New ISO Standards for Antimicrobial Testing of Ceramic Tile Released

Clemson, SC, February 18, 2022-There are new ISO standards regarding antimicrobial testing for ceramic tile.

While many existing microbiological test methods can be applied to various materials or have been developed specifically for materials such as plastics and fabrics, very few previously applied specifically to ceramic tile. The two new ISO test standards, published in late 2021, test for the antibacterial activity of ceramic surfaces (including surfaces with antimicrobial coatings) using two different bacteria, E. coli and S. aureus and take into consideration properties that are unique to ceramic products.

* ISO 17721-1, 2021 Quantitative determination of antibacterial activity of ceramic tile surfaces - Test methods - Part1: Ceramic tile surfaces with incorporated antibacterial agents

* ISO 17721-2, 2021 Quantitative determination of antibacterial activity of ceramic tile surfaces - Test methods - Part 2: Ceramic tile surfaces with incorporated photocatalytic antibacterial agents.