Do Tiles Need A CE Certification?

The CE marking is something that the European Union introduced on many products. This is to show the public that that item is safe to use. Tiles come under the category that need a CE marking to pass the building standards.

All buiding materials should confirm to the safety standards as set out in the directive. This is part of a quality control drive by the European Union. These safety measures proclaim that the products must fulfil certain requirements when they are incorporated, applied or assembled while constructing a building structure. All construction material are said to be fit for CE rating if they meet certain requirements such as –

 Stability and mechanical resistance
Fires; and safely guarding yourself
Friendly to the environment
Health and hygiene safety
 Sound absorption
 Heat retention

Therefore all ceramic tiles entering the EFTA and the European Union market today must bear a CE marking and this rule became operational on 1 March 2006. To prove that tiles are suitable for use and have no risk to any health problems, this certification is essential. On the list, there are all kinds of tiles included, such as wall, floor polished and glazed. To ascertain a tiles safety features and to be compliant with CE standards, they are subjected to a number of tests; these include the level of heat they can withstand, the external pressure and their resistance to water.

There are two ways in which a product can be attested for CE marking. Firstly an approved certification body can test and certify that the product conforms to the European standards and secondly a declaration by the manufacturer can also confirm that it is suitable as per the requirements of the European construction directives. When a manufacturer certifies that the product is safe for use, the product in this case tiles must bear a mark clearing its safety.

Sound absorption is measured in terms of aw value that is calculated as per the EN ISO 11654 while the product standard depends on the EN ISO 354. The EN 13501- 1 checks the fire safety of a product, while the EN 717-1 relies on checks for the amount of formaldehyde in the product. They are then given an E1 or E2 rating. Products with a low percentage of formaldehyde are considered by the E1 rating system to be of a high quality. External pressures such as humidity, heat, excessive load and water corrosion can reflect a products quality and durability.

Once the tiles have passed these tests as being compliant with the Construction Product Directive or CPD 89/106/EEC and meet the European standard for tiles EN 14411, they are declared fit for use and can freely be distributed in the European markets from where they can reach general consumers and building constructors. Seeing the CE marking on tiles, gives the public a great deal of peace of mind; this is because we can be sure they have been checked for safety and are ready for use.
So rest assured, whether you are choosing bathroom tiles or tiles for your kitchen floor they would have passed these rigourous tests.