ISO 10545 is a series of test methods, not a single certificate and not a universal pass/fail checklist. Choose the part from the property and intended use: dimensions, absorption, strength, wear, thermal behavior, frost, chemicals or staining. Then keep the specimen, finish, thickness, result form and acceptance source attached to that part.
The method tells the laboratory how to test. The product standard, project specification, contract or authority supplies the applicable limit or class. A buyer request should therefore name both the method and the decision requirement.
Map Each ISO 10545 Part to a Property Question
| Part | Property | Result form | Decision use |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISO 10545-2 | Dimensions and surface quality: length, width, thickness, straightness, rectangularity, flatness and visible surface quality. | mm, %, deviations or observations depending on field. | Whether the tested pieces meet the specified dimensional/visual criteria. |
| ISO 10545-3 | Water absorption, apparent porosity, apparent relative density and bulk density. | %, dimensionless ratio and mass/volume units. | Material classification or comparison only against the applicable requirement. |
| ISO 10545-4 | Modulus of rupture and breaking strength. | N/mm² or MPa for stress; N for force. | Structural handling/application screening at the tested geometry and scope. |
| ISO 10545-5 | Impact resistance by coefficient of restitution. | Coefficient or reported method outcome. | Impact-behavior comparison at the tested configuration. |
| ISO 10545-6 | Resistance to deep abrasion for unglazed surfaces. | Wear volume, commonly mm³. | Wear comparison for an appropriate exposed surface and use. |
| ISO 10545-7 | Resistance to surface abrasion for glazed surfaces. | Class/cycles within the method. | Surface-wear selection when the method applies to the finish. |
| ISO 10545-8 | Linear thermal expansion. | Expansion coefficient per temperature interval. | Movement-joint and interface design input, not a complete system design. |
| ISO 10545-9 | Resistance to thermal shock. | Observation/pass classification per test conditions. | Screening for repeated temperature-change exposure. |
| ISO 10545-10 | Moisture expansion. | Expansion value. | Movement-related assessment where relevant. |
| ISO 10545-12 | Frost resistance. | Observed damage/pass outcome after specified cycles. | Freeze-thaw exposure screening for the tested product. |
| ISO 10545-13 | Chemical resistance at room temperature. | Class or visible-change result by reagent group. | Compatibility screening for named chemical exposure. |
| ISO 10545-14 | Resistance to stains. | Class within the method after cleaning procedures. | Stain-cleanability comparison at the tested surface finish. |
Source boundary: Current official scopes and edition status can be checked in the ISO/TC 189 catalogue. The summaries above are a procurement map, not a substitute for the purchased standard text.
ISO 10545-3 and -4: Do Not Mix Quantity or Units
ISO 10545-3: keep absorption, porosity and density separate
The current method covers water absorption, apparent porosity, apparent relative density and bulk density. These are related but distinct outputs. A buyer should record which quantity was reported, the specimen preparation, the number of specimens, individual values where provided and the summary statistic. “Low absorption” without the value, unit and acceptance source is not a review result.
ISO 10545-4: do not mix force with stress
Breaking strength is reported as force, while modulus of rupture is a calculated stress. They respond differently to thickness and specimen geometry. A table that places a value in newtons beside a value in megapascals under one “strength” column is invalid. Keep the exact quantity, units, thickness, dimensions, support span and loading arrangement where reported.
Source boundary: Official method scopes: ISO 10545-3 and ISO 10545-4.
Part 2 Does Not Turn a Cut Coupon into Full-Slab Verification
Part 2 does not produce one “dimension pass.” It addresses multiple fields: length, width, thickness, straightness of sides, rectangularity, centre curvature, edge curvature, warpage and surface quality. A review sheet should allocate a row to each specified field and state the project or product-standard tolerance next to the measured result.
Large-format sintered stone creates an additional practical question: was the tested object the commercial slab, a cut piece, or a tile-size representative specimen? A 300 mm coupon cannot establish the bow, usable dimensions, edge condition, face continuity or vein alignment of a 1600 × 3200 mm slab. Record what the report actually says and use order inspection or full-slab records for the commercial object.
