ISO/TR 17870-1:2015

TECHNICAL ISO/TR
REPORT 17870-1
First edition
2015-08-15
Ceramic tiles — Guidelines for
installation —
Part 1:
Installation of ceramic wall and floor
tiles
Carreaux et dalles céramiques — Lignes directrices pour
l’installation —
Partie 1: Installation des carreaux et dalles céramiques au sol et aux
murs
Reference number
©
ISO 2015
© ISO 2015, Published in Switzerland
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ii © ISO 2015 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Terms and definitions . 1
2.1 General . 1
2.2 Components of ceramic tiling . 2
2.3 Tiling techniques and operations . 3
2.4 Characteristics/aspects of ceramic tiling . 4
3 Exchange of information . 4
4 Materials . 5
4.1 General . 5
4.2 Basic materials . 5
4.3 Basic information . 6
5 Specification . 7
5.1 General . 7
5.2 The project data . 7
5.2.1 Installation location and working conditions . 7
5.2.2 Backgrounds . 7
5.3 Selection and specification of the materials . 9
5.3.1 Criterion of performance . 9
5.3.2 Criterion of compatibility . 9
5.3.3 Criterion of safety.10
5.4 Specification of the tiling .10
5.4.1 Tiling system .10
5.4.2 Tile joints .10
5.4.3 Movement joints .11
6 Installation .11
6.1 General .11
6.2 Analysis of the specification and planning of the work .12
6.3 Control of environmental conditions .12
6.4 Storage and control of the materials .12
6.5 Control and preparation of the background, preparation of the bedding material,
application of bedding and tiles .13
6.6 Installation of movement joints .13
6.7 Cleaning and protection .14
7 Quality of ceramic tiling: characteristics and requirements .14
7.1 General characteristics of ceramic tiling .14
7.2 Guidelines for the specification of requirements and their recommended tolerances .14
7.2.1 General.14
7.2.2 Regularity .14
7.2.3 Durability .17
7.2.4 Safety .17
8 Initial cleaning, protection, and maintenance .18
8.1 General .18
8.2 Initial cleaning .18
8.3 Protection .18
8.4 Treatment .19
8.4.1 Surface waterproofing treatments .19
8.4.2 Temporary tile sealers .19
8.5 Maintenance .19
Bibliography .20
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation on the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions related to conformity
assessment, as well as information about ISO’s adherence to the WTO principles in the Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) see the following URL: Foreword - Supplementary information
The committee responsible for this document is ISO/TC 189, Ceramic tile.
ISO/TR 17870 consists of the following parts, under the general title Ceramic tiles — Guidelines for
installation:
— Part 1: Installation of ceramic wall and floor tiles
— Part 2: Installation of thin ceramic wall and floor tiles and panels
iv © ISO 2015 – All rights reserved

Introduction
There are currently International Standards available for
— ceramic tiles, and
— adhesives and grouts for tiles.
NOTE ISO 13007-5, dealing with liquid-applied waterproofing membranes for use beneath ceramic tiling
bonded with adhesives, is under preparation.
For these products to give satisfactory service, they need to be selected and installed competently, and
they have to receive appropriate initial treatment, protection, and maintenance.
Some countries have published standards and/or guides that specify the design and installation of
ceramic tiling. The purpose of ISO/TR 17870 is to foster good installation practices for ceramic wall and
floor tiles, internationally.
TECHNICAL REPORT ISO/TR 17870-1:2015(E)
Ceramic tiles — Guidelines for installation —
Part 1:
Installation of ceramic wall and floor tiles
1 Scope
This part of ISO/TR 17870 defines the quality of ceramic tiling and provides guidance for materials
selection, installation and use, to achieve required levels of quality and performance.
It considers aspects related to the specification and installation of the tiling project, in terms of:
— manufacture and distribution of the materials (ceramic tiles, adhesives, grouts, etc.);
— specification of the tiling;
— installation of the tiling (tile fixing operations).
It is applicable to internal and external floor and wall ceramic tiling, installed by either cement mortar
or other adhesive methods.
NOTE The quality of ceramic tiling depends on the following general characteristics:
— regularity;
— durability;
— safety.
The durability of the tiling can depend on its use and man
...