ASTM C212-22

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Designation: C212 − 21 C212 − 22
Standard Specification for
Structural Clay Facing Tile
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C212; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope*
1.1 This specification covers structural clay loadbearing facing tile. Structural facing tile are tile designed for use in interior and
exterior unplastered walls and partitions of buildings.
1.2 The property requirements of this specification apply at the time of purchase. The use of results from testing of tile extracted
from masonry structures for determining conformance or nonconformance to the property requirements (Section 6) of this standard
is beyond the scope of this specification.
1.3 Tile covered by this specification are manufactured from clay, shale, or similar naturally occurring substances and subjected
to a heat treatment at elevated temperatures (firing). The heat treatment must develop sufficient fired bond between the particulate
constituents to provide the strength and durability requirements of this specification. (See firing and fired bond in Terminology
C1232.)
1.4 The text of this specification references notes and footnotes which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes
(excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered as requirements of the specification.
1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C67 Test Methods for Sampling and Testing Brick and Structural Clay Tile
C1232 Terminology for Masonry
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—For definitions relating to structural clay facing tile, refer to Terminology C1232.
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C15 on Manufactured Masonry Units and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C15.02 on Brick
and Structural Clay Tile.
Current edition approved June 1, 2021June 1, 2022. Published June 2021June 2022. Originally approved in 1946. Last previous edition approved in 20202021 as
C212–20.–21. DOI: 10.1520/C0212-21.10.1520/C0212-22.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
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C212 − 22
4. Classification
4.1 Two types of structural clay facing tile are covered, as follows:
4.1.1 Type FTX—Smooth-face tile suitable for general use in exposed exterior and interior masonry walls and partitions, and
adapted for use where tile low in absorption, easily cleaned, and resistant to staining are required, and where a high degree of
mechanical perfection, narrow color range, and minimum variation in face dimensions are desired.
4.1.2 Type FTS—Smooth- or rough-texture face tile suitable for general use in exposed exterior and interior masonry walls and
partitions and adapted for use where tile of moderate absorption, moderate variation in face dimensions, and medium color range
are permitted, and where minor defects in surface finish, including small handling chips, are not objectionable. Two-face tile having
one smooth face and one rough-texture face are included in this type.
4.2 Two classes of structural clay facing tile are covered, as follows:
4.2.1 Standard—Tile suitable for general use in exterior or interior masonry walls and partitions.
4.2.2 Special Duty—Tile suitable for general use in exterior or interior masonry walls and partitions, and designed to have superior
resistance to impact and moisture transmission and to support greater lateral and compressive loads than standard tile construction.
5. Ordering Information
5.1 Orders for material under this specification shall include the following information:
5.1.1 Type—See 4.1.
5.1.2 Class—See 4.2. When class is not specified, the requirements for standard tile shall govern. If special duty tile are desired,
the words “special duty” shall be included in the specifications. Special duty tile shall be accepted in lieu of standard tile except
where the extra weight is an important factor in the loading of supporting members.
5.1.3 Texture and Color—See Section 8. For two-face tile, identify required texture for each face.
5.1.4 Sizes and Shapes—Sizes and shapes shall be as specified.
5.1.5 Number of Faces—If two-face tile are desired, this shall be stated by the purchaser; otherwise, single-face tile may be
furnished.
6. Physical Properties
6.1 Absorption:
6.1.1 The tile shall conform to one of the requirements for water absorption of the type specified as prescribed in Table 1.
6.1.2 For Type FTS tile for use in masonry not exposed to frost action or in exposed masonry walls with an outside facing of 3
in. (76.2 mm) or more of stone, brick, or other masonry, limitations on absorption shall be waived.
6.2 Compressive Strength:
6.2.1 The tile shall conform to the requirements for compressive strength of the class specified as prescribed in Table 2.
TABLE 1 Maximum Water Absorption
By 24-h Submersion in Cold
Type By 1-h Boiling, %
Water, %
Average Individual Average Individual
FTX 7.0 9.0 9.0 11.0
FTS 13.0 16.0 16.0 19.0
C212 − 22
TABLE 2 Compressive Strength Based on Gross Area
End-Construction Tile Side-Construction Tile
Minimum
Minimum Average Individual Individual
Class Average of
of Five Tests, psi Minimum, psi Minimum, psi
Five Tests,
(MPa) (MPa) (MPa)
psi (MPa)
Standard 1400 (9.7) 1000 (6.9) 700 (4.8) 500 (3.4)
Special duty 2500 (17.2) 2000 (13.8) 1200 (8.3) 1000 (6.9)
6.2.2 Special duty tile shall be accepted in lieu of standard tile except where the extra weight is an important factor in the loading
of supporting members.
