But Ray the tile does not add to the strength of the screed. It merely add an element that might act compositely with the screed but each element remains unchanged. Sort of like the whole is more than the sum of the parts.
When testing flexural strength of screeds which is the important bit really we use prisms of 40mm x 40mm x 150mm which is the european standard test method, so testing a 25mm piece would not really tell us anything very useful. Compressive strength is less important as its generally over engineered, but as a rule we work to a minimum Ca-C25-F4 on standard mixes and on specials up to CA-C35-F7. The samples should be cast rather than cut from a lump as it is generally impossible to guarantee that the cutting process does not fracture the screed and the size can never be as accurate. the standard that we work to is BS-EN 13454 and BS-EN-13813 and are certified to ISO9001 and CE accredited. TS -15 and TS -20 have been independently tested for in situ crushing strength by Aston Services and meet the requirements for Category A when laid bonded or unbonded and the strengths are CA-C30-F5 and Ca-C35-F6 respectively. Our TimBRE product is independently tested by TestConsult Ltd for use on a timber substrate and our diamond screed (polished system) is independently tested by Warwick University. Our standard products are tested on a daily basis during manufacture using a quality assured testing regime. They are tested for setting time, strengths and a number of other factors which are not relevant to tiles and we carry out probably several hundred tests every week. We use statistical process control methods and have the only fully temperature and humidity controlled laboratory in the UK. We have carried out all sorts of other testing in house and externally over the years in order to ensure that the products we make not only meet the standards that are set for them but also that they exceed the fitness for purpose requirements that the industry sets in terms of deliverability, usability and robustness By all means carry out your tests but really you cant tell us anything that we don't probably already know and unless it is carried out in a manner that is standard, repeatable and can be compared to normative testing then it is pretty meaningless. You can buy a bag of Sureflow screed which is a Gypsol screed from CCF if you like and make your own samples. I can say with absolute confidence though that a sand cement screed hand laid and hand compacted is rarely if ever going to have as higher flexural or compressive strength as a self compacting anhydrite screed, tile or no tile.
When testing flexural strength of screeds which is the important bit really we use prisms of 40mm x 40mm x 150mm which is the european standard test method, so testing a 25mm piece would not really tell us anything very useful. Compressive strength is less important as its generally over engineered, but as a rule we work to a minimum Ca-C25-F4 on standard mixes and on specials up to CA-C35-F7. The samples should be cast rather than cut from a lump as it is generally impossible to guarantee that the cutting process does not fracture the screed and the size can never be as accurate. the standard that we work to is BS-EN 13454 and BS-EN-13813 and are certified to ISO9001 and CE accredited. TS -15 and TS -20 have been independently tested for in situ crushing strength by Aston Services and meet the requirements for Category A when laid bonded or unbonded and the strengths are CA-C30-F5 and Ca-C35-F6 respectively. Our TimBRE product is independently tested by TestConsult Ltd for use on a timber substrate and our diamond screed (polished system) is independently tested by Warwick University. Our standard products are tested on a daily basis during manufacture using a quality assured testing regime. They are tested for setting time, strengths and a number of other factors which are not relevant to tiles and we carry out probably several hundred tests every week. We use statistical process control methods and have the only fully temperature and humidity controlled laboratory in the UK. We have carried out all sorts of other testing in house and externally over the years in order to ensure that the products we make not only meet the standards that are set for them but also that they exceed the fitness for purpose requirements that the industry sets in terms of deliverability, usability and robustness By all means carry out your tests but really you cant tell us anything that we don't probably already know and unless it is carried out in a manner that is standard, repeatable and can be compared to normative testing then it is pretty meaningless. You can buy a bag of Sureflow screed which is a Gypsol screed from CCF if you like and make your own samples. I can say with absolute confidence though that a sand cement screed hand laid and hand compacted is rarely if ever going to have as higher flexural or compressive strength as a self compacting anhydrite screed, tile or no tile.
