What makes a wall tile different
A wall tile has a porous body under a glossy or matt glaze. Under ISO 13006 and EN 14411, dry-pressed tiles with water absorption above 10% are group BIII. The porous body is what makes wall tiles light and easy to cut, and also what makes them crack at the corners in a dropped carton.
The glaze carries the whole appearance. Most Indian wall tiles are decorated with inkjet printers, often in collections where a plain tile, a décor tile and a border or "highlighter" are sold to be fixed together on one wall. A wall tile can look perfect alone and still be rejected because it does not match the décor piece made on another day.
The main hidden risk is crazing: fine cracks in the glaze that appear months after fixing, when the body takes up moisture and swells slightly while the glaze does not. A glaze that fits the body badly passes a visual check and fails in a bathroom. Crazing resistance is tested by autoclave under ISO 10545-11.
Morbi, the Town of Export Excellence for ceramic tiles and sanitaryware, makes most of India's wall tiles. Department of Commerce TradeStat figures show exports of US$180.42 million for tiles with absorption above 10% (HS 690723) in FY2025-26 (provisional).
What we check on ceramic wall tiles
| Check | How it is checked | What fails |
|---|---|---|
| Glaze surface | Face viewed from about 1 m in even light, then close up on any marks | Pinholes, crawling (glaze pulled back to bare body), dry or matt spots on gloss, glaze drops, colour specks |
| Crazing | Glaze viewed at a low angle; ink wiped over a test tile; factory autoclave result reviewed, or tiles sealed for a lab | Fine cracks in the glaze, or no crazing evidence for a glaze change |
| Print and series match | Plain, décor and border tiles of one collection laid together and compared with the approved board | Colour or gloss mismatch between pieces sold together; print banding across tiles |
| Inkjet registration | Pattern edges and relief checked on structured tiles | Print not aligned to the moulded relief; blurred lines |
| Shade and calibre | Panel of tiles from several cartons; sizes measured | Mixed shade or calibre in one carton or pallet |
| Flatness | Straight edge across face and edges | Concave or convex tiles that show as uneven light on a glossy wall |
| Corners and edges | All four corners and edges checked; tiles tapped for a dull note | Chipped or cracked corners, hairline cracks |
| Back and fixing face | Back checked for kiln debris and the profile that holds adhesive | Glaze runs on the back that weaken the adhesive bond |
Common ceramic wall tile defects and how they are classed
| Defect | Typical cause | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Glaze shards or sharp broken pieces loose inside a retail box | Breakage in packing not sorted out | Critical (handling safety) |
| Crazing on delivered tiles | Glaze and body expansion not matched | Major |
| Décor tile does not match the plain tile | Pieces printed or fired on different days | Major |
| Cracked or chipped corners | Thin porous body, loose cartons | Major (minor if a small chip only) |
| Pinholes or crawling on the face | Dust on the body, glaze application | Major or minor by size and number |
| Print banding | Inkjet nozzle fault | Minor or major by visibility |
Your defect list decides the final class.
Ceramic floor tiles (groups BIb to BIIb)
Glazed ceramic floor tiles sit between wall tiles and porcelain: under ISO 13006 and EN 14411, dry-pressed groups BIb, BIIa and BIIb cover water absorption from above 0.5% to 10%. TradeStat shows exports of US$114.38 million for this band (HS 690722) in FY2025-26 (provisional). Floor use adds claims the inspector must match to evidence:
- Abrasion class. The PEI-type class for glazed tiles is tested under ISO 10545-7. The inspector checks that the class on the carton is the class in the report for the same glaze.
- Slip resistance. R ratings for Europe or wet DCOF under ANSI A137.1 for the US are lab values. A change of glaze finish makes an old report useless.
- Frost resistance. Needed for outdoor use; tested under ISO 10545-12. Higher-absorption bodies are a risk outdoors in cold climates.
- Breaking strength. Thicker than wall tiles; checked by the factory lab or an outside lab under ISO 10545-4.
Floor tiles with absorption of 0.5% or less are covered on the vitrified and porcelain tiles page.
Market rules for wall and floor tiles
- EU and UK. Tiles are construction products with CE marking and a declaration of performance under EN 14411. Great Britain still accepts CE for construction products; see UKCA and CE marking.
- US. ANSI A137.1 is the tile standard. The countervailing duty order on ceramic tile from India of 16 June 2025 covers wall tile as well as floor tile; glazing and water absorption do not take a tile out of scope. Producer identity on cartons and invoices matters for the deposit rate.
- Gulf. Saudi building-material rules cover tiles; see SASO and SABER.
- Origin. Country of origin on cartons and any retail boxes; see country of origin labelling.
Packing and your purchase order
Wall tiles are packed in thin cartons of light tiles, often several cartons high on a pallet. The inspector checks that cartons are full and tight, that décor and border pieces have their own dividers or boxes, and that the top layer is protected from strapping. A carton dropped on a corner during the check should not leave cracked tiles inside.
- Body group, size, thickness and finish, with the collection list (plain, décor, border, highlighter).
- One shade and calibre per pallet; décor pieces from the same production run as the plain tiles.
- Crazing evidence for each glaze; PEI, slip and frost reports for floor tiles.
- Pieces per carton, square metres per carton, and carton marking.
Sources
- DGFT: Appendix 1B, Towns of Export Excellence (Morbi)
- ISO 13006:2018, Ceramic tiles: definitions, classification, characteristics and marking
- Federal Register: Ceramic tile from India, countervailing duty order (16 June 2025)
- Department of Commerce: TradeStat commodity-wise exports (FY2025-26, provisional)