The main difference is how much water the tile body absorbs. Porcelain tiles absorb 0.5% or less, and in India these are called vitrified tiles. Ceramic tiles have a more porous body that absorbs more water.
So porcelain and vitrified are the same class of product under two names. The word you hear depends on who you talk to. Indian factories say vitrified; buyers in Europe and the Americas usually say porcelain.
The international groups
The standards ISO 13006 and EN 14411 sort pressed tiles into groups by water absorption. Lower absorption means a denser, stronger body that copes better with frost, heavy traffic and wet areas.
- Group BIa absorbs 0.5% or less and covers porcelain, which Indian factories call vitrified.
- Group BIb absorbs more than 0.5% and up to 3%.
- Group BIIa absorbs more than 3% and up to 6%.
- Group BIIb absorbs more than 6% and up to 10%.
- Group BIII absorbs more than 10% and covers typical wall tiles.
Ceramic tiles
Ceramic tiles have a red or white clay body fired at a lower density. They are lighter, easier to cut and well suited to walls and to floors with light traffic. Most bathroom and kitchen wall tiles are ceramic.
Because the body is porous, ceramic tiles are not the right choice for outdoor use in cold climates or for heavy commercial floors. Water taken into the body can freeze and crack the tile.
Porcelain and vitrified tiles are denser and harder. They suit floors in homes, shops and offices, outdoor areas and wet rooms. They are heavier and harder to cut, which matters for installers and for how many square metres fit within a container's weight limit.
The vitrified family
Within vitrified tiles, Indian factories use trade names that describe how the surface is made. You will see them in every Morbi catalogue.
- GVT (glazed vitrified tile) has a digitally printed glaze on a vitrified body, which allows stone, wood and marble looks.
- PGVT (polished glazed vitrified tile) is a glazed vitrified tile with a polished, high-gloss surface.
- Double-charge tiles have two layers of pigment pressed together, giving a thick wearing layer that lasts in high-traffic areas.
- Full-body tiles carry the same colour through the whole thickness, so chips and wear show less.
- Large slabs are vitrified tiles in very big formats, used for floors, walls and sometimes counter tops.
Why the label matters to you
The class affects use, price and customs. Under the HS system, tiles with absorption of 0.5% or less go under 6907.21, those above 0.5% and up to 10% under 6907.22, and those above 10% under 6907.23. A wrong code can mean a wrong duty, so put the absorption figure in your contract and confirm the code with your customs broker.
Check the claim, too. A tile sold as vitrified should come with a test report showing water absorption to ISO 10545-3 at 0.5% or less. If the report is missing or old, ask for your lot to be tested. The full range of products the cluster makes is in ceramic products you can source from Morbi.
Next step
If you are not sure which class suits your project or market, tell us where the tiles will be used. We will match you with factories that make the right product and check the test reports. Book a free sourcing review, or see what we source.