Old Swan Tiles 2021 Collection

Technical Information
What is Porcelain?
Porcelain is actually a type of ceramic, the main
characteristics of which are low porosity (absorption
rates of less than 0.5%) and colour that penetrates
the entire body of the tile, rendering it very durable.
Porcelain can be either glazed or unglazed depending
on the desired look and intended use.
Floor Tile PEI Ratings
Grade 1 - Light domestic use - barefoot or soft
footwear, i.e. bathrooms and bedrooms.
Grade 2 - Moderate domestic traffic - tiles suited to
use in the home except in areas where there is direct
access to outside such as hallways and kitchens.
Grade 3 - All domestic use - Suitable for all areas of the
home including kitchens and hallways.
Grade 4 - Tiles suitable for domestic and public use
where moderate to heavy traffic occurs, i.e. Hotel
lobbies, restaurants and supermarkets.
Grade 5 - Tiles suitable for all types of use weather,
domestic or in public areas of heavy traffic.
Ink Jet Printing
The latest tiles are produced using inkjet technology
which can print exact reproductions of natural stone or
wood in very high definition even on tiles with uneven
surfaces, making them difficult to tell apart from the
real thing
Unglazed Porcelain
These tiles are extremely durable and frost proof.
The initial tile is matt in finish. The same tile can then
be either semi or fully polished. Polishing unglazed
porcelain results in a high gloss finish. Unfortunately,
polished porcelains are more susceptible to staining
because dirt gets trapped in the opened surface
pores. Sealants or other pre-surface treatments can
prevent this problem as a routine re-application of the
protective treatment is maintained.
Glazed Porcelain
These tiles have a glaze applied over the porcelain
body and it is therefore the glaze’s hardness that
determines where the tile can be used, in the same
way as normal ceramic tiles. Some glazed porcelain
can be used outside as the body is frost resistant.
Slip Resistance
There are various ways of measuring slip resistance.
Two of the most commonly seen in this country are the
pendulum test and the ramp test. We have used ramp
test ratings throughout the brochure where available.
The dry ramp test measures slip resistance for areas
of wet shoe traffic. The R value is greater in areas of
higher resistance to slipping.
The wet ramp test measures slip resistance for areas
where people will be walking with wet bare feet. It is
measured in values of A to C. A is suitable for mainly
water splash areas for example bathrooms, B is for
pool surroundings, shower areas etc and C is for walk
through pools, ramps into pools etc.
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