KENYA STANDARD DKS 2129:2008

Tile adhesive for marble, granite, ceramic

and porcelain — Cement based —
Specification

Public Review Draft December 2008

DKS 2129:2007

TECHNICAL COMMITTEE REPRESENTATION

The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee:
Mangat I B Patel & partners
MORPW
Athi River Mining Ltd.
Bamburi Cement Ltd.
C. B. Yongo & Associates
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology — Department of Civil Engineering
Howard Humphreys (East Africa) Ltd.
Ministry of Roads and Public Works
University of Nairobi — Department of Civil Engineering
Wanjohi Consulting Engineers
Kenya Bureau of Standards — Secretariat

REVISION OF KENYA STANDARDS

In order to keep abreast of progress in industry, Kenya Standards shall be regularly reviewed. Suggestions
for improvements to published standards, addressed to the Managing Director, Kenya Bureau of Standards,
are welcome.

© Kenya Bureau of Standards, 2008

Copyright: Users are reminded that by virtue of section 6 of the Copyright Act, Cap. 130 of the Laws of Kenya, copyright subsists in all
Kenya Standards and except as provided under section 7 of this Act, no Kenya Standard produced by Kenya Bureau of Standards may
be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system in any form or transmitted by any means without prior permission in writing from the
Managing Director.

ii © KEBS 2008 — All rights reserved

KENYA STANDARD DKS 2129:2008

Tile adhesive for marble, granite, ceramic

and porcelain — Cement based —
Specification

Public Review Draft

KENYA BUREAU OF STANDARDS (KEBS)

Head Office: P.O. Box 54974, Nairobi-00200, Tel.: (+254 020) 605490, 602350, Fax: (+254 020) 604031
E-Mail: info@kebs.org, Web:http://www.kebs.org

Coast Region Lake Region North Rift Region

P.O. Box 99376, Mombasa-80100 P.O. Box 2949, Kisumu-40100 P.O. Box 2138, Nakuru-20100
Tel.: (+254 041) 229563, 230939/40 Tel.: (+254 057) 23549, 22396 Tel.: (+254 051) 210553, 210555
Fax: (+254 041) 229448 Fax: (+254 057) 21814

© KEBS 2008 — All rights reserved iii

DKS 2129:2008

Foreword
This Kenya standard was prepared by the Cement Technical Committee under the guidance of the Civil
Engineering Industry Standards Committee and it is in accordance with the procedures of the Kenya Bureau
of Standards.

This standard on tile adhesive complements already existing standards on cement and was found necessary
following technological development on cement based tile adhesive.

Tile adhesive has wide application as it can be used to fix tiles on any surface including glass. The product is
flexible and does not shrink or crank due to physical, thermal and moisture movement or temperature
changes. Above all, it prevents crazing and shedding of tiles. It is recommended to use tile grout to fill tile
joints once tile adhesive has been used to fix tiles to prevent seeping of water underneath the tiles.
In the preparation of this Standard, reference was made to the following sources:

Athi River Mining Ltd.

KS 1530, Adhesives for use with ceramic tiles — specification.
KS EA 18 – 1, Cement — specification.
BS EN 12004:2001, Adhesive for tiles — Definitions and specifications.

Acknowledgement is hereby made for the assistance derived from these sources.

Compliance with a Kenya Standard does not of itself confer immunity from legal obligations.

Warning:

This draft Kenya standard should not be used as a Kenya standard until it has undergone all the required
standards development procedures.

iv © KEBS 2008 — All rights reserved

KENYA STANDARD DKS 2129:2008
Tile adhesive for marble, granite, ceramic and porcelain — Cement
based — Specification
1 Scope
This Kenya Standard specifies performance requirements and test methods for cement based adhesive
compounds which produce tough and high performance bonding on marble, granite, cement and porcelain
tiles.

