Electrical conductivity of a material is the amount of current passing through a piece of material per unit length and per unit area when a unit potential difference is applied across two limiting values. Conductivity is the inverse of resistance. Materials characterized by a high degree of electrical resistance with a correspondingly low degree of electrical conductivity are materials known as dielectrics. Ceramic floor and wall tiles, like most ceramic products, belong to this class of materials. Ceramic tiles do not allow electricity to pass through (only if they are dry, otherwise water and the salts in it will allow electricity to pass through). This essential safety feature significantly reduces the risk of electric shock.
Another important characteristic directly related to electrical conductivity is the accumulation of electrostatic stress on the surface. This accumulation of static electricity, for example on the floor surface, due to friction during walking, can ultimately be discharged through the human body, the so-called electric shock. There are materials that can suppress the accumulation of static electricity on the surface. Such static electricity neutralizers do not, as might be expected, have very low electrical conductivity. The use of materials capable of suppressing the accumulation of static for floor coverings ensures, on the one hand, the absence of a physical irritant, albeit a small one; and on the other hand, safety in conditions where the discharge of static electricity can be dangerous (workshops, laboratories, chemical plants, rooms where explosives and flammable substances are stored, and even the slightest spark can lead to an explosion).
Ceramic tiles have a high degree of resistance. Studies have shown that ceramic tiles do not accumulate static electricity in the same way as, for example, carpeting, therefore, the use of this type of material eliminates the risk of receiving an electric shock while walking on the surface. Most types of ceramic tiles are too electrically resistant to be used in areas where safety is a primary concern. For use in such conditions, a special tile with higher electrical conductivity is required. As a rule, in such conditions, a metal mesh or other similar material is installed under the base. The metal mesh not only provides equal voltage, but also grounds the structure.