Internal Ceramic Tiling to Sheet

and Board Substrates

Published by The Tile Association in co-operation with The Wood

Panel Industries Federation

Techical Publication

Image courtesy of James Hardie Ltd.

1 ForewordA Technical Working Group of The Tile Association has prepared this paper, “Internal Ceramic Tiling to Sheet and Board Substrates”.

The paper has been written with the aim of providing advice for all parties involved in the process of designing, building or refurbishing tiling projects and should be used in conjunction with current British, European and International Standards.

2 Introductions, History and Scope of Document

2.1 Introduction

The traditional use of ceramic tiles in the United Kingdom on kitchen and bathroom walls and floors has greatly expanded to incorporate tiling in many other areas of properties.

One of the key factors in bringing about this change has been the changes in construction techniques, notably the increased use of dry lining systems such as partition walling and wood based sheets and boards on floors.

Modern house building techniques are using more factory-assembled units or modules, to shorten construction times and reduce costs. This trend has increased, bringing with it the challenge of having to bond tiles to a range of dry lining partition wall systems, and proprietary composite board overlay products for floors on suspended floors on joists.

Specifically, the widespread use of various forms of wood-based board in floor construction, including heated timber floors, floating floors, acoustic flooring systems etc., raises several questions, many related to the rigidity and dimensional stability of such floors. Deflection and moisture movement must be controlled and kept to a minimum; otherwise tile cracking and grout disruption or loss of adhesion will take place.

2.2 Scope

This paper covers the relevant design considerations when tiling internally to proprietary overlay sheet and board substrates on walls and floors. The recommended fixing methods include the use of various adhesive types and the possible use of uncoupling membranes to be considered.The scope for the use of proprietary tanking systems in wet areas is also included.

3 Definitions

3.1 Wood (Timber) Based Products

3.1.1 Solid Wood Floorboards

Wood (timber) -based floorboards, usually softwood, either butt-edged or tongue and groove.

3.1.2 Plywood

Wood-based sheet (as defined in BS EN 313-2) consisting of an assembly of layers bonded together with the direction of the grain, in adjacent layers usually at right angles.

3.1.3 Particleboard (Chipboard)

Wood-based sheet (as defined in BS EN 309) manufactured under pressure and heat from particles of wood (wood flakes, chips, shavings, saw-dust and similar) and/or other lignocellulosic material in particle form (flax shives, hemp shives, bagasse fragments, strawand similar) with the addition of a polymeric adhesive.

3.1.4 Cement-bonded Particleboard

Wood-based sheet material (as defined in BS EN 633) manufactured under pressure, based on wood or other vegetable particles bound with hydraulic cement and possibly containing additives.

3.1.5 Dry Process Boards/Medium Density Fibreboards (MDF)

Wood fibreboards/MDF, manufactured to BS EN 622, having fibre moisture content of less than 20% at the forming stage.

Wood fibreboards (as defined in BS EN 316), manufactured from lignocellulosic fibres with application of heat and/or pressure.

3.1.6 Oriented Strand Board (OSB)

Multi-layered wood-based board (as defined in BS EN 300) made from strands of wood of a predetermined shape and thickness bound together with a binder. The strands in the external layers are aligned and parallel to the board length or width; the strands in the centre layer or layers can be randomly oriented, or aligned, generally at right angles to the strands of the external layers.Note that some external grades of OSB might contain water repellent additives; these can inhibit adhesion to the surface of subsequently applied products.

3.1.7 Other Wood-Based Products

Other wood-based products, such as flaxboard and laminated veneer board, are outside the scope of this document.

3.2 Proprietary Products (Non-wood) 3.2.1 Foam-cored Tile Backing Boards

Rigid, inert, extruded or expanded, polystyrene foam-board with glass fibre reinforced polymer modified cement coating or a covering of reinforced fleece webbing.

