Not all tiles are created equal. Some tiles are made stronger while others may only be suitable for light traffic area. The major decision when choosing tiles is to decide whether to go for regular ceramic tiles, or the superior porcelain tiles. If you're not sure when it comes to tell between ceramic tiles and porcelain tiles, here are some to the point main differences.

Water absorption testing standards AS4459.3, Determination of water absorption, apparent porosity, apparent relative density and bulk density provides the means to classify ceramic tiles along with their method of manufacture according to AS 4662 Ceramic tiles - Definitions, classification, characteristics and marking.  This is important when assessing the requirements that the ceramic  tiles must achieve for them to be are considered the best commercial quality, otherwise known as first quality.

Once relegated to kitchens and bathrooms, the specification of ceramic tiles is now a viable alternative for any commercial application with its low maintenance quality and versatility.

Australian Standard AS 4662-2003 - which is identical to International recognized standard ISO 13006:1998(E) - defines ceramic tiles as:
“thin slabs made from clays and/or other inorganic raw materials, generally used as coverings for floors and walls. It further divides ceramic tiles into groups according to their method of manufacture and their water absorption.

When specifying the slip resistance for a floor surface within a building most people will refer to Table 3 of Standards Australia Hand Book HB 197, An Introductory Guide to the Slip Resistance of Pedestrian Surface Materials. The table provides a list of locations with corresponding pendulum and ramp recommendations. While many people feel safe in the knowledge that they have specified a complying oil wet ramp slip test (R Rating), many people are still unaware of the implications of specifying solely on this slip resistance test method.

The R Rating slip test is achieved by two people walking on a test panel contaminated with oil and wearing safety boots. The test panel is inclined until they slip or feel that they will slip on the test panel. The R Rating slip test is determined by the mean angle of inclination achieved and a correction factor based 3 calibration boards that are also tested.

The principle of the Wet Pendulum Tester to assess the friction characteristics of each specimen is by determining the wet dynamic friction between the specimen and the slider of a pendulum swinging in a vertical plane.

Portable instrument is used in the laboratory for classifying the wet slip resistance of new flooring (pedestrian surfaces) materials. It is also used on site to assess the slip resistance of existing floors and pavings.

A rubber slider is attached to a spring loaded foot at the end of a pendulum arm (leg). The pendulum arm is released, allowing it to swing so that the slider contacts the wet pedestrian surface over a set distance of 126mm. The slider rubber surface of the device has to be conditioned prior to each testing. This is done using a grade P400 abrasive paper.