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CTE-SU – The Spanish Technical Building Code and its repercussions on ceramic tiles

Over the last few years, a series of provisions and regulations have been introduced to Spanish legislation aimed at improving the quality of buildings and at promoting innovation and sustainability in the construction industry.

This is the case of Royal Decree 314/2006 which approves the Spanish Technical Building Code (the CTE in Spanish). This regulatory instrument lays down the basic quality requirements for buildings and their facilities. With this code, certain requirements must be met to ensure safety and people’s well-being (structural safety, health, noise levels, energy saving, accessibility etc).

The Technical Building Code ensures compliance with the basic construction requirements laid down in Act 38/1999, which regulates the building process, together with other Community provisions such as Directive 89/106/EEC on building materials or Directive 2002/91/EEC on energy efficiency.

The Technical Building Code refers readers to a series of Basic Documents (BD) whose proper use guarantees compliance with basic requirements.

As a complementary measure, a category of document called a “Recognized Document” and a CTE General Registry were both created to register these Basic Documents and make them public. Their application can be demanded by the Public Authorities, although initially they will not be compulsory.

Mention must be made of Decree 132/2006 of the Autonomous Community of Valencia, which approves the CERAMIC TILE GUIDE by classifying it a Recognized Document (among others). Of the Basic Documents to which the Technical Building Code refers, we will focus on the “Basic Document on Safe Use” and, more specifically, on the lesson SU-1 Safety when there is a risk of falling. This includes requirements for floors depending on their location and usage.

Having made this brief outline of the Technical Building Code and its requirements relating to ceramic tiles, we must emphasize that GRES CID has improved a number of its products in order to bring them in line with the code.

All products by GRES CID that include the word “granit” have a class 3 slip resistance.