composite / Aggregate-Based / Cementitious Binder

Terrazzo, tile or in-situ (12mm, 15mm, 20mm, 25mm, 30mm tiles; 60mm-75mm in-situ)

Premium composite flooring material combining marble, granite, glass or other aggregates with cement or epoxy binders, offering exceptional durability, design flexibility, and 50-100+ year lifespan suitable for all Australian climate zones.

Atlas code
COM-AGG-CEM-001
compositeaggregate-basedterrazzonon-combustiblesustainablehigh-durabilitylow-maintenance
Terrazzo, tile or in-situ (12mm, 15mm, 20mm, 25mm, 30mm tiles; 60mm-75mm in-situ)
At-a-glance signals

Premium composite flooring material combining marble, granite, glass or other aggregates with cement or epoxy binders, offering exceptional durability, design flexibility, and 50-100+ year lifespan suitable for all Australian climate zones.

Overview
Executive summary

Terrazzo is a composite material consisting of chips of marble, granite, quartz, glass, or other suitable aggregates, poured with a cementitious or epoxy binder. Available as precast tiles (12-30mm thick) or poured in-situ (60-75mm), terrazzo provides exceptional durability, low maintenance, and infinite design possibilities. The material achieves non-combustible classification, making it suitable for all bushfire attack levels (BAL-FZ) in Australian conditions. With proper installation and maintenance, terrazzo floors routinely exceed 100-year service life, making them highly cost-effective despite higher initial investment.

Best when…
  • Exceptional durability (50-100+ years lifespan)
  • Non-combustible (suitable for BAL-FZ bushfire zones)
  • Low maintenance costs (AUD $2-5/m²/year)
  • 100% recyclable at end of life
  • Infinite design possibilities
  • Superior abrasion resistance (ASTM C241 Ha>20)
  • Zero VOC emissions (cement-based)
  • Thermal mass for passive climate control
  • Seamless hygienic surface (in-situ)
  • Slip resistance customizable (P3-P5 ratings)
Top advantages
  1. 01 Exceptional durability (50-100+ years lifespan)
  2. 02 Non-combustible (suitable for BAL-FZ bushfire zones)
  3. 03 Low maintenance costs (AUD $2-5/m²/year)
  4. 04 100% recyclable at end of life
  5. 05 Infinite design possibilities
Top limitations
  1. 01 High initial cost (AUD $150-400/m²)
  2. 02 Specialized installation required
  3. 03 Hard underfoot (low resilience)
  4. 04 Cold surface in winter
  5. 05 Potential for cracking without proper joints
Technical
Physical ·9
Density
2600-2870 kg/m³
Specific gravity
2.6-2.87
Porosity
2.1-3.2 %
Water absorption
0.1-5.0 % (by mass) Polyacrylate cementitious terrazzo: max 5% by weight per NTMA; epoxy systems can be lower.
Hardness
3-7
UV resistance
Excellent
Chemical resistance
Good-Excellent
pH tolerance
4-14
Surface roughness
0.8-100
Mechanical ·7
Tensile strength
4.8-70 MPa NTMA guide spec minimum 700 psi (~4.8 MPa) for polyacrylate cementitious terrazzo.
Compressive strength
20-95 MPa
Flexural strength
13.8-31 MPa NTMA guide spec minimum 2000 psi (~13.8 MPa) for polyacrylate cementitious terrazzo.
Shear strength
1.5-20
Poisson's ratio
0.18-0.40
Impact resistance
8-35
Creep resistance
Excellent
Sustainability & Health
Embodied carbon & energy ·7
Embodied carbon
46.23
Carbon footprint
13.3-21.5
Embodied energy
8-15 MJ/kg
Water footprint
175-187
Recycled content
20-77
Renewable content
0-15
Circular score
8.5
Compliance & Fire
Fire performance ·6
Combustibility class
Varies (cementitious can be non-combustible if tested to AS 1530.1) Cementitious terrazzo may be deemed non-combustible when tested to AS 1530.1; resin terrazzo is combustible.
Fire resistance level
0-120
Ignition temp
>750 °C
Flame spread index
0-25
Smoke dev. index
0-50
Heat release rate
<50
Cost & Lifecycle
Capex & lead time ·6
Material cost (range)
120-400
Material cost (per unit)
150-350
Lead time
0-28
Lifecycle cost
250-600
Annual maintenance
2-5
Market availability
Good
Service life & durability ·3
Expected lifespan
50-100+
Maintenance interval
1-365
Warranty period
7-10
Layer D

Where it's used

Commercial flooring (retail, hospitality, healthcare)
Institutional buildings (schools, universities, museums)
Transport infrastructure (airports, train stations)
Residential high-end flooring
External paving (covered areas)
Benchtops and vertical cladding
Stair treads and landings
Public spaces requiring high durability
COM-AGG-CEM-001 · Materials Atlas · CLAD Atlas data is reference-only. Verify against manufacturer specifications and current standards before specifying.