Sintered Stone Technical Specifications
The full set of figures with their test methods: water absorption, flexural strength, service temperature, fire class, stain resistance, weight and carbon footprint.
What follows is a summary of the figures. Every line is given with its test method, so the value can be verified rather than taken on trust.
Physical and mechanical properties
| Property | Value | Test method |
|---|---|---|
| Water absorption | ≈0.02 % | EN ISO 10545-3 |
| Flexural strength | ≈55 MPa | EN ISO 10545-4 |
| Thickness tolerance | ±0.2 mm | batch protocol |
| Weight at 6 mm | 15 kg/m² and up | — |
| Weight at 9 mm | 22 kg/m² | — |
| Weight at 12 mm | 29 kg/m² | — |
Flexural strength near 55 MPa is higher than natural granite (20–25 MPa) and mass-market porcelain stoneware (35–40 MPa). That is exactly why the 3200 × 1600 mm format is possible at all: at 35–40 MPa a slab that size would not survive its own weight during lifting.
Resistance
| Property | Value | Test method |
|---|---|---|
| Service range | −30…+300 °C | — |
| Fire safety | A1 | EN 13501-1 |
| Stain resistance | Class 5 | EN ISO 10545-14 |
| UV resistance | no fading, ΔE < 1 | — |
The upper limit of +300 °C means hot cookware leaves no mark on a worktop. The lower limit of −30 °C combined with near-zero water absorption gives frost resistance: there is no water inside the slab that could freeze and expand.
Water absorption of 0.02 %: four consequences
| Material | Water absorption |
|---|---|
| Sintered stone | ≈0.02 % |
| Porcelain stoneware | up to 0.5 % |
| Natural granite | 0.1–0.8 % |
| Ceramic tile | 8–15 % |
Frost resistance. Freeze damage is caused not by cold as such but by water in the pores: as it freezes it expands by roughly 9 % and tears the material from within. With no water inside the slab there is no failure mechanism. That is why the same slab is used indoors and on facades in climates that cross zero repeatedly.
Stain resistance. A stain is a pigment that has penetrated the pores. At 0.02 % porosity there is nowhere to penetrate: coffee, wine and iodine stay on the surface and wash off with hot water.
No sealing required. Natural stone needs sealing precisely because of its pores, and the treatment has to be renewed every one to three years depending on load. Sintered stone is not sealed at installation or at any point afterwards.
Biological resistance. Mould and fungus need moisture and a nutrient medium in the pores. A monolithic glass-ceramic structure offers neither, so the material does not become a source of biological damage even in permanently wet areas.
All four consequences apply to the body of the slab, not to the joint. Joints and abutments remain the responsibility of installation — that is where epoxy grouts and sealants belong.
Slip resistance
| Finish | Class | Where to use |
|---|---|---|
| Matt | R10–R11 | car parks, shopping centres, wet areas |
| Soft | R10–R11 | the same areas, where colour depth is wanted |
| Polished | R9 | dry rooms only |
Environmental footprint
| Material | Carbon footprint, kg CO₂/m² |
|---|---|
| Sintered stone | ≈16 |
| Ceramic tile | ≈20 |
| Porcelain stoneware | ≈25 |
| Natural granite | over 100 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the water absorption of sintered stone?
Around 0.02 % to EN ISO 10545-3 against a control threshold of 0.1 %. For comparison: porcelain stoneware up to 0.5 %, natural granite 0.1–0.8 %, ceramic tile 8–15 %.
Does sintered stone need sealing?
No. Sealing exists to close pores, and at 0.02 % water absorption there is nothing to close — neither at installation nor afterwards. Natural stone has its sealing renewed every one to three years.
Will a worktop take hot cookware?
Yes. The service range is −30 to +300 °C, so hot cookware leaves no mark. The fire class is A1 to EN 13501-1: the material does not burn and produces no smoke.
