The right choice of a cementitious adhesive: UNE 138002-2017

Laying tiles, ceramics and any type of tiles on the floor or wall of any room in our home is a task that requires specific steps. In order to facilitate this laying, a standard was created in 2017 where all the technical circumstances of these materials are reflected and described. With the name “UNE 138002-2017“, it is the first Spanish technical standard that specifies the general rules for the execution of adhered ceramic tile coverings, guaranteeing quality, durability and technical and aesthetic performance.

Choosing a suitable adhesive with which to obtain the desired result is not as easy as it may seem and for this reason, we must know in detail the rules indicated in the standard where the different classifications of ceramic systems, the materials of which each one is composed and the procedure to be followed are detailed.

What is a cement adhesive?

Cementitious adhesive is a cement-based product that can be white or grey in colour and is used to lay ceramic tiles on any surface in the home.

We can say that it is the “glue” that will ensure that the project is completed optimally and with the best results. In addition, it will also influence the longest possible service life.

Although implementation may seem simple, we should always be guided by what the regulations recommend.

The steps to follow are:

• First of all, carefully read the technical data sheet of the material to be used.
• Then mix with the water recommended by the manufacturer,
• Spread the material with the help of a notched trowel.
• And finally press the ceramic pieces in place.

Before selecting the adhesive that we consider to be the most suitable, we must first consider all the possible variables, analysing the location of the work, the type of substrate, the water absorption, as well as the format of the work.

Selecting one type of tile or another depends on several criteria: depending on the area or place where the tile is going to be laid, looking closely at the walls, the floor, whether it is for indoors or outdoors; and on the other hand, we must consider the characteristics of the ceramic tile, especially its water absorption and its size.

Cementitious adhesive C1 and C2

According to the European Standard for Adhesives UNE EN 12004, cementitious adhesives are identified with the letter C. They are a mixture of hydraulic binders, mineral fillers and organic additives, which are mixed with water or liquid additives for their preparation. At the same time and according to their adhesion, they can be classified as follows:

• Class 1: normal adhesives
• Class 2: these are improved adhesives, with higher adhesion performance.

Molins Products

At Molins, with almost one hundred years of history, we have a wide range of adhesives and experts specialising in ceramic tile installation, incorporating solutions and products for indoor and outdoor use, which make tile installation a simple process.

We have also developed state-of-the-art materials such as the PAM® ECOGEL RANGE, which, thanks to its gel format technology, gives these materials great creaminess and excellent workability, providing the tile fixer with an excellent experience with the use of this family of products.

Within this family we find the products: PAM® ECOGEL PORCEL (C2TE), PAM® ECOGEL FLEX (C2TES1) and PAM® ECOGEL SUPERFLEX (C2TES2). All three products are cementitious, flexible and deformable adhesives with a gel-like consistency. At the same time, they have a high resin content, a long open time and are slip resistant.

Flexible cementitious adhesives are those whose composition has technical characteristics that allow the bonding material to adapt to the substrate (deformable or not), the ceramic tile (from small pieces to large formats), the type of use (terraces, facades, underfloor heating) or where the material is to be installed. In short, they adapt and accompany all the components of the system to the expansion and contraction movements that occur without losing adhesion.

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