Make life easy, search the forum.

Discuss Tiling Standards (BS 5385) | British Wall and Floor Tiling Standards - IN FULL in the Tiling News; Tile News area at TilersForums. USA and UK Tiling Forum

Please checkout the following advertisement.

IMPORTANT CHANGES TO BS 5385-1 WALL AND FLOOR tile

tile Standards | BS 5385​


As part of the five-year review of British Standards and reflecting changes within the tile industry since 2009 – BS 5385 Part 1: 2018 has now been published. One significant change made was to exclude the use of plywood as a background material for the direct fixing of ceramic wall and natural stone tiles.

Tiling Standards

Clause 6.1.2.7 Other sheets and boards (see also 6.2.3.3) now states:
“The use of sheets or boards that are subject to movement from changes in moisture content should be avoided. Plywood and other wood-based sheets or boards should not be used for direct tile”.

A significant uplift in the use of tile backer boards and a wide variation in quality of plywood available on the market has provided a solid case for the removal of plywood from the standards.

David Wilson, UK Head of Technical Services a member of the TTA Technical Committee said: “Previously it was recognised in BS5385 Part 1: 2009 that tile direct to plywood was possible, providing this was restricted to small areas and be “installed in such a way that they provide a [dimensional] stable and rigid background” the quality of plywood for tile purposes has decreased significantly with cheaper imports flooding the market.

“While higher quality external grade plywood is still available – it is significantly more expensive.

“It is important to consider though that that wood is a hygroscopic material which means that its moisture content will change dependent upon any changes in the environmental conditions on site. Therefore, dimensional stability of wood-based boards cannot be assured there is always a risk to installing ceramic or natural stone tiles onto plywood or other wood-based sheets,
Another technical consideration for wall tile is weight restrictions. Just as a side note at this point, if you don't have a clue what any of this is, then consider a tiling course, and research it well before paying any money. Plywood is deemed to have a maximum weight of tile per m² of 30 kg compared to proprietary tile backing boards which generally are capable of supporting heavier weights per m² of tile (As per table 3 of BS 5385-1: 2018).

British Wall and Floor tile Standards BS5385-1​


“A competitive tile backing board market means that prices are more attractive to tile fixers and contractors. This combined with the additional features and benefits of providing background for tile which are dimensional stable and resistant to moisture and thermal movement. “

However, while plywood is not recommended as a background for direct wall tile, it can still be used as a structural board when overlaid with a suitable tile backing board, particularly where installation of mechanical fixings is required e.g. for mesh backed natural stone where it is not possible to remove 75% or of the mesh backing.

Other changes to BS standards.

Previously in internal dry wall areas it was recommended that tile https://www.tilersforums.com/forums/tile-adhesive/ should cover a minimum of 50% coverage spread evenly over the back of the tile. However, driven by necessity, with the increase in the size and types of tiles i.e. larger formats and thin ceramic panels, now available of the market, BS 5385-1: 2018 advises: “Tiles with a surface area of less than 0.1 m², but which weigh more per square meter than 70% of the background’s capacity to carry the weight, should be solidly bedded e.g. the maximum weight of tile that can be supported by Gypsum plaster = 20 kg; whereas 9 mm thick porcelain tiles, which weigh approximately 18 kg/m², weigh more than 70% of 20 kg (14 kg) therefore, they should be solidly bedded regardless of their size”

British tile Standards included within the scope of BS 5385-1: 2018 are large format ceramic tiles, ceramic panels i.e. tiles with a surface area >1m² (any edge length >1200 mm) and thin tiles

i.e. ceramic tiles and panels with a panel thickness of ≤ 5.5 mm. To reflect this, additional changes have also been made in the minimum recommended grout joint width, dependent on the tile/panel size, e.g. the minimum grout widths vary by tile facial area – an example as follows:
  • For tiles with a facial area of less than 0.1m² with no side > 600mm long, a minimum joint width of 2mm is required.
  • Tiles with a facial area 0.1m² to 1m² with no side>1200mm long, a minimum joint width of 3 mm is required.
And
  • Joints between ceramic panels should be increased pro-rata to panel size (e.g. for a 3m long ceramic panels the minimum required joint width between these panels is 5mm.
Not included in the scope of BS 5385-1: 2018 are:
  • Natural Stone Slabs i.e. stone which is more than 12mm thick,
  • Agglomerate stone,
  • Metal, plastic resin, mirror or glass tiles of a similar construction
Note from Admin: We have collated most of the threads regarding tile standards. Having one thread on the subject should help those out seeking advice regarding British Standards in Wall and Floor tile BS 5385
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Balloo

TF
Arms
Reaction score
132
I tiled 6 full bathrooms 195mt in a house for a famous mr nesbit . For the golf open .
Total nightmare of a job herringbone on two of them o_O
 