3.2.2 Glass Reinforced Cement Board (GRC)

A combination of cement and glass reinforcing fibres, available under a number of trade names. 3.2.3 Fibre-cement Tile Backing Board

Fibre Cement Board (FC), as defined in BS EN 12467, is a combination of cement and other reinforcing fibres, available under a number of trade names.

3.2.4 Gypsum-Based Boards

A board consisting of water, gypsum and cellulose or glass fibre reinforced gypsum-based board compressed at high pressure.

3.2.5 Paper Faced Plasterboards (Walls only)Complying with BS EN 520 + A1 Gypsum Plasterboards. These boards should only be used and installed so that they remain dry and in some locations additional protection from ingress of moisture should be utilised prior to fixing the tiles. The maximum weight of tiling that can be adhered to the paper facing is given in clause 6.2.4.3 of BS 5385-1.

3.2.6 Uncoupling Membranes

Usually a plastic layered membrane designed to accommodate shear stresses, allowing tiling to be continuous over sheets or boards for the purpose of decoupling or disconnecting stresses from the substrate.

3.3 Tanking Systems

An impervious layer applied to a substrate to prevent the ingress of water/liquids.

4 Design Considerations

NB : Refer to Table 1, Suitability of boards for direct fixing of tiles to a substrate.

4.1 Wood or Wood-based ProductsThe importance of using wood-based products at a correct moisture content as close to in-use conditions as possible cannot be over-emphasised. See Table 2.

Wood is a hygroscopic material; this means that its moisture content will change dependent upon any changes in the environmental conditions on site. In particular wood and wood-based products will be affected by changes to humidity and temperature conditions on site. As the moisture content

of the wood or wood-based product increases or decreases, its dimensions will also change i.e. the products will either expand or shrink back. Wood and wood-based products are stable in an environment where the moisture content of the product is in equilibrium (in balance) with the ambient site conditions. Wood-based sheets equilibrate at lower moisture contents to that of solid timber. The amount of movement experienced varies between products.

When wood-based products are sold the conditions of supply, transport and storage can be so variable that moisture contents are likely to be uncertain and generally significantly higher than appropriate for the intended use.

For example, even kiln-dried solid wood floorboards, supplied to site with a moisture content of 12-16% could, if they have been stored in conditions where they are under cover but exposed to

Table 1Suitability of boards for direct fixing of tiles to a substrate

Substrate Location Degree of exposure to moisture

Internal Walls

Internal Floors

Dry High humidity* e.g. steam room

Occasionally Wet* e.g. bathroom floor

Frequently Wet*e.g. wet rooms, power shower,

communal shower, pool hall walls

Solid wood floor boards see clause 3.1.1

N/A C C U C U

Plywood see clause 3.1.2

C C C U C U

Particleboard/chipboard see clause 3.1.3

C C C U U U

Cement bonded particleboard see clause 3.1.4

C C C U C U

Fibreboards/MDF see clause 3.1.5

U U U U U U

Oriented strand board see clause 3.1.6

U U U U U U

Foam cored tile backing board see clause 3.2.1

S S S S S S

Gypsum based board see clause 3.2.4

S C S C C U

Fibre reinforced cement board see clause 3.2.3

S S S C S S

Glass reinforced cement board 3.2.2

S S S S S S

KeyS = suitable C = consult manufacturer U = unsuitable N/A = not applicable

Note: This table should be used in conjunction with Section 4 Design Considerations *Refer to The Tile Association document “Tiling in Wet Rooms”

outdoor temperature and humidity, have a moisture level in a range of 15%-20%. If not shrink-wrapped when delivered and even if stored under the typical “indoor” conditions of a warehouse or large store, the moisture content of the kiln-dried timber boards could be 10%-18%. See Table 2.

To minimise the likelihood of moisture movement (shrinkage or expansion) the moisture content of the wood and wood-based product supplied and as anticipated in the finished installation should be the same. The moisture content of the finished installation can be predicted fairly accurately, but matching this to the wood-based sheet or board being supplied may be more difficult. If a close match cannot be achieved before installation starts, the material available must be conditioned by stacking it in the environment it will experience when installed, under well ventilated, yet protected conditions, for a sufficient period of time.

