Low Silica Quartz Worktops

Low Silica Engineered Stone

Low Silica Quartz Worktops — Under 30% Crystalline Silica

Standard engineered stone is 90–93% quartz. Our low silica quartz worktops reformulate that mix so most of the crystalline silica is replaced by glass sand — cutting the dust hazard the HSE now regulates, without softening the slab or changing how it is fabricated and fitted.

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Standard engineered stone90–93% crystalline silica
Crystalline silica (quartz) 90–93%
Resin
Sempre low silicaUnder 30% crystalline silica
Glass sand — amorphous 50–55%
Quartz <30%
Resin
TiO₂ · pigment
Crystalline silica — the regulated dust hazard Amorphous silica — not respirable crystalline silica Polyester resin Titanium dioxide & pigments

SGS tested · 21 colours

The low silica collection

Every colour below has been independently tested by SGS and contains under 30% crystalline silica by weight, compared with 90–93% in standard engineered stone. Colours are listed from the lowest silica content.

Results are from SGS quantitative crystalline silica analysis (FTIR and XRD), September 2026. The full test report is linked on each product page. Low silica is not silica-free: fabricators should continue to use water suppression, extraction and suitable respiratory protection.

Definition

What are low silica quartz worktops?

Low silica quartz worktops are engineered stone surfaces formulated to contain far less respirable crystalline silica than conventional quartz. Standard slabs are 90–93% quartz mineral; a low silica slab replaces most of that with alternative hard fillers. Ours keeps crystalline quartz sand below 30% by weight, with glass sand at 50–55% doing the structural work in its place. The finished worktop looks, performs and installs like premium quartz — the difference is in what the fabricator breathes while cutting it.

The category exists because of a workplace health problem, not a kitchen one. Cutting, grinding and polishing high-quartz stone releases fine crystalline silica dust. Inhaled over years, it scars lung tissue and causes silicosis — an irreversible disease that has driven engineered stone bans in Australia and tightened regulation across the UK, Europe and the United States.

An installed worktop is inert and safe in the home either way; the hazard belongs to the workshop. That is why low silica quartz worktops matter most to fabricators, specifiers and contractors — and why homeowners who care about the supply chain behind their kitchen are increasingly asking for them by name.

Composition

What is actually in the slab

Most low silica claims in the market stop at a single percentage. Here is the full formulation by weight, so specifiers and fabricators can assess it against their own COSHH risk assessments rather than take a marketing figure on trust.

ComponentWeightRole
Glass sand50–55%Amorphous silica — provides hardness and body in place of quartz
Quartz sandUnder 30%Crystalline silica — the only regulated fraction, kept to a minimum
Polyester resin12–15%Binder — gives the non-porous, sealed-for-life surface
Titanium dioxide~1%Opacity and colour stability
Inorganic pigments~1%Colour — mineral based, no organic dyes

Manufacturer’s declared composition by weight. No asbestos, heavy metals or organic solvents are used in the formulation.

The Science

Why swapping quartz for glass changes the risk, not the performance

Silica exists in two structural forms. In quartz it is crystalline — an ordered lattice that fractures into sharp, respirable particles when cut. Those particles lodge in lung tissue and drive the fibrosis known as silicosis. In glass it is amorphous — the same chemistry, no lattice, and not classified as the respirable crystalline silica that occupational exposure limits are written around.

That distinction is the whole product. Removing quartz and leaving the gap would mean more resin and a softer, more heat-sensitive surface — which is how some “reduced silica” products lose their durability. Replacing it with glass sand keeps a hard mineral filler doing the structural work, so density, scratch resistance and the non-porous finish stay where a premium worktop needs them, while the fraction that generates hazardous dust drops by roughly two thirds.

Less hazardous dust

Cutting, mitring and polishing release substantially less respirable crystalline silica than a 90%+ quartz slab, lowering cumulative exposure across a fabrication shop.

Same fabrication process

No new tooling, no new adhesives, no change to templating or installation. Fabricators work it exactly as they work standard engineered stone.

No substitution trade-off

Non-porous, stain resistant, colour consistent across slabs, and covered by the same 25-year warranty as the rest of the range.

Regulation

The HSE’s 2026 engineered stone rules, in plain terms

On 11 May 2026 the Health and Safety Executive published new guidance aimed squarely at the engineered stone industry. The headline measures are a ban on dry cutting, mandatory water suppression during fabrication, and a programme of more than 1,000 fabricator inspections over the following twelve months.

Underneath the headlines, nothing about COSHH has changed: respirable crystalline silica remains subject to a workplace exposure limit of 0.1 mg/m³ averaged over eight hours, and employers still have to control exposure so far as is reasonably practicable — assess, control at source, extract, monitor, and provide health surveillance where exposure is significant.

The HSE has also been explicit that the industry should move toward lower silica materials where it can. That is the part specifiers can act on immediately: material choice sits at the top of the control hierarchy, above extraction and well above personal protective equipment. Reducing the silica in the slab lowers the exposure everything else is measured against.

Read the wider category context in our engineered stone worktops guide, or see how these materials are specified day to day in quartz kitchen worktops.