2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable in the application of this standard

KS EAS 18 -1, Cement — Specification

KS EAS 148-1, Testing of cements – Pt 1: Physical methods
KS 1530, Adhesives for use with ceramic tiles — Specifications
KS 1738-1, Specification for ceramic floor and wall tiles – Part 1: Definitions, classification, characteristics
and marking
KS 2167-1, Adhesives and grouts for tiles - Testing method – Pt 1: Determination of transverse deformation
for cementitious adhesives and grouts.
KS 2167-7, Adhesives and grouts for tiles - Testing method – Pt 7: — Concrete slabs for testing
KS 2167-8, Adhesives and grouts for tiles - Testing method – Pt 8: — Determination of slip for adhesives
KS 2167-9, Adhesives and grouts for tiles - Testing method – Pt 9: — Determination of shear adhesion
strength of dispersion adhesives
KS 2167-10, Adhesives and grouts for tiles - Testing method – Pt 10: — Determination of wetting capability
for adhesives
KS 2167-11, Adhesives and grouts for tiles - Testing method – Pt 11: — Determination of tensile adhesion
strength for cementitious adhesives
KS 2167-12, Adhesives and grouts for tiles - Testing method – Pt 12: — Determination of shear adhesion
strength of reaction resin adhesives
ISO 9001, Quality Management Systems

3 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this standard the following definitions shall apply.

3.1
tile adhesive
an inorganic Portland cement polymer material modified with aggregate particles and chemicals in the
interfacial zone capable of fastening two other materials together by means of surface attachment

3.2
cement
as defined in KS EAS 18 -1:2001, cement is a hydraulic binder, i.e. a finely ground inorganic material which,
when mixed with water, forms a paste which sets and hardens by means of hydration reactions and
processes and which, after hardening, retains its strength and stability even under water.

Building material made by grinding calcined limestone and clay to fine powder, which can be mixed with
water and poured to set as a solid mass or used as an ingredient in making mortar or concrete

© KEBS 2008 — All rights reserved 1

DKS 2129:2008

3.3
marble
a natural stone product quarried from the earth. It gets a distinctive shine from the polishing process it goes
through. Available in multiple finishes and a wide variety of colours

3.4
granite
a natural stone denser than marble. Granite is molten lava that never rose above the surface of the earth. It
is extremely durable and holds a polish. Available in polished, honed or flamed (rough) surfaces

3.5
porcelain
a hard, white, translucent ceramic made by firing a pure clay and then glazing it with variously colored fusible
materials

3.6
ceramic
refers to the range of materials created by firing clay at a high temperature. In the context of mosaics, this
would include traditional ceramic tiles, pottery, and terracotta. Unglazed ceramic tends to be porous and
brittle, but cinca (a high-fired unglazed porcelain) is very hardwearing and water resistant. Technically, brick
is also a ceramic material.

3.7
tile
a thin, flat or convex slab of marble, granite or porcelain material, laid in rows to cover walls, floors, and
roofs.

3.7.1
glazed tile
a tile that has an impervious facial finish composed of glassy ceramic materials fused to the surface of the
tile.

3.7.2
unglazed tile
a hard, dense tile of uniform composition. No glaze

3.7.3
field tile
the primary tile used to cover a wall or floor

3.7.4
wall and floor tiles
tiles made out of ceramic (see KS 1738-1) or natural and agglomerated stones

3.7.5
floor tile
a ceramic tile or natural stone tile durable enough to withstand traffic, abrasion

3.7.6
wall tile
glazed tile with a body suitable for interior use. Not expected to withstand excessive impact or be subject to
freezing/thawing conditions.

2 © KEBS 2008 — All rights reserved

 DKS 2129:2008
3.8
listel or listello
a decorative border, primarily for walls

3.9
monocottura
method of producing tile by a single firing in which body and glazes are fired in kilns at temperatures over
2000 degrees

3.10
mosaics
ceramic, porcelain, glass, metal or stone tile less than six square inches. May come in squares, octagons,
hexagons or random shapes mounted for ease of installation

3.11
notched trowel
a small hand tool with a handle and flat plate, used for scooping and spreading tile adhesive

Figure 1: Notched trowel

3.12
thin bed method
method used for installing tiles onto a plane surface with an adhesive. The adhesive is usually applied with a
trowel to obtain a layer and then combed with a notched trowel to achieve the right thickness and planarity.