Pre-conditioning follows the same procedure whatever the situation bearing in mind the following:

• Pre-conditioning starts with a reasonable knowledge of the existing equilibrium moisture content of the wood-based product. This can be achieved by using a moisture meter.

• Success of the installation will depend on the subsequent handling and storage conditions of the wood-based product.

• If you have any doubts, ask the suppliers – a simple check on the number of pieces with a moisture meter should provide the necessary information. See Table 2.

The next step is to unpack the wood-based product in the location where it is to be installed (removing any shrink-wrapping) and loosely stack it, preferably with spacing battens between each sheet or board. This ensures that air can easily circulate.Placing heavy weights on top will restrict the ability of the sheets or boards to “move” during conditioning.

The following diagrams explain the process of stacking and conditioning of wood-based products It may be necessary for wood-based products to be conditioned for a number of days, the length of time depending on how closely the conditions of storage match the conditions of use. If conditioning for more than two or three days is needed, it is wise to re-stack the wood-based products moving material from inside the stack to the outside and vice-versa.

The table below indicates the normal range of in-service moisture content for typical building soft wood and wood-based sheets.

Table 2

Intended service Suggested moisture Suggested moistureconditions content ranges content of composite of soft wood wood-based products

Unheated 15-19% up to 15%

Intermittent heating* 10-14% 9-12%

Continuous heating* 9-11% 7-9%

Underfloor heating 6-8% 5-7%

*Intermittent heating implies that the temperature changes substantially between periods of heating. Continuous heating implies that the temperature is maintained day and night throughout the year at a reasonably constant level.

BS 5383-3 recommends that in heated domestic buildings when the temperature is above 21°C, to be in equilibrium, the moisture content of any wood-based fabricated underlay plywood should be between 8-10%.

It is important that the correct grade of wood or wood-based product is used in the tiling project. A moisture resistant grade is recommended.

Moisture Meters

There are a number of different types of moisture meter; the most common would be an electrical resistance meter which works on the principle that, as moisture content of the wood based product increases, its electrical resistance decreases.The resistance is measured between two metal probes.

When using a moisture meter on a wood-based panel, unless it is calibrated for the panel type that is being tested, caution should be observed when interpreting the results as they may not be accurate; but even without calibration, a meter will give an indication as to whether the panel is ‘wet’ or ‘dry’, and if the same panel is tested on different occasions, it will give an indication of relative gain or loss of moisture.

4.2 New Build

4.2.1 Walls

BS 5385-1 recommends “The use of sheets or boards that are subject to movement from changes in moisture content should be avoided if at all possible. If such boards (plywood board, chipboard, some fibre building boards) have to be used, they should be restricted to small areas and installed in such a way that they provide a dimensionally stable and rigid background. The backs and edges of such boards should be treated againstthe ingress of atmospheric moisture that would result in movement and warping. Tiles should not bridge joints between boards.

Sheets or boards should be adequately braced to provide a rigid surface, be free from any springiness and surface undulations and undergo no subsequent distortion during and after completion of the tiling. Wherever possible, the boards should be screwed, not nailed, to the supporting framework.

In general, where the sheet or board has a smooth and a rough side, the latter should be used for tiling. The surface to receive the tiles should be clean and free from dust and other forms of contamination.

Care should be taken to ensure that wood-based sheets are not installed in a condition where their moisture content is higher than the ambient equilibrium moisture content once the tiled installation is in use; failure to observe this can lead to subsequent warping and distortion of the sheets with consequent cracking and delamination of the tiling.

Table 3 – BS5385-1

*In this context tiling is defined as a tile plus its bedding and grouting material.

4.2.2 Wood-based Products

• Ensure that any stud work, battens or other supporting framework is stable and capable of rigidly supporting the wood-based sheets, boards and tiling.

• The wood-based sheets and boards should be conditioned to a moisture content appropriate to the ultimate service conditions, as detailed in Clause 4.1.1.

