ASTM C627-18(2024)

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.
Designation: C627 − 18 (Reapproved 2024)
Standard Test Method for
Evaluating Ceramic Floor Tile Installation Systems Using
the Robinson-Type Floor Tester
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C627; 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.
1. Scope 2.2 ASTM Adjuncts:
Robinson-type Floor Tester
1.1 This test method covers the evaluation of ceramic floor
2 Deflection Gauge
tile installation systems, using the Robinson -type floor tester.
1.2 This test method is intended solely for evaluating
3. Summary of Test Method
complete ceramic floor tile installation systems for failure
3.1 This test method consists of preparing test assemblies
under dynamic loads and not for evaluating particular charac-
that duplicate the type of installation under consideration,
teristics of ceramic tile, such as abrasion resistance. This test
subjecting them to one or more tests on the Robinson floor
method does not claim to provide meaningful results for other
tester, and evaluating the results in a prescribed manner.
than evaluating complete ceramic floor tile installation sys-
Description of the installation method must specifically include
tems.
all variables, for example, the type of materials and mixture
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
proportions of substratum, setting material, and tile grout; type
as the standard. The metric (SI) units in parentheses are for
of tile, installation technique, and cure.
information only.
4. Significance and Use
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 4.1 This test method provides a standardized procedure for
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- evaluating performance of ceramic floor tile installations under
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter- conditions similar to actual specific usages. It can be used to
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. make comparisons between customary basic installation
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor- methods, to establish the influence of minor changes in a
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- particular installation method, and to judge the merit of
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
proposed novel methods.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
5. Apparatus
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
5.1 Foundation for Tester—The foundation for the tester
shall consist of a minimum 4-ft by 4-ft (1220 mm by 1220 mm)
2. Referenced Documents
square and 1-ft (300 mm) thick cement slab. The testing
2.1 ASTM Standards: surface of this slab shall be smooth, level, and flat with the
maximum deviation from a true plane not to exceed ⁄32 in.
C144 Specification for Aggregate for Masonry Mortar
C150 Specification for Portland Cement (0.8 mm). The foundation may be equipped for a bottom or top
driven tester. Please see X1.1 for construction details for a
foundation using a bottom driven tester that has been known to
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C21 on Ceramic meet the requirements of the test method.
Whitewares and Related Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
5.2 Tester—The tester itself shall be a 150-lbs 6 5-lbs
C21.06 on Ceramic Tile.
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2024. Published February 2024. Originally (68.1 kg 6 2.3 kg) carriage in the shape of an equilateral
ɛ1
approved in 1970. Last previous edition approved in 2018 as C627 – 18 . DOI:
triangle. Three swivel caster wheels shall be equally spaced in
10.1520/C0627-18R24.
a circle with 15-in. (381 mm) radius from the center and
Detailed working drawings of the an apparatus known to meet the requirements
of this standard are available at a nominal cost from ASTM Headquarters. Order
Adjunct No. ADJC062701 or ADJC062701-E-PDF (digital version).
3 4
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or Detailed working drawings for construction of a deflection gauge known to
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM meet the requirements of this standard are available at nominal cost from ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Headquarters. Order Adjunct No. ADJC062702 or ADJC062702-E-PDF (digital
the ASTM website. version).
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
C627 − 18 (2024)
fastened to the underside of the carriage at the intersection of 5.5.1 One set of soft rubber wheels with a 78 6 3 Shore A
the bisector of each angle and the 15-in. (381 mm) radius durometer hardness,
circle. The carriage shall be capable of supporting 750 lbs 5.5.2 One set of hard rubber wheels with a 80 6 3 Shore D
(340.5 kg) of additional weight, 250 lbs (113.5 kg) of auxiliary durometer hardness, and
weights over each wheel. The auxiliary weight stacks shall be 5.5.3 One set of steel wheels with a steel surface. The
sufficiently secured to the carriage. Cutaway diagrams of a surface of the steel wheel shall be curved in such a way that the
bottom-driven apparatus and of a top-driven apparatus are radius in the center is greater than the radius on the edge by
shown in Fig. 1. Please see X1.2 for construction details for approximately ⁄128 in. (0.6 mm). See Fig. 2.
one example of a tester known to meet the requirements of the
5.6 Weights—750-lbs (340 kg) of auxiliary weights are
test method.
required. Weights may be of any size or shape so long as they
5.3 Drive—The tester shall be driven by a motor and speed meet the requirements found in 5.2 and the loading schedule
reducer, variable speed drive, or equivalent, capable of rotating found in Table 1. Thirty 25-lb (11.5 kg) disk-shaped, 11-in.
the carriage at 15 rpm 6 0.5 rpm during testing. Drive trans- (280 mm) diameter bar bell weights have been known to work.
mittal shall be arranged in such a manner that the plane of Accuracy of the weights shall be 62 %.
travel and the elevation of the carriage are free to accommodate
5.7 Deflection Gauge (optional)—A gauge accurate to
various types of test assemblies. The drive shaft (whether top
0.001 in. (0.025 mm) which may be inserted between the upper
or bottom driven tester) shall be equipped with a universal joint
and lower sheet of a plywood base to measure the deflection of
between the driveshaft and carriage to allow contact between
the base under the path of the wheels.
the wheels and test panel at all times.
