mineral / Clay-Based / Tile

Ceramic floor or wall tile (6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm)

Fired clay-based tiles available in multiple thicknesses for floor and wall applications, offering durability, water resistance, and design versatility in residential and commercial construction

Atlas code
MIN-CLY-TIL-004
mineralclay-basedceramictilesnon-combustiblewater-resistantdurable
Ceramic floor or wall tile (6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm)
At-a-glance signals

Fired clay-based tiles available in multiple thicknesses for floor and wall applications, offering durability, water resistance, and design versatility in residential and commercial construction

Overview
Executive summary

Ceramic tiles are manufactured from natural clay materials mixed with other minerals, shaped, dried, and fired at temperatures typically between 1000-1250°C. The firing process creates a hard, durable surface suitable for both floor and wall applications. Available in glazed and unglazed variants with varying water absorption rates from 3-15%, these tiles provide excellent chemical resistance, dimensional stability, and aesthetic versatility. The four thickness options (6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm) accommodate different installation requirements and load conditions.

Best when…
  • Non-combustible - suitable for all BAL zones
  • Excellent moisture resistance when properly installed
  • Wide range of colours, patterns and finishes available
  • Chemical and stain resistant (especially glazed variants)
  • Hygienic surface easy to clean and maintain
  • Dimensional stability with low thermal expansion
  • Good thermal mass for passive solar design
  • Long service life (30-50+ years)
  • Recyclable at end of life
  • Locally manufactured options available
Top advantages
  1. 01 Non-combustible - suitable for all BAL zones
  2. 02 Excellent moisture resistance when properly installed
  3. 03 Wide range of colours, patterns and finishes available
  4. 04 Chemical and stain resistant (especially glazed variants)
  5. 05 Hygienic surface easy to clean and maintain
Top limitations
  1. 01 Hard surface can be uncomfortable underfoot
  2. 02 Prone to chipping or cracking under impact
  3. 03 Cold surface without underfloor heating
  4. 04 Grout joints require regular maintenance
  5. 05 Sound reflective surface requiring acoustic treatment
Technical
Physical ·9
Density
1800-2200 kg/m³ kg/m³
Specific gravity
1.8-2.2
Porosity
6-20% %
Water absorption
3-15% %
Hardness
Mohs 5-7
UV resistance
Excellent // Inorganic material, colour stable
Chemical resistance
Good to Excellent // AS 4459.13-1999
pH tolerance
pH 3-14
Surface roughness
Ra 0.5-20 μm µm
Mechanical ·7
Tensile strength
15-30 MPa MPa
Compressive strength
100-250 MPa MPa
Flexural strength
30-50 MPa MPa
Shear strength
20-35 MPa MPa
Poisson's ratio
0.18-0.25
Impact resistance
0.3-0.5 J // AS ISO 10545-5 coefficient of restitution
Creep resistance
Negligible // Minimal at room temperature
Sustainability & Health
Embodied carbon & energy ·7
Embodied carbon
3.5-5.5 kg CO2e/kg // Based on manufacturing process
Carbon footprint
15-25 kg CO2e/m² // LCA studies on ceramic tiles
Embodied energy
20-30 MJ/kg MJ/kg // Energy intensity of production
Water footprint
10-20 L/kg L/kg // Manufacturing water use
Recycled content
0-30% % // Varies by manufacturer
Renewable content
0% % // Mineral-based material
Circular score
65/100 // Based on durability and recyclability
Compliance & Fire
Fire performance ·6
Combustibility class
Non-combustible // AS3959:2018 classification
Fire resistance level
Non-combustible // AS 1530.1
Ignition temp
Not applicable °C // Does not ignite
Flame spread index
0
Smoke dev. index
0
Heat release rate
0 kW/m² // Non-combustible
Cost & Lifecycle
Capex & lead time ·6
Material cost (range)
$20-150/m² // Australian market 2025
Material cost (per unit)
$2-15 per tile // Varies with size and quality
Lead time
1-4 weeks // Stock to special order
Lifecycle cost
$100-300/m² over 30 years // Including installation and maintenance
Annual maintenance
$2-5/m² // Cleaning and regrouting
Market availability
Readily available // Wide distribution network
Service life & durability ·3
Expected lifespan
30-50+ years // With proper maintenance
Maintenance interval
Annual sealing, 5-10 year regrouting // Typical maintenance
Warranty period
5-15 years // Manufacturer warranties
Layer D

Where it's used

Residential bathroom walls and floors
Kitchen backsplashes and countertops
Commercial retail flooring
Healthcare facility walls
Educational facility corridors
Multi-residential common areas
External wall cladding (frost-resistant grades)
Swimming pool surrounds (with appropriate slip resistance)
Food service areas
Laundry and wet areas
MIN-CLY-TIL-004 · Materials Atlas · CLAD Atlas data is reference-only. Verify against manufacturer specifications and current standards before specifying.