• The moisture content of all wood-based products should be checked prior to tile fixing. The maximum moisture content should be in accordance with Table 2.

4.2.3 Floors

BS 5385-3 recommends “Timber sub-floors are not the ideal bases for floor tiling, especially where heavy static/dynamic loading is likely in service. If a timber sub-floor has to be used as a base for floor tiling, it should be rigid and stable with respect to humidity and moisture changes. Timber is not a suitable base for floor tiling in wet, frequently damp, or high humidity areas unless appropriate precautions are taken.”

4.2.4 Wood-based Products

Internationally, the accepted minimum requirement for floor rigidity is L/360 - before the tile underlayment is installed. The L/360 standard means that the floor should not deflect more than the “span” divided by 360. If the span of the joists is 3.05 metres (between supports), then the deflection should not be more than 7.6mm between the centre and the end when a load of 135kg is applied. Frequently, there is misunderstanding regarding deflection between joists. For example, while joist manufacturers regularly meet the standard L/360 criteria for construction with 600mm on centre (o.c.) systems, these floors often have deflection between the joists exceeding L/360.

Recent research has shown tiles to fail, under some conditions, when the floor is more rigid than L/360. In fact, failures at L/600 have been observed. It is for this reason that recommendations

for floor rigidity are not solely based on deflection measurements but on empirically established methods found to work over normal construction.

4.2.5 Rigid Construction

BS 5385-3 recommends that existing timber bases, to be covered by tiles, be checked to ensure they are sufficiently strong and rigid. They should be examined to determine whether they can carry the additional dead load of up to 0.8KN/m2, and the probable dynamic loading without deflection.

• Ensure the sub-floor construction will be capable of rigidly supporting the added load of the tiling system as well as the anticipated static/dynamic loading in service. Note that noggins may be required between joists to ensure rigidity.

• The sub-floor should be rigid, flat or pre-smoothed with an appropriate self-smoothing product and dimensionally stable with respect to the normal long term humidity levels; this may present difficulties with new construction work.

• Ventilation of the underside of the wood-based sheet or board must be adequate and effective damp proof courses correctly located.

• Select an appropriate wood-based sheet or board of adequate thickness to overlay the sub-floor. (15mm is the minimum thickness of plywood recommended in BS 5385-3)

• The wood-based sheets and boards should be conditioned by storage under appropriate conditions that they have moisture content appropriate for the ultimate service conditions before they are installed, as detailed in 4.1.1.

• The moisture content of all wood-based products should be checked using appropriate equipment. See Clause 4.1.1 (Moisture Meter)

• The lower face and edges of the wood-based sheet or board should be sealed preferably using a non-aqueous sealer e.g. polyurethane varnish, to inhibit the ingress of atmospheric moisture into the sheet or board.

• Fix wood-based sheets and boards to joists and noggins at 300mm centres using countersunk screws with a length and strength of fixing to ensure adequate penetration into the joists and noggins, taking care not to damage any under floor services.

• All junctions between the wood-based sheets and boards should be supported by noggins or joists (square edge only).

• Where tongued and groove edge sheets or boards are used ensure tongues are fully located into grooves and are secured with a good quality moisture resistant wood adhesive to BS EN 204 D3 or D4 classification.

• Where an additional layer of wood based sheets is required to achieve adequate rigidity, it should be aligned at right angles to the existing and laid broken bonded ensuring that the joints do not coincide with those beneath. This second layer of wood-based sheet should also be screwed at 300mm centres.

• For tiling in frequently damp or high humidity areas, overlaying with appropriate lightweight tile backer board or uncoupling/ tanking membrane is recommended. See Table 1.

Wall Substrates Maximum Weight of Tiling* per square metre

Gypsum plaster 20 kg/m²

Gypsum plasterboard direct 32 kg/m²(without a plaster skim)

Wood-based sheets Up to 30 kg/m²Foam-cored tile-backing boards Up to 60 kg/m²Fibre-cement boards Up to 60kg/m²Gypsum fibre boards Approximately 35-40 kg/m²

4.2.6 Proprietary Products• Ensure the sub-floor construction will be capable of supporting the added load of tiling system plus anticipated static/dynamic loading in service.