Source boundary: The official ISO 10545-2 page lists the dimensional and surface-quality characteristics covered by the method.
Wear, Thermal, Frost, Chemical and Stain Results Are Not Interchangeable
| Question | Relevant part | Scope field that changes interpretation | Common overclaim to avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will the exposed surface resist a specified wear condition? | Part 6 or 7 depending on surface type/method applicability. | Glazed/unglazed classification, finish, wear mechanism and result scale. | “Scratch proof” or universal wear resistance. |
| How does the material expand with temperature? | Part 8. | Temperature interval and reported coefficient. | A complete joint-spacing or support design from one coefficient. |
| Did specimens withstand repeated thermal change? | Part 9. | Cycle conditions, specimen state and inspection criteria. | “Heat proof” for every appliance or installation detail. |
| Did specimens show damage after frost cycling? | Part 12. | Water conditioning, cycle count and observation criteria. | Approval of a facade or exterior assembly. |
| How did the surface respond to named chemicals? | Part 13. | Reagent group, concentration, exposure and class/visible change. | Resistance to every household or industrial chemical. |
| How removable were named stains? | Part 14. | Staining agent, cleaning procedure, finish and class. | Maintenance-free or stain-proof performance. |
Application words such as exterior, countertop or floor do not select one ISO part. Convert the application into property questions, then select evidence for each question.
Build the Test Scope from the Intended Sintered Stone Use
| Buyer decision | Possible ISO 10545 questions | Additional evidence still needed |
|---|---|---|
| Import and general product qualification | Dimensions/surface quality, absorption, strength and selected surface properties. | Product standard/classification, exact commercial configuration, sampling basis and destination requirements. |
| Countertop slab selection | Absorption, strength, thermal shock, chemical and stain resistance where relevant. | Fabrication manual, cutout/edge/support details, workplace controls and project drawing release. |
| Floor selection | Dimensions, absorption, strength, abrasion and relevant chemical/stain behavior. | Slip-resistance method for the market/use zone, installation system and maintenance plan. |
| Exterior/freeze exposure | Absorption, strength, thermal behavior, frost and chemical exposure as applicable. | Complete assembly design, fixings/supports, weather exposure, movement and authority/project requirements. |
| Food-contact surface | Selected performance tests may support durability questions. | Applicable food-contact certification/listing or legal evidence for the exact product/use. |
| Batch or shipment release | Only those methods tied to an agreed production-control plan. | Approved sample/batch criteria, inspection records, labels and release authority. |
This is a scoping matrix, not a mandatory test bundle. Remove any test that does not answer a risk or requirement, and add market-specific methods that ISO 10545 does not cover. Slip resistance is a common example: method selection depends on destination, surface condition and use zone and should not be hidden inside a generic ISO 10545 request.
Write Chemical and Stain Requirements with Finish and Exposure
Do not write “chemical resistant” or “stain proof.” Name the applicable method, surface finish, reagent or staining-agent group, exposure/cleaning conditions where the method requires them, result scale and minimum accepted class. A result under ISO 10545-13 does not automatically predict every concentrated industrial chemical, and an ISO 10545-14 stain class does not guarantee removal under every maintenance regime.
For comparisons, keep each reagent/result pair visible. If a TDS collapses several chemicals into one letter class, obtain the report or manufacturer explanation before applying the summary to a specific project exposure. Also check whether the exposed surface, edge or fabricated detail differs from the tested face.
Worked Thickness Example: Force and Stress Move Differently
The public Dekton technical data sheet reports ISO 10545-4 values by product family and thickness. Its 8 mm families show breaking-strength values around 1993–2304 N and flexural-strength values around 50–55 N/mm²; 12 mm groups show roughly 4509–4992 N and 48–54 N/mm²; 20 mm groups show roughly 13,614–14,174 N and 50–54 N/mm².
This pattern illustrates why force and stress cannot be collapsed: breaking force rises markedly with thickness while the flexural-stress range remains comparatively similar. These figures belong only to the named Dekton document and tested families. They are not values for StoneFuntek products and not universal acceptance limits.
