Are You Using the Wrong Tile Without Realizing It?
Could you just picture investing your time and dollars into choosing the finest tiles for your area only to watch all of them scratch, crack or fade in a couple months? Shocking, right? Well, what if I told you it happens far more often than you probably realize?
The perpetrator: a PEI rating, either misconstrued or neglected.
This is an important factor that is often overlooked by DIY remodelers and even some remodelers professionals, resulting in a tile installation that won’t stand up to foot traffic. But, don’t worry — by the end of this blog you will know how to select the right tile for every corner of your home so that it lasts and looks beautiful for years to come.
🛠️ What Is a PEI Rating? All About Tile Durability and Where it can be Used
If you have a task to choose tiles for, consider the options along with how much wear they must withstand; however, first, you need to consider the durability. That is where the PEI rating comes in. This rating, developed by the Porcelain Enamel Institute (PEI), measures a tile’s abrasion resistance — its resistance to damage from wear and tear over time.
The PEI scale is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, with PEI 0 with tile that is generally not used, being too delicate for foot traffic, and PEI 5 being used for virtually any type of foot traffic and application. Knowing this rating is important for picking the right tile for the right space, so it doesn’t wear down or get damaged too soon.
PEI Rating: What It Means [✅ PEI Rating Scale]
The PEI rating indicates a tile’s ability to withstand abrasion before it presents visible wear. Here’s an overview of the scale and when to use it:
| PEI Rating | Traffic Level | Recommended Use |
| PEI 0 | No foot traffic | For walls only (decorative purposes). Not suitable for floors. |
| PEI 1 | Very light traffic | Ideal for bathroom walls or floors with minimal use (barefoot areas). |
| PEI 2 | Light traffic | Suitable for bedrooms, residential areas with minimal foot traffic. |
| PEI 3 | Moderate traffic | Recommended for kitchens, living rooms, and hallways. Suitable for both residential and light commercial use. |
| PEI 4 | Heavy traffic | Ideal for entrances, offices, cafes, and retail spaces with frequent foot traffic. |
| PEI 5 | Extra-heavy traffic | Best for airports, shopping malls, public spaces, and industrial areas. Designed to withstand continuous, intense foot traffic. |
🔍 What is the testing process for tiles to obtain PEI ratings?
The PEI testing process simulates real-world abrasion to provide a measure of a tile’s resistance to surface wear. Here’s how it works:
Abrasion Testing:
- Tiles are rotated against steel-wheeled surfaces charged with abrasive materials, such as sand or grit.
- These wheels keep rotating over the tile surface.
Rotation Count:
- The machine measures the number of rotations or cycles to failure that the tile undergoes before signs of wear become visible.
- A tile’s PEI rating increases with the number of rotations it endures.
Class Assignment:
- Tiles are grouped into PEI groups (0-5), depending on test results.
- More foot traffic is taken, therefore it is very well suited to commercial or heavy-use areas.
Importance of PEI Rating for Importers 💡
When sourcing ceramic tiles, PEI ratings are understood by Western tile importers. Importing an inappropriate PEI-rating ceramic tile for a high-traffic area may result in:
- Unusual wear and customer complaints.
- Higher or premature maintenance costs.
- Loss of face because of poor tile performance.
Opting for Face Impex’s PEI-certified tiles allows you to provide your esteemed clients with long-lasting and superior products tailored for their unique uses, be it a warm family home or a busy retail outlet.
PEI Ratings: What You Risk by Not Getting Them
A PEI 2 tile in a kitchen may save money in the first instance, but daily foot traffic, spills, and cleaning will accelerate the scratching and dulling. Worn tiles, worse, are slippery or prone to cracking, which can be dangerous.
Case study: PEI 1 on a guest bathroom floor. Though rarely used, moisture and sporadic foot traffic performed the seals and surface to the point that the carpets had to be removed and replaced in under one year, at steep replacement costs.
🔍 How to Approach Selecting the “Best” PEI Rating
PEI ratings should match your space’s traffic and use:
Bathrooms:
Walls → PEI 0 (for decorative) or PEI 1
Floors: Go for PEI 2 or 3 for durability against moisture and occasional use.
Kitchens & Living Rooms:
PEI 3 or 4 for everyday activity, furniture movement, and spills.
Bedrooms:
PEI 2 or 3 for comfort and resistance to soft footwear.
Commercial Spaces:
PEI 4 or 5 for high-traffic areas such as restaurants or lobbies.
Pro Tips:
Well Tripling Up: Even in low-traffic spaces, a higher PEI (i.e. PEI 3 in bedrooms) means it will last.
Combine Heat deal with Other Ratings: Check slip resistance (R-value) for wet areas and water absorption for bathrooms.
🛡️ Why Trust Face Impex?