• The sub-floor should be rigid flat or pre-smoothed with an appropriate self-smoothing product or void filling tile adhesive and stable with respect to the normal humidity levels; noggins may be required between joists to ensure rigidity.

• Ventilation of the underside of the wood sub-floor must be adequate and effective damp proof courses correctly located.

• Select an appropriate board of adequate thickness.

• Where tongue and groove edge boards are used ensure tongues are fully located into grooves and are secured with the appropriate adhesive.

4.2.7 Floating Wood Floors

Direct fixing of ceramic tiles to a wood-based floating floor entails a high element of risk and where practicable, this should be avoided. However where the floor is deemed to be suitable, the use of a proprietary intermediate substrate (e.g. tile backing board) may be considered. NB Confirmation should be sought with the manufacturer as to the suitability of any proprietary intermediate substrate.

British Standard BS 5385-3 Load Considerations, recommends that when a floor is designed, due allowance should be made for the ultimate weight it might have to bear, including the floor installation…Where an existing floor is to be covered by the tiles and beds given in this code, a check should be made that the floor is sufficiently strong and rigid to accept the added load, particularly if the floor is on timber construction.

4.5 Proprietary Alternative Products

4.5.1 Foam Cored Tile Backing Boards

• Suitable tiling surface for walls and floors.

• Suitable in wet areas.

• Suitable as overlay on rigid but dimensionally unstable backgrounds.

• Ensure studwork, battens and supporting structures are capable of rigidly supporting the backing board and the applied load.

• Ensure the boards are adequately fixed – consult board manufacturer for fixing recommendations.

• Ensure appropriate board thickness – floors 6mm minimum as an overlay providing it is fully supported and rigid.

• Ensure joints are correctly taped in all areas as recommended by the manufacturer.

4.5.2 Fibre Reinforced Cement Board

In wall applications these boards are fixed in a similar way to plasterboard using timber or metal studwork/battens. Backing boards will also provide stability when used as an overlay to timber floors. Manufacturer’s installation instructions may vary and should therefore be followed closely for both applications.

• Ensure that studwork or battens are capable of rigidly

supporting the fibre reinforced cement boards. Stud spacing should be in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

• Boards should be screw fixed at the recommended centres. Where possible, fixing should be from the centre of the board towards the edges to ensure boards are installed flush to the framework.

• Ensure that board joints are treated as per the manufacturer’s instructions. This normally requires the use of an alkali resistant joint tape.

4.5.3 Uncoupling Membranes

An uncoupling membrane is designed for use over the whole of the floor area in order to minimise sheer stresses generated between the floor substrate and tiling finish. As a result this will prevent reflective cracks from forming within the tiling, caused by moisture/ drying shrinkage and a degree of lateral movement. However, an uncoupling membrane will not protect the tiling layer from the effects or stress that vertical movement/deflection has on the integrity of the finished floor surface.

Further advice should be sought from the manufacturer of the membrane.

5 Fixing to Existing Timber Flooring

BS 5385-3 recommends

“Timber floors have often behaved satisfactorily for a period of years as a result of surface evaporation of moisture. If this is hindered by the laying of a nearly impervious covering, the moisture content may rise to a dangerously high level, thus creating conditions favourable to fungal attack, e.g. dry rot.”

The fixing of ceramic floor tiles to the following floorings should be avoided.

5.1 Wood Block Floor (Parquet and Wood Mosaic)

These floorings are usually adhered to the sub-floor but thinner types may be locked or clipped together and loose laid. These floorings should be removed and the sub-floor prepared and, where necessary, pre-levelled so that the ceramic floor tiles can be fixed to the original floor finish level.

