Tile Water Absorption Classifier
Enter a tile's water absorption % (or weigh it dry vs wet) to get its IS 15622 group — BIa, BIb, BIIa, BIIb or BIII — the tile type it implies and exactly where it's safe to lay. Lower absorption means a denser, stronger, more water-resistant tile.
Your tile
Ask your vendor for the tested water-absorption value (it's on the spec / data sheet, measured per IS 13630). Typical: porcelain ~0.1–0.5%, vitrified ~0.5–3%, ceramic 3–10%, wall tile >10%.
IS 15622 classification
BIb
0.00% absorption · Vitrified
Dense, hard-wearing vitrified tile. Great for indoor floors and wet areas; fine outdoors in mild climates (verify frost/slip rating).
Group
BIb
0.5–3%
Tile type
Vitrified
implied body
Best use
Floor & wet area
primary
Floor
SuitableWet area
SuitableOutdoor
CautionWall
SuitableWhere it falls on the BIa → BIII ladder
| Group | Absorption | Tile type | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIa | ≤ 0.5% | Fully vitrified / porcelain | Floor / wet / outdoor |
| BIb | 0.5–3% | Vitrified | Floor & wet area |
| BIIa | 3–6% | Semi-vitrified ceramic | Light floor & walls |
| BIIb | 6–10% | Ceramic (earthenware body) | Light floor & walls |
| BIII | > 10% | Earthenware / wall tile | Walls only |
Spec the right tile for every room
DesignAI matches tile type, finish and absorption group to each room's traffic, wet exposure and climate — and shows it in your space.
Indicative classification per IS 15622 / ISO 13006 (water-absorption groups). The home weigh-it method is approximate — always ask the vendor for the tile's lab-tested water-absorption group, measured by the IS 13630 method, and insist on the ISI (BIS) mark. Pair this with PEI / abrasion rating and slip rating before finalising a floor.
Related Guides — Deep-dive reading
Tile Water Absorption Groups Explained: The One Spec That Predicts Strength & Where a Tile Can Go (India 2026)
Why a single percentage — BIa to BIII — tells you a tile's strength, stain and water resistance, and whether it belongs on a floor, a wet area or only a wall.
Flooring & SurfacesIS 15622 Tile Standard Explained for Indian Buyers (2026)
What India's core ceramic and vitrified tile standard actually specifies — and how to read it off the box and spec sheet before you buy.
Flooring & SurfacesCeramic Tile IS Standards India: IS 15622, IS 13630, IS 13712 & BIS Marking Explained
A professional reference to the Indian Standards that govern bathroom ceramic and vitrified tiles — IS 15622 water-absorption groups, IS 13630 test methods, IS 13712 classification, ISO 13006 alignment, the ISI/BIS mark, and PEI abrasion and slip-resistance parameters your spec should quote.
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