ISO 17721 measures antibacterial activity on ceramic tile
On 18 February 2022 the Tile Council said its lab could run two ISO methods, published in late 2021, that measure antibacterial activity of ceramic surfaces. ISO 17721-1 covers ceramic tile surfaces with incorporated antibacterial agents. ISO 17721-2 covers ceramic tile surfaces with incorporated photocatalytic antibacterial agents.
Why a ceramic method was written
The release says many older microbiological methods apply to several materials or were written for plastics and fabrics, and very few had been specific to ceramic tile. These two consider properties that are unique to ceramic products. Both use E. coli and S. aureus.
What was still unfinished
The release says antiviral and antifungal methods specific to ceramic tile were still being developed at that date. The published pair is the antibacterial measurement, not a claim that every glazed surface stops microbes.
Source
Fetched 2026-10-11 from Tile Council ISO 17721 release. The sentences above follow that page. They are not a contractor promise.
Related notes
- Tile notes index
- North American tile mortar and grout have their own environmental declarations
- The tile handbook is consensus guidance, not an ANSI standard
- Backsplash photos
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