3.13
fixing surface
plane rigid surface upon which the tile is fixed

3.14
cementitious adhesive (CG)
mixture of hydraulic binding agents, aggregates, and organic additives, which is mixed with water or liquid
admix just before use

© KEBS 2008 — All rights reserved 3

DKS 2129:2008
3.15
tools and working methods

3.15.1
notched trowel
toothed tool, which makes it possible to apply the adhesive as a series of ribs of a uniform thickness onto the
fixing surface and/or the reverse face of the tile

3.15.2
application to one surface only, “notched trowel” or “floating” method
adhesive applied only to the fixing surface, usually with a trowel to obtain a uniform layer and then combed
with a notched trowel (see 3.18.1). The tiles are then fixed before a film forms on the surface of the adhesive

3.15.3
application to both surfaces , “floating and buttering” method
adhesive applied to the fixing surface and to the reverse of the tiles. The combined layer of adhesive does
not exceed the maximum recommended thickness. The tiles are then fixed before a film forms on the surface
of the adhesive.

3.16
Application properties

3.16.1
shelf life
time of storage under stated conditions during which an adhesive may be expected to maintain its working
properties

3.16.2
maturing time
interval between the time when the cementitious adhesive is mixed and the time when it is ready for use

3.16.3
pot-life
maximum time interval during which the adhesive can be used after mixing

3.16.4
open time
maximum interval after application at which tiles can be embedded in the applied adhesive and meet the
specified tensile adhesion strength requirement, which is measured following

3.16.5
wetting capability
ability of a combed adhesive layer to wet the tile, which is measured following KS 2167-10

3.16.6
slip
downward movement of a tile applied to a combed adhesive layer on a vertical or inclined surface, which is
measured following KS 2167-8

3.16.7
adjustability
maximum time interval after which the tile’s position in the adhesive layer can be adjusted without significant
loss of adhesion strength

4 © KEBS 2008 — All rights reserved

 DKS 2129:2008
3.17
final properties

3.17.1
adhesion strength
maximum strength per unit surface area which can be measured by shear or tensile testing. It is measured
following KS 2167-11, KS 2167-9 or KS 2167-12 depending on the type of adhesive

3.17.2
deformability
capacity of a hardened adhesive to be deformed by stresses between the tile and the fixing surface without
damage to the installed surface

3.17.3
transverse deformation
deflection recorded at the centre when a beam of hardened adhesive is subjected to three point loading,
used to evaluate the deformability of the adhesive It is measured following KS 2167-1.

3.18
failure pattern

3.18.1
adhesion failure (AF-S or AF-T)
when failure occurs at the interface between adhesive and substrate (concrete slab) the notation AF-S is
used; when it occurs between tile and adhesive the notation AF-T is used and in both cases the test values
equal the adhesion strength – (see Figure B.1 and Figure B.2 in annex B). In some cases failure may occur
in the adhesive layer between the tile and the pull-head plate. In this case the notation BT is used, (see
Figure B.3), and the adhesion strength is greater than the test value. The test should preferably be repeated.

3.18.2
cohesive failure within the adhesive (CF-A)
when failure occurs within the adhesive layer, see Figure B.4

3.18.3
cohesive failure in the substrate or in the tile (CF-S or CF-T)
when failure occurs within the substrate the notation CF-S is used (see Figure B.5); when it happens within
the body of the tile the notation CF-T is used (see Figure B.6). In this case the strength of the adhesive is
greater than the test value.