5.2 Composition block flooring

These floorings consist of proprietary blocks that typically consist of a mixture of cement, wood granules, pigments and fillers, moulded under high pressure, cured and then saturated with linseed oil. The presence of linseed oil acts as a release agent to any adhesive applied on top and this type of flooring should be removed and the sub-floor prepared and, where necessary, pre-levelled so that the ceramic floor tiles can be fixed to the original floor finish level.

5.3 Magnesite (Magnesium Oxychloride) Flooring

Magnesite is not commonly used anymore but might be found in refurbishment of older buildings. Magnesite was a product used quite widely in flooring between 1920 and 1940.

Caution: Some magnesite flooring may have contained asbestos as a filler and the appropriate authorities should be contacted.

6 Assessment of Substrate Preperation Prior to Tiling

The normal assessment checks should be made prior to tiling:

• The substrate is rigid, adequately fixed and correctly installed.

• The substrate is flat, plumb and true as per the requirements of BS8000-11

• The substrate is dry; carry out a moisture test if necessary.

• The surface of the substrate is clean and free of any barriers to adhesion.

• Assess the need for and location of movement joints capable of withstanding dynamic loading and installed in accordance with the appropriate part of British Standard BS 5385.

The following points and assessments specific to sheets and boards should be made prior to tiling:

• Confirm that the background has been installed as specified and is suitable for the location where the tiling is to be applied (see Table 3).

• Certain adhesives require wood-based sheet or board substrates to be primed prior to tiling. Confirm that this has been carried out. Check if the correct method of application and the required number of coats of primer have been applied and that the primer has dried.

• If tiling is being undertaken in a wet area check that the wood-based substrate has been tanked following the manufacturer’s instructions.

7 Tiling Systems

7.1 Wall TilingThe following points should be considered:

7.1.1 General Considerations

• Tile fixing should be carried out in accordance with British Standard BS 5385-1, the Code of Practice for Internal Wall Tiling.

• The siting of vertical movement joints at internal angles and in mid-wall in large areas of tiling which exceed 3 to 4.5 metres long should be in accordance with BS 5385-1.

• The drying time of the adhesive will be dependent on the type of adhesive and use, if any, of a tanking system.

7.1.2 Wood-based Sheets and Boards

• Ensure that the tile adhesive is suitable for both the tile and substrate and meets the requirements of a Class D, C or R type adhesive as defined in BS EN 12004 or is specially formulated for use over wood-based backgrounds and recommended by the adhesive manufacturer.

7.1.3 Proprietary Sheets and Boards

Ensure that the tile adhesive is suitable for the tile and the proprietary board and recommended by the adhesive manufacturer.

7.1.4 Tile Installation

• Tiles should be fixed in accordance with British Standards BS 5385 and BS 8000-11

• The surface of the sheet or board should be primed if recommended by the adhesive or board manufacturer.

• The adhesive should be mixed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

• The minimum contact area of the adhesive between the tile and the background should be at least 75% for small format, lightweight tiles (e.g. 150 x 150 x 6mm tiles) and mosaics in dry areas. For larger format and for thicker, heavier tiles, e.g. porcelain, as close as is practicable, likewise for wet areas.

• The background to receive tiling should be accurately constructed so that the surface regularity is such when checked with a 2m straight edge laid on the surface that any gap under the straight edge is not greater than 3 mm.

• Overall surface flatness of the finished tiling should be such that when checked with a 2m straightedge resting on 3mm feet, no gap should be greater than 6mm i.e. a tolerance of ±3mm.

7.2 Floor TilingThe following points should be considered:

7.2.1 Wood-based Sheets and Boards

• Ensure that the tile adhesive is suited to both the tile and substrate and meets the requirements of a type C or R adhesive as defined in BS EN 12004 or is specially formulated for use over timber backgrounds.

7.2.2 Proprietary Sheets and Boards

• Ensure that the tile adhesive is suitable for the tile and the proprietary board. Consult adhesive manufacturer.

