Emser Tech™: Emser’s State-Of-The-Art Testing Facility
We are proud to announce the recent opening of our new in-house testing laboratory in Houston, Texas. This new testing lab will increase our ability to consistently deliver on our promise of high-quality materials and best-in-class customer service.
Taking control of testing is no small feat! It requires day-to-day dedication to excellence so that our customers can make responsible decisions on what works best for their projects.
Watch a short video of our new testing facility in action!
Testing Lab Capabilities
We are able to run the following tests at Emser Tech™, all of which are in line with industry standards:
- Water Absorption (ASTM C373)
- Breaking Strength (ASTM C648)
- Scratch Hardness (MOHS) (ASTM C1895)
- Abrasion Resistance (ASTM C1027)
- Dynamic Coefficient of Friction (DCOF) (ANSI A326.3)
- Chemical Resistance (ASTM C650)
- Stain Resistance (ASTM C1378)
Each of these tests lets us know what types of installations and conditions are appropriate and safe for the tested tile.
Understanding Test Results
Water Absorption (ASTM C373)
IMPERVIOUS: ≤0.5% – a requirement for exterior usage
VITREOUS: 0.5% to 3.0% – can still be utilized in most exterior applications, but not steam shower
SEMI-VITREOUS: 3.0% to 7.0% – interior only, mostly found in red-body tiles
NON-VITREOUS: 7.0% to 20.0% – interior only, virtually all white-body wall tiles
Breaking Strength (ASTM C648)
Wall Usage – ≥125 LBF
Floor Usage – ≥250 LBF
Heavy Commercial – ≥350 LBF
Car Dealership – – ≥500 LBF
Scratch Hardness (MOHS) (ASTM C1895)
MOHS 3 – typical of wall tile results
MOHS 5 – Residential flooring minimum
MOHS 7 – Commercial flooring recommendation for matte products
Abrasion Resistance (ASTM C1027)
Class I and Class II – Residential Only due to wear rate
Class III and Class IV – Heavy Residential and Commercial
Class V – Heavy Commercial
Dynamic Coefficient of Friction (DCOF) (ANSI A326.3)
Exterior: ≥0.42 Exterior Covered, ≥0.55 Exterior Uncovered, ≥0.60 Pool Deck
Commercial: ≥0.42 for level interior floors meant to be walked upon when wet
Chemical Resistance (ASTM C650)
Tested against common household and cleaning chemicals, swimming pool chemicals, acids and bases to determine suitable application options.
Natural stone products are not chemically resistant, and that is why they require sealing prior to and after installation.
Stain Resistance (ASTM C1378)
Resistance to staining is determined by exposing tile to staining agents for a prolonged period of time, cleaning the tile in a defined manner, and visually inspecting the tile for any changes.
At Emser, we are committed to customer service, and having the ability to test our products in-house is yet another level of our dedication to our customers, as we can now validate testing, data analysis, and quality control metrics. This ensures that every product we sell not only meets, but exceeds, industry standards.
Explore Emser’s quality tile, with the assurance that each product is thoroughly tested.