3.19
fundamental characteristics
characteristics that an adhesive must absolutely have

3.20
optional characteristics

3.20.1
additional characteristics
characteristics for specific service conditions where enhanced levels of performance are required

3.20.2
special characteristics
characteristics of the adhesive which provide further information about its general performance

© KEBS 2008 — All rights reserved 5

DKS 2129:2008
4 Designation/Classification
Tile adhesive shall be classified into two different types/ formulations in accordance with intended application
as specified in Table 1. Normal setting and fast setting adhesives.

5 General requirements

5.1 Application
Tile adhesive shall be capable of application by a notched trowel and shall contain no lumps or foreign
matter.

NOTE The tiles need not be wetted prior to the application of the adhesive.

5.2 Storage/stability
Tile Adhesive shall be stored in a cool and moisture free atmosphere In accordance with the manufacturer’s
instructions.

5.3 Requirements

5.3.1 The adhesives, both normal setting and fast setting, shall comply with the requirements specified
in Table 1.

5.3.2 The optional characteristics are for special service conditions.

5.3.3 For the characteristics of wetting capability (measured in accordance with KS 2167-10) and
transverse deformation (measured in accordance with KS 2167-1) there are no limit values, but it is left to
the producer to declare the values to provide further information.

5.3.4 The amount of water and/or liquid admix required for preparing the cementitious adhesive shall be
the same for all tests.

6 © KEBS 2008 — All rights reserved

 DKS 2129:2008
Table 1 — Requirements for cementitious adhesives

FUNDAMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS

Characteristics for normal setting adhesives

Characteristic Requirement Test Method

2
Initial tensile adhesion strength ≥ 0.5 N/mm

Tensile adhesion strength after water

≥ 0.5 N/mm2
immersion KS 2167-11
2
Tensile adhesion strength after heat ageing ≥ 0.5 N/mm

Tensile adhesion strength after freeze thaw

≥ 0.5 N/mm2
cycles
2
Open time: tensile adhesion strength ≥ 0.5 N/mm after not less than 20 min Annex A

Characteristics for fast setting adhesives

Characteristic Requirement Test Method

Early tensile adhesion strength ≥ 0.5 N/mm2 Ks 2167-11

Annex A
Open time: tensile adhesion strength ≥ 0.5 N/mm2 after not less than 10 min

All other requirements as tested for normal setting adhesives

OPTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Special characteristics

characteristics Requirement Test Method

Slip
≥ 0.5 mm KS 2167-8

Additional characteristics

Characteristic Requirement Test Method

High Initial tensile adhesion strength
≥ 1 N/mm2
High Tensile adhesion strength after water
≥ 1 N/mm2
immersion KS 2167-11
High Tensile adhesion strength after heat 2
≥ 1 N/mm
ageing
High Tensile adhesion strength after freeze 2
≥ 1 N/mm
thaw cycles

Extended open time: tensile adhesion 2

≥ 0.5 N/mm after not less than 30 min Annex A
strength

© KEBS 2008 — All rights reserved 7

DKS 2129:2008
6 Dimensional requirements
The notched trowel thicknesses for adhesives shall comply with the dimensional requirements specified in
Table 2 for the various sizes and types of tiles indicated.

Table 2 — Dimensional requirements

inches 4x4 6x6 10 x 10 12 x 12 16 x 16

mm 100 x 100 150 x 150 250 x 250 300 x 300 400 x 400

Notched trowel bed thickness

Tile type
mm
Ceramic 3 3 6 9 12
natural stone/
3 6 9 12 12
Quarry tile
Concrete/
3 6 9 12 12
Terrazzo
Mosaic/Glass 3 3 6 9 12
Porcelain/
3 3 6 9 12
Vitrified
Marble/Granite 6 6 9 9 15

Brick 6 6 9 9 15

7 Physical requirements

7.1 The adhesives shall be of high bonding strength that ensures permanent installation and shall meet
the test requirements specified in Table 3.