The stakes are high when importing tiles. But one bad decision can result in product breakdowns, customer complaints, and expensive replacements. Hence, why importers all over Western countries rely on Face Impex —an industry leader with more than 25 years of experience in the ceramic tile manufacturing and distribution.
We know that when it comes to choosing the right tile, it’s about much more than looks—it’s about style, safety, and durability in perfect balance. Our group of skilled consultants remove the confusion from tile selection, helping you choose tiles that not only are appropriate for your project, but also performing well for many years to come.
💡 Why Choose Face Impex?
✅ 1. Recommendations Personalized to Each Project
From the cozy, intimate zones of residential interiors to the high-traffic commercial zones, every space has its own special requirements. At Face Impex, we give you tailor made tile suggestions based on:
PEI Ratings: We guide you to choose tiles with the proper abrasion resistance for your project. Whether you require PEI 2 tiles for low-traffic bedrooms or PEI 5 tiles for crowded airports, we make sure you get the right durability for the use intended.
Slip Resistance & Safety: Any area that tends to get wet, such as bathrooms or pool decks, should be done with anti-slip tiles and should conform to international safety standards.
Design: Aesthetic and Functionality: However, we won’t compromise performance for designs, so you receive stylish yet practical tiles.
🛠️ Example:
If you’re searching for tiles for a luxury hotel lobby, our experts recommend you look for PEI 4 or PEI 5 tiles that can withstand continuous foot traffic without losing their luster. For bathroom walls, we recommend decorative PEI 0 or PEI 1 tiles for a beautifully-designed and non-dangerous surroundings.
🔍 2. Quality Assurance That You Can Use
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- With every tile we supply, we are committed to excellence at Face Impex. We conduct quality assurance through:
- Manufactured by OSM: Guaranteed Quality You Can Trust
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- Thorough Testing: Each batch of tiles is tested for abrasion, slip resistance, and dimensional stability to ensure durability and performance.
- Quality Assured: We provide high-quality tiles which meet PEI and BIS (ISI) certification standards, so they can suit demanding quality requirements in Western markets.
- Visual and Structural Inspection: Before shipment, every tile undergoes inspection for uniformity of color, surface finish and structural integrity.
🛡️ Guaranteed Reliability:
- We have strict quality control processes in place to ensure that you receive tiles that are:
- Scratch- and stain-resistant. Dimensionally accurate for Effortless Installation, Heavy use area durable and long-lasting
🔧 3. Comprehensive Support — From Choice to Implementation
We don’t just provide tiles—we provide support every step of your project journey:
Consultation & Selection: Our experts assist you throughout the process to select tiles that meet both your design vision as well as technical requirements of the project.
Logistics & Delivery: With efficient supply chain management, we guarantee on-time and damage-free deliveries.
Installation Step: We will provide technical support and installation tips so that our tiles are laid perfectly to ensure long-term performance.
After-Sales Support: We pride ourselves on our products so in case of any issue, our after sales team will not leave you alone.
🛠️ Example:
For Browse: If you are importing tiles for a large-scale commercial project then we help you with:
- Recommendations of products based on foot traffic and design requirements
- On-time delivery for your construction schedule.
- Best practices for installation for avoiding tile damage or performance issues.
🌟 The Face Impex was the Trust of Western Countries Importers
Industry Insight: Based on over a quarter century’s worth of first-hand knowledge of the industry, we know what you need as a Western importer and why, and tailor offerings to those needs.
QUALITY ASSURED: All our tiles comply with international quality standards, perfect for residential and commercial projects.
Dependability & Efficiency —we ensure a smooth and hassle-free import process involving everything from accurate order fulfillment to timely delivery.
Long-Term Collaborations: Clients rely on us to thrive (Not just suppliers but trusted partners and advocates for clients building trust with customers using superior-quality tiles.)
Face Impex | Leading Manufacturer & Exporter of Premium-Quality Tiles
With Face Impex, you are not just choosing a supplier, but a balanced partner in every step based on excellence, consistency, and your success.
✅ Check out our PEI-certified, high-performance tiles for residential, commercial, and industrial use.
🌐 Visit our website now at www.faceimpex.com
✅ Don’t Compromise on Quality
The PEI ratings are your blueprint for spaces that are durable, safe and stylish. The right tile does the thing that’s ideal whether a home is getting a redesign or a hotel a build-out, avoiding expensive mistakes.
Act Now: Visit faceimpex.com For a more personalized experience, reach out directly to faceimpex.com or mail us – info@faceimpex.com.
👉 Stay Tuned: Our next blog will uncover the dirty little secret behind slip resistance ratings, and how ignoring them can lead to accidents — and, how to avoid them!
Connect With Us: Questions? Let us know in the comments or on social! Let’s build spaces that last. 💬🛠️
You will see different rated tiles and that is where abrasion resistance comes into play and if you do not know how to choose tiles based on that then this little guide will help you.