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Advertising supplement provided by
the Italian Trade Commission
The Issue of Safety
Safety is one of the essential requisites
of the Directive on Building Products (89/106/EC). The characteristics
determining the compliance of tiles are two: fire and slip
resistance.
Exposure to the high temperatures fires
potentially reach does not generally damage ceramic materials.
A ceramic floor or covering when in contact with flames is
not damaged, does not propagate or feed the fire, does not
produce or emit toxic substances, gases or vapors of any kind.
Where there is a risk of fire, ceramic tiles perform better
than most other covering or flooring materials (in particular
wood, cork, carpet, vinyl, etc.). Moreover, it has been experimentally
proven that, in cases of fire, ceramic coverings provide good
protection to the structures they cover, considerably lowering
the thermal stresses the structures would otherwise be subject
to.
The risk of accidents due to the slipperiness
of floors is an issue that until recently had been underestimated,
yet is becoming more important. The reasons for this are:
the enforcement in several countries of specific measures
to prevent such accidents, and the growing public demand for
safe products in the home, workplace and public areas. Especially
when undergoing intense traffic flows, paving—indoors
or outdoors—should be designed to prevent accidents and
ensure users of safe conditions. Ceramic tiles respond to
that need without compromising other technical or aesthetic
issues.
To measure the degree of slip resistance,
specific national standards have been established (DM 236
or DIN 18025). To obtain UNI certification, compliance with
these standards is necessary. Ceramic tiles, and more particularly
porcelain tiles, can be designed with very effective anti-slip
surfaces. Certain factors, however, should be taken into account
to ensure adequate anti-slip performance in the flooring or
walkway surface:
- Conditions of Use: bearing
in mind the variation in degree of slipperiness according
to the wet or dry or dirty conditions, designing an appropriate
maintenance regime is crucial to maintaining the original
characteristics of the paving under all conditions.
- Choice of Materials: decide
which is the more appropriate surface finish according to
its intended use. In particular, analyze the potential degree
of wear-and-tear.
- Installation: a well-designed
flooring may be seriously compromised— especially in
terms of safety—if the installation is not done to
the highest standards. Slight, unexpected slopes, a subsiding
surface or any imperfections increase the risk of accidents.
All photographs in this section
by Miro Zagnoli.
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Click For Additional
Required Reading
To receive AIA/CES credit, you are required to read
this additional text. The
quiz questions below include
information from this online reading. To receive a faxed
copy of the material, contact Jacqueline Greaves at
1-212-980-1500, e-mail newyork@newyork.ice.it.
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About The Italian Trade
Commission
The Ceramic Tile Department of the Italian Trade Commission
in New York, in its twenty-fourth year of operation,
is the source for up-to-date information on Italian
ceramic tiles as well as a major link between Italian
manufacturers and the American market.
Information on the Italian ceramic tile market, on
Italian manufacturers and their distributors in the
U.S. can be easily found by visiting the Italian Trade
Commission website: www.italytile.com
This department collaborates closely with the Italian
association Assopiastrelle, which represents Italian
Ceramic Tile & Refractory Manufacturers, to provide
technical information as well as assistance in locating
Italian ceramic tile manufacturers in the United States.
The Italian Trade Commission would like to thank Assopiastrelle
(www.italiatiles.com) and the Italian Ceramic Tile Industry
for its dedication to Sustainability (S_tiles®)
and to their invaluable assistance in preparing this
document. For more information, please visit their website
dedicated to Sustainability and Ceramic Tiles: www.s-tiles.it.
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