To inspect outdoor tiles before shipment, open a sample of boxes from across the lot and check them against the approved sample for surface, texture, shade, size and grade. Then check thickness, flatness, packing, pallets and weights before the container is loaded.
Outdoor tiles add a few checks that indoor tiles do not: the slip surface, the thickness of pavers, special pieces, and heavier packing. Our general guide on inspecting floor tiles before shipment covers the basics in more detail.
Before the inspection
- Have the signed reference sample for each design and surface on hand.
- Have the purchase order, with size, thickness, grade, slip surface and packing written down.
- Get the factory's packing list and loading plan in advance.
- Agree the sampling plan, for example under ISO 2859-1, and the defect limits for rejection.
Our article on AQL for tile inspection explains sampling levels.
Surface, texture and shade
Lay out tiles from several boxes side by side on the floor, in good light. Look from standing height for chips, pinholes, glaze faults, print faults and dirt. EN 14411 requires that at least 95% of tiles are free from visible defects when viewed under the method in ISO 10545-2.
For outdoor tiles, also check the texture. Run your hand over the surface and compare it with the reference sample. Grit levels and structure depth can drift between runs, and both affect slip. Check shade by eye across the laid-out tiles, and check that all boxes show the same shade and batch code.
Size, thickness and flatness
- Measure length and width on a sample of tiles and check they share one calibre.
- Measure thickness, especially for 20 mm pavers, at several points.
- Check flatness with a straight edge on large formats and pavers.
- Check that rectified edges are square, if the order specifies rectified tiles.
Special pieces
Check steps, copings and bullnose pieces against the drawings: depth, nosing profile, grooves and any drip edge. Lay them next to field tiles to check the shade match. Chips on profiled edges are common, so look closely.
Packing and loading
- Check carton strength, separators and box markings for design, size, grade, shade, calibre and batch.
- Check pallets or crates for corner protection, two-way strapping and ISPM 15 marks on the wood.
- Weigh a few cartons and compare with the packing list.
- Check that the total gross weight stays within the agreed payload.
- Watch the loading for bracing and gaps, and photograph the seal.
The report
The inspection report should list what was checked, how many boxes were opened, the defects found, and photos. It should end with a clear pass, fail or conditional result. Our article on the tile pre-shipment inspection report lists what it should include.
Next step
We inspect outdoor tiles against your order and approved sample, and supervise the loading. To plan inspection for your next order, book a free sourcing review.