#MAPEITechTip: ‘ISO 13007 Standards’— It all Starts with R&D

For more than 75 years now, MAPEI has recognized the importance of continually innovating, using advanced technology to develop premium products that exceed industry performance standards. Much time and effort are spent in MAPEI laboratories to ensure compliance with the ISO 13007 test methods, as well as to verify that all adhesives and grouts meet the criteria for the prescribed performance levels.
 
This requires a huge investment in sophisticated laboratory equipment, as well as personnel training in the use of such equipment and the mandatory testing methodology. For example, testing includes using electronic dynamometers, deformability presses and climate chambers that can produce extreme conditions of temperature and humidity.

Tensile bond adhesion strength: This test method is for cementitious (“C”) adhesives, and is used to quantify the amount of bond strength to the substrate as either “C1” (72.5 psi / 0,5 MPa) or “C2” (145 psi / 1 MPa) after both a 7-day and 28-day cure period. 

Tensile bond is the amount of force exerted on both the adhesive and tile assembly in an upward pull motion to the point of failure (POF).

Open time: This test method is for cementitious (“C”), dispersion (“D”) and reaction resin (“R”) type adhesives. It is used to determine the maximum open time of the adhesive before loss of bond strength occurs. Tiles are placed in the adhesive after 20 minutes. After curing for 7 days, they must meet a tensile or shear bond strength of either 72,5 psi (0,5 MPa or 1 MPa) or 145 psi respectively. To receive the optional characteristic of an extended open time (“E”) rating, the tile would be set into the adhesive after 30 minutes, while still meeting the prescribed minimum bond requirements.

Slip resistance: Used for cementitious (“C”), dispersion (“D”) and reaction resin (“R”) adhesives, this test method verifies whether the adhesive has the ability to hold tile to a wall in a vertical application, without slipping.

Tile is first placed into the adhesive, weighted and then placed in a vertical position for 5 minutes. The tile must not slip more than approximately 0.019" (0.5 mm) in order to receive a “T” rating for slip resistance.

Deformability: This test method is for cementitious (“C”) adhesives and is used to quantify the degree of deformability that an adhesive can withstand before it breaks or loses bond. In the test, a piece of cured adhesive (known as a “lintel”) of a prescribed length, width and thickness is supported at each end and then pushed downward using a curved anvil that is positioned midway between two end supports.

The downward movement of the adhesive is measured in order to determine whether it can be classified as a deformable (“S1”) or highly deformable (“S2”) adhesive.

As the construction industry continues to innovate substrates, floor coverings and installation methods, MAPEI continues to innovate and improve its adhesives and grouts. Not only has MAPEI adopted the new global, measurable ISO 13007 standards from product design to field-testing, it is committed to exceeding customer satisfaction with exceptionally performing products. All industry partners benefit from ISO 13007’s easy-to-use, easy-to-understand guidelines that optimize installation success from start to finish.  In fact since 2011, the ISO 13007 Standards have been included in the TCNA handbook as part of the performance crtieria, along with ANSI, for all industry tile, stone and glass installation methods.