Thermal tiles: the latest in flooring that heats up less with solar radiation for swimming pools, terraces, and solariums
If you live in a high-temperature region and want to enjoy your patio or pool without worrying about how hot the tiles get, athermic paving stones are the best solution. This type of ceramic tile is designed to absorb less heat than other materials, meaning the temperatures reached when exposed to sunlight are lower. We will explain the characteristics, advantages and why you should choose them for your outdoor area.
What are athermic paving stones?
An athermal tile is a porcelain ceramic tile whose surface absorbe o retiene menos cantidad de calor que otras baldosas, en condiciones de exposición directa al sol. Esta propiedad hace que las baldosas atérmicas se calienten menos que otras baldosas, y lo que es más importante, reducen el riesgo de quemaduras al walking barefoot on them. For this reason, athermal tiles are the perfect choice in areas around Pools or for outdoor areas like terraces, patios and solariums in warm places exposed to the sun.
Technical characteristics of athermic porcelain paving stones
To understand why these tiles are more suitable for warm climates, it is important to know their technical characteristics:
- Menor absorción de calor: utilizan materiales y tratamientos especiales que reducen la acumulación de calor en su superficie de la baldosa.
- Light colors: These tend to be soft tones, as they reflect sunlight more than dark colors.
- Specific texture: They can have non-slip finishes, especially those suitable for covering wet areas such as swimming pools.
- Weather resistance: They maintain their athermal properties even in extreme conditions.
What are the advantages of putting athermic paving stones on terrace flooring and around swimming pools?
Installing athermic paving stones in your outdoor area offers several benefits, such as:
- More comfort: well-being outdoors
The main benefit of these tiles is the lower surface temperature compared to other tiles, making it easier to walk barefoot.
- Greater safety: Reducing the risk of foot burns.
Safety is increased, and the risk of injury and discomfort is reduced.
- More time to enjoy: leisure time is extended
Where can athermic paving stones be used?
Thermal tiles are the ideal choice for floors in outdoor spaces exposed to the sun and as paving for outdoor areas in very hot climates.The most common locations for them are:
- Decks and patios: al calentarse menos las baldosas atérmicas se prolongan las horas de diversión y se alargan las horas de juego y ocio.
- Pools: Cladding around the pool basin and around the edge provides a cooler surface.
- Solariums: permiten relajarse y tomar el sol
- Gardens and paths: además de calentarse menos, las baldosas atérmicas aportan diseño, estilo y estética en el exterior.
What is the solar reflectance index or SRI?
The solar reflectance index of a material indicates which fraction of incident solar radiation is reflected by the surface evaluated and, therefore, not absorbed. It is normally expressed as a value between 0 and 1.
- Un valor de 1 indica que la superficie no refleja ninguna radiación solar, es decir, toda la radiación solar es absorbida y por tanto se calienta, correspondería a colores blancos.
- Un valor de 0 señala que the surface reflects all the solar radiation that falls on itand remains at a lower temperature.correspondería a colores Black.
How does the solar reflectance index influence the thermal experience?
Knowing this index, you can anticipate the thermal experience provided by a particular ceramic floor covering: the higher the SRI, the lower the temperature the tile will reach in the sun..
What SRI should a paving stone have in order to be considered athermic?
Para que una baldosa pueda considerarse como atérmica debe tener un reference index greater than or equal to 0.5.The IRS is measured and classified according to the ASTM E1980-11 (2019) standard.
In some contexts, this figure can also be expressed as a percentage: as a value between 0% and 100%, where 0% represents no reflection and 100% represents total reflection; in other words, the ceramic tiles do not absorb heat.
What should paving stones for outdoor areas in very warm regions be like?
Tiles for the floors of in very hot regions, patios in single-family homes communal pools in residential buildings, o las terraces in vacation homes should be:
- Ceramics: Ceramic body generally has a lower solar radiation absorption capacity than other materials. However, the exact heat behavior of ceramics depends on both their specific composition and the surface finish of the flooring.
- In light tones: In general, dark-colored tiles tend to absorb more solar radiation than light-colored ones. This is because the former have a greater capacity to absorb light, while light-colored tiles tend to reflect more.
- Athermal: con un IRS mayor o igual a 0,50. En zonas cálidas con gran exposición al sol se debería elegir colores claros reflejantes con un IRS > 0.65.
- Non-slip to add functionality to areas around the pool and prevent slipping.
In any case, you have to remember that no matter how white a ceramic tile is, it will heat up if exposed to a lot of solar radiation - yet to a lesser extent than darker paving tiles. They may even burn if the solar radiation incidence is extremely high.
Would you like to enjoy a cooler and safer floor this summer?
If you're thinking about renovating your outdoor space and looking for a solution that combines comfort, safety, and design, athermic paving stones are the perfect choice. At Gres Aragón, we have one, extensive experience in ceramic floor tiles for warm climates and we can help you find the right choice for your open-air project. Check with our experts and take the next step to enjoy a more comfortable, safe, and elegant outdoor space this summer..