mineral / Clay-Based / Ceramic
Vitreous china sanitaryware (Specified by product dimensions)
Vitrified ceramic sanitaryware with glass-like enamel coating, water absorption <0.5%, used for bathroom fixtures including toilets, basins, urinals, and bidets
Atlas code
MIN-CLY-CER-001
At-a-glance signals
Vitrified ceramic sanitaryware with glass-like enamel coating, water absorption <0.5%, used for bathroom fixtures including toilets, basins, urinals, and bidets
Overview
Executive summary
Vitreous china is a ceramic material consisting of a porcelain body (25-70% glass phase, 30-75% crystalline phase) coated with vitreous enamel. Fired at 1200-1300°C, it achieves water absorption below 0.5% per AS 1976-1992 and ASTM standards. The material comprises clay (kaolin/ball clay), feldspar, quartz/flint, with mullite crystal formation during firing providing structural strength.
Best when…
- Water absorption <0.5% ensuring hygiene
- Non-porous glazed surface prevents bacterial growth
- High chemical resistance to cleaning agents
- Stain and odour resistant
- Durable with 20-50+ year lifespan
- Fire resistant and non-combustible
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Aesthetically pleasing glossy finish
- Complies with Australian Standards
- Suitable for all climate zones
Top advantages
- 01 Water absorption <0.5% ensuring hygiene
- 02 Non-porous glazed surface prevents bacterial growth
- 03 High chemical resistance to cleaning agents
- 04 Stain and odour resistant
- 05 Durable with 20-50+ year lifespan
Top limitations
- 01 Brittle - susceptible to impact damage
- 02 Heavy weight (density 1830-2480 kg/m³)
- 03 High embodied carbon (700-1120 kgCO2-eq/tonne)
- 04 Limited thermal shock resistance
- 05 Cannot be repaired if cracked
Technical
Physical ·7
- Density
- 1830 – 2480 kg/m³
- Specific gravity
- 1.83 – 2.48 dimensionless
- Hardness
- 7 Mohs scale
- UV resistance
- Excellent
- Chemical resistance
- Excellent - resistant to acids, alkalis, and cleaning agents
- pH tolerance
- 3 – 14 pH
- Surface roughness
- 0.1 – 0.5 μm Ra
Mechanical ·7
- Tensile strength
- 20 – 40 MPa
- Compressive strength
- 200 – 400 MPa
- Flexural strength
- 39 – 78 MPa
- Shear strength
- 30 – 60 MPa
- Poisson's ratio
- 0.5 dimensionless
- Impact resistance
- Low - brittle material
- Creep resistance
- Excellent at ambient temperatures
Sustainability & Health
Embodied carbon & energy ·7
- Embodied carbon
- 700 – 1120 kgCO2-eq/tonne
- Carbon footprint
- 700 – 1120 kgCO2-eq/tonne
- Embodied energy
- 10 – 15 GJ/tonne
- Water footprint
- 15 L/kg product
- Recycled content
- 0 – 30 %
- Renewable content
- 0 %
- Circular score
- 40 /100
Compliance & Fire
Fire performance ·5
- Combustibility class
- A1 - Non-combustible
- Fire resistance level
- Non-combustible per AS 1530.1
- Flame spread index
- 0 FSI
- Smoke dev. index
- 0 SDI
- Heat release rate
- 0 kW/m²
Cost & Lifecycle
Capex & lead time ·6
- Material cost (range)
- 200 – 2000 AUD per unit
- Material cost (per unit)
- Varies by product: Basin $200-800, Toilet $300-1500, Urinal $400-2000 AUD
- Lead time
- 1 – 12 weeks
- Lifecycle cost
- 1000 – 4000 AUD over 25 years
- Annual maintenance
- 20 – 50 AUD per fixture
- Market availability
- Excellent - multiple Australian suppliers
Service life & durability ·3
- Expected lifespan
- 20 – 50 years
- Maintenance interval
- 1 year for inspection
- Warranty period
- 1 – 15 years
Layer D
Where it's used
Toilets and water closets
Washbasins and lavatories
Urinals
Bidets
Cisterns
Pedestals
Healthcare sanitaryware
Commercial washroom fixtures
Accessible bathroom fixtures
Laboratory sinks