7. Dimensions and Permissible Variations
7.1 Tolerances on Dimensions—The average size of the tile furnished shall approximate closely the size specified in the invitation
for bids. The dimensions of individual tile shall not differ from the specified dimensions for the type specified by more than the
amounts given in Table 3. The thickness of a two-face tile shall be designated as either the maximum or minimum measured
thickness of the tile, whichever is farthest from the specified unit dimension.
7.2 Tolerances on Warpage—Warpage of face or edges of individual tile from a plane surface or from a straight line, respectively,
shall not exceed the amounts shown in Table 4 for the type specified.
NOTE 1—The thickness of individual two-face tile is affected by the warpage (7.2).
8. Finish and Appearance
8.1 The body of all tile shall be of clay, shale, fire clay, or mixtures of these materials with or without admixtures, burned to meet
the requirements of this specification. The body of all tile shall be free of cracks longer than one fourth of the dimension of the
tile in the direction of the crack. The face or faces that will be exposed when in place shall be free of cracks that extend through
the thickness of the face shell and free of chips that exceed the limits given in Table 5, except that percentages of the shipment
are allowed additional chippage which shall not exceed the limits given in Table 6. The tile shall be free of other imperfections
detracting from the appearance of the finished wall when viewed under diffused lighting at a distance of 10 ft (3.04 m) for Type
FTX and at a distance of 15 ft (4.57 m) for Type FTS.
8.2 Plaster Base Finish—Surfaces of tile for plaster-base finish shall be smooth, scored, combed, or roughened. When smooth,
the tile shall be free of glaze and the absorption shall be not less than 5 % . When scored, each groove shall be not less than ⁄16
in. (1.6 mm) nor more than ⁄4 in. (6.4 mm) in depth and not more than 1 in. (25.4 mm) in width. The area covered by grooves
shall not exceed 50 % of the area of the scored faces. When combed, the tile shall be scratched or scarified, prior to burning, by
mechanical means which shall make scratches or scarifications on the surface of the tile not less than ⁄16 in. (1.6 mm) nor more
1 1
than ⁄8 in. (3.2 mm) in depth, and not more than ⁄4 in. apart. When roughened, the die skin on the face of the tile shall be entirely
broken by mechanical means, such as wire cutting or wire brushing. (The die skin is visible within the cells of the tile.)
8.3 Type FTX—The face or faces of all tile that will be exposed when in place shall have a smooth and unbroken natural die finish.
(The die finish is visible within the cells of the tile.) The color range of the finished faces shall conform to an approved sample
consisting of not less than five stretcher tile fully representing the range of shade.
TABLE 3 Tolerances on Dimensions
Maximum Permissible Variation from Specified
Specified Unit Dimension,
Unit Dimension, plus or minus, in. (mm)
in. (mm)
FTX FTS
1 3
3 (76.2) and under ⁄16 (1.6) ⁄32 (2.4)
3 2
Over 3 to 4 (76.2 to 101.6), incl ⁄32 (2.4) ⁄16 (3.2)
2 3
Over 4 to 6 (101.6 to 152.4), incl ⁄16 (3.2) ⁄16 (4.8)
5 4
Over 6 to 8 (152.4 to 203.2), incl ⁄32 (4.0) ⁄16 (6.4)
7 5
Over 8 to 12 (203.2 to 304.8), incl ⁄32 (5.6) ⁄16 (7.9)
9 6
Over 12 to 16 (304.8 to 406.4), incl ⁄32 (7.1) ⁄16 (9.5)
C212 − 22
TABLE 4 Tolerances on Warpage
Maximum Permissible Warpage,
Maximum Face Dimensions in. (mm)
(Height or Length), in. (mm) Type Type
FTX FTS
3 4
8 (203.2) and under ⁄32 (2.4) ⁄32 (3.2)
4 6
Over 8 to 12 (203.2 to 304.8), incl ⁄32 (3.2) ⁄32 (4.8)
6 8
Over 12 to 16 (304.8 to 406.4), incl ⁄32 (4.8) ⁄32 (6.4)
TABLE 5 Maximum Permissible Extent of Chippage From the
Edges and Corners of Finished Face or Faces Into the Surfaces
Chippage in inches (millimetres) in from
Type
Edge Corner
1 1
FTX ⁄4 (3.2) ⁄4 (6.4)
A
1 3
FTS (smooth) ⁄4 (6.4) ⁄8 (9.5)
B
5 1
FTS (rough) ⁄16 (7.9) ⁄2 (12.7)
A
Smooth texture is the unbroken natural die finish.
B
Rough texture is the finish produced when the face is sanded, combed,
scratched, or scarified, or the die skin on the face is entirely broken by mechanical
means, such as wire cutting or wire brushing.
TABLE 6 Percentages of Shipment Allowed Chippage Ov
...