Myrdaal

TF
Reaction score
1
No update as to what happened. so i'll throw in...Its almost definitely not British Standard. I work at the building site end of things, and Site managers love to show off their 'knowledge' of BS/NHBC standards. Cutting into the bath has NEVER been an issue. Having said that, they look like the 'metro' type tiles there, and cutting in wouldn't have looked good. That rip looks to be about 10mm at the widest, as Andystiletiling said, your tiler should have changed spacers to absorb it, it would be unnoticeable. Bit late now, but its my opinion dark grouts and white glazed tiles is never a good idea, it just highlights any imperfections, (and those small tiles are always a bit 'sizey') the bevel in the tiles would make it look just as good with white grout. :)
 

Chelly

TF
Reaction score
10
Thanks all for your help and the information you have provided me. Received the 1st positive email yesterday from them saying “you have clearly done your research”, offering a refund for the tile or for the work to be redone.

I notice that most of you hate installing metro tiles, why are they so bad? They responded.....”The specific tiles you have chosen are notoriously problematic and whilst we are happy to reinstall replacements if this is what you decide, we would suggest an alternative tile is chosen to ensure the finish is completed in line with the standards you have quoted and to enable us to complete your bathroom to meet both yours and our expectations”
But I like metro tiles?! Would you advise against also? Not sure I trust them to redo the work, so thinking of getting a quote from a TTA approved tiler (Swansea area), if you know anyone willing to take on my work?
 
OP
D

Dumbo

I don't like metros but that is a personal thing many tilers and I mean proper tilers , check their references are capable of producing quality work with metros,.
If you want a tta tiler log on to the tta website I'm sure you will find someone in your area .
Tiles.org.uk
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Andy Allen

TF
Esteemed
Arms
Reaction score
18,316
Any tiler worth there salt should be able to use metros and produce a high standard.
The reason tilers don't like them is because there time consuming, being a small tile, going around and inside windows take forever, and there difficult to grout because of the bevelle.
Personally, I don't mind them, as I tile alot of kitchens, and can't remember the last time I did one that wasn't metros...
 
OP
D

Dumbo

Just be aware that nobody comes around from the tta to check the quality of Your work before accepting your membership , also things like checkatrade rely on reviews from customers who maybe can't tell the difference between a good and bad job .
Do your own research ,
 
OP
O

On one

Nothing too problematic at all with Metro tiles......just certain setting out criteria to be aware of, which a capable tiler would be aware of.
I would be asking close personal friends for recommendations, not necessarily just via asking on social media sites.
 
Reaction score
57
Another reason why metros or any smaller tile is a bad choice within a shower..... the grout joints! Far more grout to discolour. An Epoxy grout is one solution, also a grout sealer but they still do discolour. This is why large format tiles have become popular, also XL format has started to come through.
 

Tony_C

TF
Esteemed
Arms
Reaction score
2,130
Go for larger style brick tile and it will help avoid that slither at the top and probably having to start of a half tile, if it has to be wickes replacement tiles they have 300x200 & 400x150 available
 

Dan

Admin
Staff member
Reaction score
5,023
I think if they're brick fashion you have the old middle of the tile being thicker than the end so against a tile trim it looks terrible unless youve set it out to finish all external corners on 1/4 and 3/4 of the tile. So very limited setting out options width wise.

Thats a pain.
 

widler

TF
Esteemed
Arms
Reaction score
2,341
Metros look smart, but they are usually cheap , bent and sizey , I’ve just done 60m2 of them, bit bigger, 30x10cm, Johnson’s very own wicks shi it , bent , curled in at corners and sizey , they can run off a mountain side for all I care :)
 

Andy Allen

TF
Esteemed
Arms
Reaction score
18,316
Metros look smart, but they are usually cheap , bent and sizey , I’ve just done 60m2 of them, bit bigger, 30x10cm, Johnson’s very own wicks shi it , bent , curled in at corners and sizey , they can run off a mountain side for all I care :)
What grout did you use ??....:)
 

Reply to Tiling Standards (BS 5385) | British Wall and Floor Tiling Standards - IN FULL in the Tiling News; Tile News area at TilersForums.com

Or checkout our tile training advice or the Tile Standards

This website is hosted and managed by www.untoldmedia.co.uk. Creating content since 2001.

New Tiling Questions

UK Tiling Forum Stats

Threads
66,600
Messages
866,701
Members
9,511
Latest member
mmcdon47
Top
AdBlock Detected

We get it, advertisements are annoying!

Sure, ad-blocking software does a great job at blocking ads, but it also blocks useful features of our website. For the best site experience please disable your AdBlocker.

I've Disabled AdBlock