6. Test Panel Assemblies
5.4 Revolution Counter or Timer—A revolution counter,
capable of recording up to 1000 revolutions, or an automatic
6.1 The base upon which the tile are installed, the bonding
timing device which can be present to stop the tester.
medium, the type of tile mountings, the type of grout, and the
type of tile used may be varied with the requirements of the
5.5 Wheels—The wheels shall be attached to swivel casters
test.
with removable axles, equipped with grease fittings. All casters
shall be of ball bearing construction. The wheels shall be 4 in.
1 3 1
6 ⁄8 in. (102 mm 6 3 mm) in diameter and 1 ⁄8-in. 6 ⁄16-in.
The wheels must be conditioned at 73.4 °F 6 3.6 °F (23 °C 6 2 °C) for a
(35 mm 6 1.6 mm) in width. The wheels shall be equipped
minimum of 24 hours prior to measuring the durometer hardness. Shore A and Shore
with roller or ball bearings. Three sets of three wheels each are
D durometer hardness measurements shall be taken in the center of the wheel width
required, namely: prior to the wheel being placed into service on each test panel.
FIG. 1 Bottom- and Top-Driven Floor Tile Installations Systems Testers (Not to Scale)
C627 − 18 (2024)
FIG. 2 Steel Wheel Surface Profile
TABLE 1 Loading Schedule for Testing
Total Weight per Duration of Total Number
Cycle Type of Wheels
Wheel lbs (kg) Test, h of Revolutions
1 soft rubber 100 (45) 1 900
2 soft rubber 200 (91) 1 900
3 soft rubber 300 (136) 1 900
4 soft rubber 300 (136) 1 900
5 hard rubber 100 (45) 1 900
6 hard rubber 200 (91) 1 900
7 hard rubber 300 (136) 1 900
8 hard rubber 300 (136) 1 900
9 steel 50 (23) ⁄2 450
10 steel 100 (45) ⁄2 450
11 steel 150 (68) ⁄2 450
12 steel 200 (91) ⁄2 450
13 steel 250 (114) ⁄2 450
14 steel 300 (136) ⁄2 450
6.1.1 Mortar Base for Portland Cement Installations—A
Dimension Table
Key in. mm
recommended mortar base panel for portland cement installa-
B (optional) ⁄2 12.7
tions may be cast without reinforcements into a 2-in. (51 mm)
F 2 50.8
thick square with minimum dimensions of 4-ft by 4-ft
H (optional) 5 127.0
K (optional) 6 152.4
(1220 mm by 1220 mm), from a mortar mix consisting of six
O 48 1219
parts by weight of dry sand, clean and graded (see Specifica-
tion C144) and one part by weight of portland cement (Type I
FIG. 3 Concrete Base Panel (Not to Scale)
of Specification C150), with enough potable water to make a
relatively dry mortar which, when stroked with a trowel, gives
a smooth, slick appearance. Up to four one half-inch (12.7 mm)
diameter, 11-in. (280 mm) long sections of pipe or metal rod,
weight. Unless otherwise specified, the concrete base panel
projecting about 5 in. (127 mm), may be horizontally cast into
shall be cured for at least seven days before the installation of
alternate sides of the panel to serve as lifting handles. An
tile. The concrete base is set in place on the foundation of the
opening up to 6-in. (152 mm) square may be cast or cut in the
tester with plaster as described in 6.1.1.
center of the mortar base panel to permit entry of the drive
6.1.3 Plywood Base for Installations—The plywood base
shaft for bottom driven testers. For conventional-type installa-
shall be of sandwich construction. For maximum stiffness, the
tion methods, the tile shall be set before the mortar hardens.
plywood face grain direction should be installed so as to run
After curing in accordance with the recommendation of the
perpendicular to the floor joist or supports. The top shall
manufacturer or supplier of the product(s) being tested, such a
consist of two sections of plywood of thickness specified by the
panel is set in place on the foundation of the testing machine
manufacturer or supplier of the product(s) being tested such
with an easily removable plaster. A polyethylene sheet shall be
that the joint between the two sections runs perpendicular to
laid between the foundation of the tester and the plaster, so that
the joists and tangential to the center of the wheel path. runs
the mortar-base test panel can be easily removed after comple-
perpendicular to the joists and tangential to the center of the
tion of the test. A plaster mix of ten parts by weight of dry sand,
wheel path. The joint between the two sections of plywood
clean and graded (Specification C144) and one part by weight
shall be finished per the recommendation of the manufacturer
of gypsum plaster with enough water to make a fairly thick
or supplier of the product(s) being tested. The bottom shall be
slurry has been found satisfactory. Construction details for
a minimum ⁄4-in. (6.4 mm) plywood. In between the top and
such a panel are shown in Fig. 3.
6.1.2 Concrete Base for Thin-Bed Installations—The size bottom of the panel on 16-in. (406 mm) centers, shall be four
4-ft (1220 mm) long sections of wood which are nominally
and construction of such a concrete base shall be the same as
that described under 6.1.1, except that the concrete mix shall 2 in. (50 mm) wide (2 in. by 2 in. [50 mm by 50 mm] or 2 in.
by 4 in. [50 mm by 100 mm] lumber) to duplicate the support
consist of three parts of gravel not over ⁄4 in. (19 mm) in size,
two and one-half parts of dry sand, clean and graded (Speci- rendered by joists in an actual installation. An opening up to
fication C144), one part of portland cement (Type I of 6-in. (152 mm) square may be cut in the center of the panel to
Specification C150) and one part of potable water, all parts by permit entry of the drive shaft for bot
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