Table 3 — Test requirements

Compressive Flexural Strength Drying

2 2 Absorption
strength N/mm N/mm Shrinkage

7 days 28 days 7 days 28 days 7 days 28 days

≥ 5.5 % ≥9 ≥ 1.5 ≥ 2.0 25% 1%

8 © KEBS 2008 — All rights reserved

 DKS 2129:2008

8 Evaluation of conformity
8.1 Principle
The scheme for the evaluation of conformity includes the following tasks:

– initial tests;

– factory production control (FPC);

– registration and traceability.

NOTE Manufacturers having a Quality System complying with ISO 9001 are assumed to meet the requirements related to Factory
Production Control systems by including this standard in their Quality System.

8.2 Criteria of conformity

Batch testing shall be carried out to control the quality of the adhesive in accordance with Table 1 and
requirements for physical tests specified in clause 7. A batch is defined as one production lot from a single
mix, which may be dispatched in a number of smaller bags.

9 Packaging and marking

Tile adhesive shall be suitably packed in 25 kg or 50 kg bags. Each package shall be clearly labelled with the
following information:

i) The manufacturer’s name and/or trade mark

ii) Nominal content by mass

iii) The batch number

iv) Number of this standard

v) Type of Adhesive

vi) Country of origin

vii) The month and year in which the batch was manufactured, and statement to the effect that the
adhesive has a shelf life of 12 months, when stored in unopened bags in accordance with
manufacturer’s instructions.

viii) Precautionary instructions for use when affixing tiles.

ix) The safety precaution that “For the safety and health of those working with cementitious materials, it is
advised that adequate protective gear (clothing, gloves, boots, etc) should be used”

x) A warning that freshly tiled floor using tile adhesive should not be exposed to any traffic or use in any
manner for a duration specified by the manufacturer.
NOTE In the designation of a adhesive, information about special properties can be included when the product is intended for use in
specific applications.

This information shall be marked on the packaging and/or on the product’s technical data sheet.

This does not remove the requirement that all manufacturers claiming compliance with this standard shall
state declared values for the properties of their products, when required.

© KEBS 2008 — All rights reserved 9

DKS 2129:2008
Annex A
(normative)
Determination of open time

A1 Scope
This test method determines the open time of ceramic tile adhesives.

It is applicable to all ceramic tile adhesives for internal or external tile installations on walls and floors.

This method does not contain performance requirements or recommendations for the design and installation
of ceramic tiles.
NOTE Ceramic tile adhesives may also be used for other types of tiles (natural and agglomerated stones, etc), where these do no
adversely affect the stones.

A2 Sampling

Take a 2 kg sample of the adhesive.

A3 Test conditions

Standard conditions shall be (23 ± 2) °C and (50 ± 5) % R.H. and the air circulation in the testing area less
than 0.2 m/s.

A4 Test materials
Condition all test materials (adhesive, etc.) for at least 24 h under standard conditions. The adhesive to be
test shall be within its shelf life, where this is specified.

A5 Ceramic tiles

The tiles shall be checked prior to conditioning to ensure that they are new, clean, and dry. In addition they
shall meet the following conditions:

– Type PI: Porous body tile complying with KS 1738-1,

– water absorption (15 ± 3) % by mass,

– with plane adhering surface, cut to facial dimensions of (50 ± 1) mm x (50 ± 1) mm.

A6 Concrete slab
The concrete slab shall conform to KS 2167-7.

A7 Apparatus
A 7.1 A weight of less than 50 mm x 50 mm cross-sectional area, capable of exerting a force of (20 ±
0.05) N.

A 7.2 Pull-head plates, square, metallic, with dimensions of (50 ± 1) mm x (50 ± 1) mm and a minimum
thickness of 10 mm with a suitable fitting for connection to the test machine.

A 7.3 A test machine, for direct pull tensile force test and with suitable capacity and sensitivity for the
test. The machine shall be capable of applying the load to the pull-head plate at the rate of (250 ± 50) N/s
through a suitable fitting that does not exert any bending force.

10 © KEBS 2008 — All rights reserved

 DKS 2129:2008
A8 Mixing of adhesive
The amount of water and/or liquid admix required for preparing the adhesive shall be as stated by the
adhesive manufacturer in parts by weight, i.e. liquid to dry powder (if a range of values is given, the average
shall be used).