Source boundary: Worked example: Dekton Technical Data Sheet. Always verify the current revision and exact family.
Funtek TDS Example: A Declared Value Is Not a Third-Party Result
The inspected Funtek TDS for CALACATTA A17 / FTK-A17-2607 identifies batch FT-A17-2607, a 1600 × 3200 × 12 mm polished full-body slab and lists 0.12% water absorption, 1860 N breaking strength, 45.2 MPa modulus of rupture, abrasion Class 4, stain Class 5, chemical Class A, frost PASS and fire A1. The sheet also states that its values are based on internal laboratory tests.
Use those entries as declared product data at the stated scope. Before turning any one of them into a project compliance claim, obtain the source report or classification needed by the specification, confirm method/edition, specimen count, finish and thickness, then compare with the independent acceptance clause. This is the difference between a useful TDS and an overextended test claim.
Preserve the Specimen and Result Fields for Each Part
A method number without specimen fields is not enough for procurement comparison. Create a method-specific row that captures the variables most likely to change interpretation. The laboratory report remains the authority; the worksheet is only an index.
| Property group | Specimen / condition fields | Result fields to preserve |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions and surface quality | Commercial or cut specimen, nominal dimensions, number of pieces, measurement locations and surface inspection conditions. | Each dimensional deviation/observation and the stated calculation basis. |
| Absorption / porosity / density | Specimen count, preparation, drying/saturation procedure and mass measurements as reported. | Individual values, mean, %, density units and any exclusions. |
| Breaking strength / modulus of rupture | Thickness, width/length, support span, load orientation, surface/edge condition and count. | Breaking load in N, calculated stress in N/mm² or MPa, individual/mean values and failure notes. |
| Abrasion | Surface classification/finish, test path or cycle conditions and specimen count. | Wear volume or class/cycles on the method’s own scale. |
| Thermal / frost | Preconditioning, temperature range, cycle count and inspection method. | Expansion coefficient, visible damage or pass/fail wording with conditions. |
| Chemical / stain | Surface finish, reagent/staining agent, concentration, duration and cleaning procedure. | Separate class/observation for each agent or group; no combined “proof” label. |
When a TDS gives only a representative or family summary, use it for preliminary selection and request the report when the decision requires specimen-level detail. When the report omits information required for interpretation, record a clarification rather than reconstructing the test from a different manufacturer’s document.
A Focused ISO 10545 Request for a Commercial Slab
- UseDefine application, exposure, support/fabrication system and market.
- PropertyConvert risk into a property: geometry, absorption, strength, wear, thermal, frost, chemicals or stains.
- MethodSelect the applicable ISO 10545 part and edition; state any alternate method required by the market.
- EvidenceRequest exact-product scope, results, units, conditions and the separate acceptance source.
INTENDED USE / EXPOSURE: ______________________
PRODUCT CODE / THICKNESS / FINISH: ____________
PROPERTY QUESTION: ____________________________
ISO 10545 PART + EDITION: _____________________
REQUIRED RESULT FORM / UNITS: _________________
SPECIMEN / SAMPLING SCOPE: ____________________
ACCEPTANCE SOURCE + LIMIT / CLASS: ____________
FULL REPORT + ANNEXES REQUIRED: yes / no
DECISION TO RELEASE: __________________________Keep Fabrication and Assembly Approval Outside the Product-Test Claim
A product test does not approve a complete countertop, floor, wall or facade assembly. Substrates, supports, cutouts, anchors, adhesives, joints, workmanship, exposure and local rules remain separate. Likewise, a result for one model, thickness or finish should not be assigned to an entire catalogue unless the report or governing classification rules support that grouping.
For report anatomy, use the 12-field test-report review. For project evidence and response status, use the submittal package workflow. Return to the standards and documents hub when the next question concerns safety, certification, visual approval or release rather than a test method. Those controls prevent a valid method result from being used beyond its scope.
Request the Test That Matches the Property Question
Tell us the product code, thickness, finish, intended use, destination and required property. Funtek can identify available report scope and help separate the test method from the acceptance requirement.