For fabricators: what low silica changes and what it does not

Low silica material helps you reduce exposure at source. It is a control measure, not an exemption — and any supplier telling you otherwise is putting your inspection file at risk.

  • Water suppression, on-tool extraction, LEV and RPE requirements still apply. Reduced silica does not remove your COSHH duties or your health surveillance obligations.
  • Lower crystalline content means a lower starting point for exposure calculations, which makes staying within the 0.1 mg/m³ workplace exposure limit materially easier.
  • Safety data sheets and composition documentation ship with every order, ready for your risk assessments and for an HSE inspector’s file.
  • Low silica is not silica-free. If your client’s specification demands zero crystalline silica, talk to us rather than assuming this product qualifies.

Documentation is available in Technical Documentation and Professional Documentation, or ask us directly and we will send the current pack.

Material knowledge

What crystalline silica is, and why the percentage matters

Crystalline silica is the regulated fraction of an engineered stone slab. It is harmless in a finished, fitted worktop; the hazard is the respirable dust released when a slab is cut, ground or polished in the workshop. Lowering the crystalline silica content lowers that hazard at source, which is why we publish an independent SGS result for every tested colour rather than a marketing figure.

What is crystalline silica in engineered stone worktops

At a glance

Crystalline silica, in numbers

Golden Veil low silica quartz: 3.48% crystalline silica, SGS tested
Standard engineered stone vs AKG low silica colours crystalline silica chart
Low silica vs zero silica surfaces compared by crystalline silica content

Comparison

Low silica vs zero silica vs standard quartz

Three terms get used interchangeably in the market and they are not the same thing. This is how they differ where it counts.

 Standard quartzLow silica quartzZero silica surfaces
Crystalline silica90–93%Under 30%Effectively none
Fabrication dust riskHigh — the reason for regulationSubstantially reducedLowest
Controls still requiredYesYesYes, for other dusts
Look and feelPremium engineered stoneIdentical — same manufacturing routeVaries by material class
Availability & priceWidest choiceComparable to premium quartzLimited range, often higher cost

Where other materials sit

Porcelain and sintered stone contain little or no free crystalline silica and are the usual route when a specification rules it out entirely, though they behave differently on site — harder to cut, more prone to chipping at the edge, and a different aesthetic. Solid surface materials are silica-free and seamless but softer and more heat-sensitive. Natural granite and marble are quarried rather than engineered, and granite in particular can carry significant crystalline silica of its own. Low silica quartz sits in the middle: the appearance and behaviour of engineered stone, with the dust profile pulled down.

Cost

Do low silica quartz worktops cost more?

Priced against premium standard quartz, low silica material is broadly comparable. The manufacturing route is the same, the slab format is the same, and fabrication takes the same time — so the cost difference lands in the raw material mix rather than in labour. Expect a fitted kitchen to sit in the same band as any premium engineered stone specification.

Where it can save money is on the fabrication side. Lower exposure at source means less pressure on ventilation upgrades, monitoring frequency and health surveillance costs — and no exposure to the enforcement risk that comes with an inspection finding excessive dust levels. For a shop weighing an extraction retrofit, the material choice is part of that calculation.

Specification

Technical specification

Slab size3200 × 1600 mm (jumbo)
Thickness20 mm / 30 mm
Crystalline silicaUnder 30% by weight
SurfaceNon-porous — never requires sealing
FinishesPolished, honed / matte
Warranty25 years, transferable on registration

Suitable applications

Kitchen worktops and islands, full-height splashbacks, bathroom vanities, wet room surfaces, fireplace surrounds, reception desks and retail counters. Jumbo slab dimensions suit long uninterrupted runs and mitred waterfall ends with vein continuation.

Where it fits in the range

See the Sempre range for colours and finishes, the quartz kitchen worktops guide for thickness and edge detail, or Calacatta quartz worktops for marble-effect designs.

How to choose

The right surface for your project

Homeowners

You want the look of quartz and a supply chain that takes fabricator health seriously. Choose a low silica colour and ask your kitchen studio for the SGS report that belongs to it.

Kitchen studios & specifiers

Put the silica test report in the project file. Where a client or tender rules out crystalline silica, specify a silica free colour and confirm the composition in writing with us.

Fabricators

Lower silica reduces exposure at source and makes staying within workplace exposure limits easier. Water suppression, on-tool extraction and respiratory protection still apply to every material.

Silica free

Colours supplied as silica free

Alongside the low silica collection, three colours are supplied as silica free surfaces. If your specification rules out crystalline silica entirely, these are the colours to start from, and our team will confirm the composition in writing for your project file.

  • Desert PearlPrinted Full Body range, warm sand tones with soft natural veining. View colour
  • Calacatta BaliBold gold and grey veining on a white base, 3300 x 1640 mm slab. View colour
  • Calacatta VenatoFlowing grey veins on a bright white base. View colour

Each product page also carries its SGS test data where a report has been issued.

Independent SGS test reports

Independent quantitative analysis of crystalline silica (FTIR and XRD) carried out by SGS on AKG Surfaces low silica colours. Results are percentage by weight.

