Evidence-first editorial standard
This guide separates observed facts, engineering assumptions and data that still require confirmation. It does not promise a universal service life or replace the exact product data and project specification.
Most ceramic lining failures start during installation, not in service
A correctly selected tile that is bonded to a contaminated surface, laid over a step or cured at the wrong temperature will release long before it wears out. Installation is therefore part of the specification: the steps below, and the checks between them, belong in the work package and should be verified, not left to habit.
Assess the substrate before ordering anything
Check shell thickness, corrosion, cracks and distortion, and measure flatness over the area to be lined; a surface that is not flat enough leaves voids behind bonded tiles and steps between them. Decide at this stage whether the shell is repaired, replaced or lined as it is, because that decision can change the fixing method. The article on substrate flatness before installation details what to measure.
Prepare the surface for the fixing method chosen
For bonded systems the steel must be clean, dry and abraded to the profile the adhesive supplier specifies, then bonded while the prepared surface is still clean; oil, mill scale, moisture and dust are the usual causes of bond failure, as described in surface contamination at the bond line. For welded systems, stud positions and earthing are planned in advance and hot-work permits obtained.
Lay out the lining before fixing it
Plan the layout on the actual surface: start lines, joint pattern relative to the flow, cut pieces kept away from the main wear path, edge protection at lips and openings. Joints aligned with the flow become channels; staggered joints and flush transitions do not. A dry layout of the first rows catches mistakes while they are still cheap to correct, following the principles of ceramic tile joint layout.
Fix and cure within the adhesive’s window
Apply adhesive at the coverage the supplier specifies, bed each element without voids, keep joints filled and flush, and respect cure time and temperature before the equipment is loaded. Cold steel slows or stops cure, which is why cold-weather installation needs heating, enclosures or a different system. Record batch, substrate temperature and application time for each area; with IC BOND adhesives those records are part of the handover file.
Inspect and record a baseline before start-up
Tap-test for hollow tiles, check joints and edges, measure lining thickness at fixed reference points and photograph each zone. That baseline is what every later inspection is compared against; without it nobody can tell normal wear from an installation defect. The commissioning baseline article and our installation and fixing service describe the full procedure.