Prepare a minimum quantity of 2 kg of the adhesive in a mixer of the type described in of KS EAS 148-1,
clause 3.2.2.3, using the speed settings (140 ± 5) rotations per minute and (62 ± 5) rotations per minute
planetary movement.

Carry out the following procedure:

— pour the liquid into the pan;

— scatter the dry powder over the liquid;

— mix for 30 s;

— take out the mixing paddle;

— scrape down the paddle and pan within 1 min.

— replace the paddle and mix for 1 min.

Let the adhesive mature in accordance with the adhesive manufacturer’s instructions, and then mix for a
further 15 s.

In the case of ready-to-use dispersion adhesives or reaction resin adhesives, the manufacturer’s instructions
shall be followed.

A9 Procedure
Apply a thin layer of the adhesive, mixed in accordance with B.8 to the concrete slab with a straight edge
trowel. Then apply a thicker layer and comb with a notched trowel having 6 mm x 6 mm notches at 12 mm
centres for cementitious adhesives and 4 mm x 4 mm notches at 8 mm centres for dispersion adhesives and
reaction resin adhesives.

Hold the trowel at an angle of approximately 60o to the substrate at a right angle to one edge of the slab and
drawn across the slab parallel to that edge (in a straight line).

After 5, 10, 20 and 30 min place at least ten test tiles of type PI, 50 mm apart, on the adhesive and load each
tile with (20 ± 0.05) N for 30 s.

After 27 days storage under standard conditions, bond the pull-head plates (see 6.2) to the tiles with a
suitable high strength adhesive (e.g. epoxide adhesive).

After a further 24 h storage under standard conditions determine the tensile adhesion strength of the
adhesive by applying a force increasing at a constant rate of (250 ± 50) N/s.

A 10 Evaluation and expression of results

2
A 10.1 The individual tensile adhesion strengths are quoted to 0.1 N/mm using the following formula:

As = L/A

Where,

As is the individual tensile adhesion strength in N/mm2;

L is the total tensile load in N;

2 2
A is the bonding area in mm (2 500 mm ).

A 10.2 The tensile adhesion strength for each time interval is determined as follows:

© KEBS 2008 — All rights reserved 11

DKS 2129:2008
— determine the mean of the ten values;

— discard the values falling out of the range of ± 20 % of the mean value;

— if five or more values remain, determine the new mean.

— Determine the mode of failure of the test units (see KS EN 1322).

A 10.3 The open time, in minutes, is the maximum time interval at which the adhesive meets the tensile
adhesion strength requirement defined in KS 1530.

A 11 Test report
The test report shall provide the following information:

i) number, title and issue of this Kenya Standard;

ii) the place and date of sampling;

iii) type of adhesive, commercial designation and manufacturer’s name;

iv) identification of test sample;

v) handling and storage of samples before testing;

vi) test conditions;

vii) date of testing;

viii) amount of water or liquid used for preparing the adhesive;

ix) test results (individual and mean values and the mode of failure);

x) open time in minutes;

xi) any other factor that could have influenced the result

12 © KEBS 2008 — All rights reserved

 DKS 2129:2008
Annex B
(normative)
Failure patterns

Figure B.4
Figure B.1
Cohesive failure within the adhesive
Adhesive failure between adhesive and
(CF-A)
substrate
(AF-S)

Figure B.5
Figure B.2 Cohesive failure within the substrate
(CF-S)
Adhesive failure between tile and adhesive
(AF-T)

Figure B.6
Figure B.3 Cohesive failure within the tile
(CF-T)
Adhesive failure between tile & pull head plate
(BT)

© KEBS 2008 — All rights reserved 13

KENYA STANDARD DKS 2129:2008

Key

1 Pull head plate

2 Tile
3 Adhesive
4 Substrate (Concrete slab)

© KEBS 2008 — All rights reserved 1