Glass tiles are selected primarily for their beauty. Tiles also need to be technically sound, suited to the environment and use that they will be subjected to. Glass tiles are frost proof, resistant to fading and discoloration, impervious to water and stains, and resistant to chemical damage. These features make them particularly suitable for home use, including backsplashes, swimming pools and spas, and various outdoor applications. Glass is also harder, and less flexible than fired clay; as a result, glass tiles can be more susceptible to chipping and cracking than ceramic tiles if they are not installed correctly.

Specific glass standards need to be developed - currently there are no international standards for the technical composition and properties of glass tiles. In the interim, architects and designers often check to see how a manufacturer's tiles measure up against ceramic tile standards. However, a given ceramic tile standard may or may not be applicable to glass tiles - the standard applied needs to suit the application.

That being said, glass tiles meet and exceed most ceramic tile standards. One possible exception is thermal shock resistance: some glass tiles are susceptible to chipping and breaking if they are exposed to sudden and extreme temperature change. They can break into highly visible cracks if they are exposed to extreme or violent impact.

For a review of international ceramic tile standards, click here.