7.2.3 Tile Installation

• Tile fixing should be carried out in accordance with British Standard BS 5385-3 and BS 5385-4, the Code of Practice for Wall and Floor Tiling and BS 8000, the Code of Practice for Workmanship on Site.

• Ensure that adhesive is applied using the solid bed fixing technique (i.e. as far as is practicable no voids remain beneath the tiles) or floating buttering method using the appropriate notched trowel or float.

• The drying time of the adhesive will be dependent on the type of tile, adhesive, the use, if any tanking system or decoupling membrane has been installed.

8 Glossary of Terms

Background – the wall behind or sub-floor beneath the board

Hygroscopic – a material that will absorb moisture from the atmosphere

Moisture Test – a method used to measure moisture content

Movement Joint – strip inserted to relieve stresses from drying shrinkage, deflection and moisture movement

Noggins – short timber struts used to strengthen and stiffen the sub-floor

Panel – a decorative pre-finished board

Sheet/Board/Panels - interchangeable terminology used within this document

Solid Bed - as close as is practicable to 100% coverage of adhesive to the background

Studwork and Battens – method of supporting sheets, boards and panels

Substrate – the board surface to which the tiles are actually adhered

Surface – the actual surface of materials referred to in the document

Tanking Systems – a system for applying a water impervious layer beneath the tiling

Timber/Wood – interchangeable terminology used within this document

Water Resistance – where the performance is unaffected by contact with water.

Water Tight – impervious to water

9 Bibliography / Sources of Reference

British Standards: BSI www.shop.bsigroup.com

BS 5385 Parts 1-5 The code of practice for fixing wall and floor tiles

BS 8000 Workmanship on building sites, Part 11, Section 11.1

BS EN 14411 Ceramic tiles, definitions, classifications, characteristics, evaluation of conformity and marking

BS EN 204 Classification of non-structural adhesives for joining of wood and derived timber products

BS EN 12004 Adhesives for tiles. Requirements, evaluation of conformity, classification and designation.

BS EN 13888 Grouts for tiles. Requirements, evaluation of conformity, classification and designation.

BS 5268 Structural use of timber

BS EN 633 Cement bonded particleboards. Definition and classification.

BS EN 622 Fibreboards. Specifications.

BS EN 12467 Fibre cement flat sheets. Product specification and test methods.

BS 1088 Marine plywood requirements

BS EN 300 Oriented strand board (OSB). Definitions, classification and specifications

BS EN 309 Particleboards. Definition and classification.

BS EN 312 Particleboards. Specifications

BS EN 313-2 Plywood. Classification and terminology.

BS EN 636 Plywood. Specifications

BS EN 316 Wood fibre boards. Definition, classification and symbols.

The Tile Association documents:

Tiling to Acoustic Systems Tiling to Calcium Sulfate Screeds

The Cleaning and Maintenance of Wall and Floor Tiles

Tiling to Heated Floors

Large Format Tiles

Movement Joints

Adhesives and Grouts

Design and Construction of Swimming Pools

Slip Resistance of Hard Flooring

Resin Agglomerated Tiles

Tiling in Wet Rooms

Tiling to Raised Flooring Systems

Wood Panel Industries Federation, www.wpif.org.uk

Autumn Park Business Centre, Dysart Road, Grantham. NG31 7EU

www.apawood-europe.org

PanelGuide produced by WPIF, TTF and others

The Engineered Wood Association Standards

TRADA Technical Documents

10 Members of the Working Group

The Tile Association acknowledges the support given by the contracting and manufacturing members of the Association’s Technical Working Group and the Wood Panel Industries Federation.

Neil Baglow Jim CoulsonPaul Dawtrey Robert Howard MBEIan Knifton Brian NewellCyril Potter Ian RochesterColin Stanyard Steve TwinBilly Valler Lorna WilliamsDavid Wilson

The Mount, 43 Stafford Road, Stone, Staffordshire, ST15 0HG

T: 0300 365 8453 E: info@tile.org.uk www.tiles.org.uk

© The Tile Association January 2016