This marks the perfect British Standard and is far more descriptive as to its properties as compared to the former British Standard BS 5980. Dispersion, performance and reactions are all included in the series of tests which adhesives have pass in order to be classified into separate catergories.
The newly introduced tests are far more detailed as to what were carried out earlier for meeting safety standards. Water resistance, ability to stretch, slipperiness and the ability to withstand deformation are some of the factors taken into consideration in the newly formed safety tests. The fundamental characteristics have to be declared by the manufacturer in order to prove the adhesive conforms to the British Standard. The manufacturer will mark the product under a certain category that will instantly confirm that it is safe for use.
The BS EN 12004 dk. To be sold in the European Union markets, products that have the CE marking are classed has being fit to use according to the general stardards. They are however, not classed as having full safety to use according to the new British Standard. To be considered fit for BS EN 12004 standards adhesives have to have passed the following performance tests; heat ageing, freezing and thawing. These tests however, are not included in order to pass the CE certification. The durability of the product however needs to pass the Construction Products Directive.
It is therefore advisable that you check the marking on the product before you buy it. The label holds the information for the public to ensure they are buying a safe product. It is therefore important that they hold both the CE and the BS EN 12004 certification. The heat ageing, freeze and thaw requirements are factors you should still check for on the contents label even if it has both the markings. The adhesive will show signs if it contains this property, such as a no performance determined NPD sign. It may also have a N/mm2 value which is lower than 0.Durability is measured with 5N/mm2.
The CE and the BS EN 12004 marks are classification ratings that are set by the manufacturer to show the product you are buying passes all safety norms.
With these kind of checks in place the public can rest assured whether decorating the bathroom, with those gorgeous ceramic bathroom tiles or choosing a tile design for your kitchen, each product has had to pass the safety checks in place.
