Every CE marking depicts that a product is safe for use as required by the European Union Certification. To be fit for purpose, tile adhesives have to reach the safety standards at stated by the British Standards.
The safety order test is there to protect the public when they are purchasing any product; like all construction materials, in order to be used in Europe, adhesives have to pass this. Timber, plastic water pipes, gypsum blocks, metallic components and adhesives for tiles can be included in this. Tile adhesives need to pass the test to conform by the BS EN 12004 as a minimum requirement. This marks the perfect British Standard and is far more descriptive as to its properties as compared to the former British Standard BS 5980. Adhesives have to pass a series of tests which include dispersion, performance and reaction in order to be classified.
The newly introduced tests are far more detailed as to what were carried out earlier for meeting safety standards. The newly formed safety tests also now have to take into consideration the following factors:- the ability to stretch, slipperiness, water resistance and the ability to withstand deformation. The fundamental characteristics have to be declared by the manufacturer in order to prove the adhesive conforms to the British Standard. The product will be marked by the manufacturer under a certain catergory that will instantly confirm that it is safe for use.
There are prerequisites which are compulsory and are stated in the directive for BS EN 12004 but it does not necessarily mean that all CE marked adhesives conform to this. To be sold in the European Union markets, products that have the CE marking are classed has being fit to use according to the general stardards. They are however, not classed as having full safety to use according to the new British Standard. If any of the adhesives fail to pass the performance tests as regards heat ageing and freeze or thaw tests, they cannot be considered as fit for BS EN 12004. However they could pass the CE certification that does not include these tests to pass the Construction Products Directive for the durability of the product.
Checking the markings, before you buy on any product is advisable. Products should hold both the CE and the BS EN 12004 certification. Ensure you check thoroughly before purchasing to ensure this. The heat ageing, freeze and thaw requirements are factors you should still check for on the contents label even if it has both the markings. To know that this property does not exist in the adhesive you need to look out for a no performance determined or NPD sign or maybe a value such as N/mm2, which is lower than 0.Durability is measured with 5N/mm2.
The manufacturer will set a classification rating, the CE and the BS EN 12004 marks which shows the public the product they are buying passes all the safety norms.
With these kind of checks in place the public can rest assured whether decorating the bathroom, with those gorgeous ceramic bathroom tiles or choosing a tile design for your kitchen, each product has had to pass the safety checks in place.