ColourCrystalline silicaSGS reportReport
Calacatta BaliNone detectedXMIN2609002538CM01 · October 2026Download PDF
Golden Veil3.48%XMIN2607001529CM15 · July 2026Download PDF
Calacatta Lucia14.3%XMIN2607001529CM08 · July 2026Download PDF
Taj Mahal Supreme18.8%XMIN2607001529CM19 · July 2026Download PDF
Cemento Matte21.65%XMIN2609002413CM01 · September 2026Download PDF
Cremo Jade24%XMIN2607001529CM20 · July 2026Download PDF
Arabescato Gold25.14%XMIN2607001529CM16 · July 2026Download PDF
Calacatta Marbella25.55%XMIN2607001529CM09 · July 2026Download PDF
Sierra26.09%XMIN2607001529CM05 · July 2026Download PDF
Brittanica26.37%XMIN2607001529CM24 · August 2026Download PDF
Everest27.23%XMIN2607001529CM14 · July 2026Download PDF
Lapland27.27%XMIN2607001529CM11 · July 2026Download PDF
Misterio Oro27.41%XMIN2607001529CM17 · July 2026Download PDF
Bianco Carrara27.41%XMIN2607001529CM10 · July 2026Download PDF
Calacatta Mystic27.44%XMIN2607001529CM04 · July 2026Download PDF
Calacatta Nuvo27.6%XMIN2607001529CM02 · July 2026Download PDF
Calacatta Magnificio27.88%XMIN2607001529CM01 · July 2026Download PDF
Calacatta Verona28.09%XMIN2607001529CM18 · July 2026Download PDF
Cortina28.59%XMIN2607001529CM21 · July 2026Download PDF
Barents28.61%XMIN2607001529CM12 · July 2026Download PDF
Iceberg Mist29.09%XMIN2607001686CM01 · July 2026Download PDF
Calacatta Vicenza29.12%XMIN2607001529CM03 · July 2026Download PDF

Questions

Low silica quartz worktops: frequently asked questions

Does AKG Surfaces supply silica free surfaces?

Yes. Desert Pearl, Calacatta Bali and Calacatta Venato are supplied as silica free colours. For projects that rule out crystalline silica, contact our team with the specification and we will confirm the composition in writing.

What is the difference between low silica and silica free?

Low silica surfaces still contain crystalline silica, but far less than standard engineered stone: our SGS tested colours are under 30% by weight, and as little as 3.48%. Silica free colours are supplied for specifications that exclude crystalline silica altogether. Whichever material is used, fabrication dust controls still apply.

How much crystalline silica do they contain?

Under 30% by weight, against 90–93% in standard engineered stone. The balance is made up by glass sand at 50–55%, which is amorphous silica and not the respirable crystalline silica that exposure limits address.

Is low silica the same as silica-free?

No. Low silica substantially reduces crystalline silica content; it does not eliminate it. Zero-silica surfaces such as porcelain, sintered stone and solid surface are a different product class. If a specification demands zero crystalline silica, this material does not meet it.

Do fabricators still need water suppression and RPE?

Yes. HSE control measures apply to the process, not only the material. Water suppression, on-tool extraction and respiratory protection remain part of a compliant setup, and the 0.1 mg/m³ workplace exposure limit still applies. Low silica lowers exposure at source and makes those controls more effective, rather than replacing them.

Does reducing quartz make the worktop weaker?

No, because the quartz is replaced by glass sand rather than by additional resin. The slab keeps a high mineral filler content, so hardness, density and the non-porous surface behave as expected from a premium engineered stone.

Are they safe to have in the home?

Yes — and so is standard quartz once installed. The silica hazard exists during cutting and polishing, not in a finished worktop. Choosing low silica is about protecting the people who fabricate and fit the surface, and anyone doing on-site adjustments in your kitchen.

Do low silica quartz worktops cost more?

They are broadly comparable to premium standard quartz. Same slab format, same manufacturing route and the same fabrication time, so the difference sits in the raw material mix rather than in labour.

Do they need different tools or adhesives?

No. Templating, cutting, mitring, polishing and installation follow the same process a fabricator already uses for engineered stone. No retooling is required.

Are there harmful additives in the formulation?

The mix uses mineral fillers, polyester resin, titanium dioxide and inorganic pigments. No asbestos, no heavy-metal pigments, no organic dyes. Safety data sheets are supplied with every order.

What did the HSE change in May 2026?

Guidance published on 11 May 2026 banned dry cutting of engineered stone, made water suppression mandatory during fabrication, and set out more than 1,000 fabricator inspections for the following year. It also encouraged the industry to move toward lower silica materials where practicable.

Can I see the material before specifying it?

Yes. Sample kits ship free across the UK, and full slabs can be viewed at our Northampton showroom — Monarch Courtyard, Unit 12 Salthouse Road, Brackmills, NN4 7BD.

Specify it with the data in front of you

Composition sheet, safety data and warranty terms in one pack — plus free samples so you can judge the finish in your own light before committing.

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