By NITIN VAZE

Engineered doors can utilize a high content of engineered materials, almost 100% of which are produced from sawmill waste, shavings and other by-products, converted into the infill alongside HDF/MDF skins, as well as engineered stiles and rails.

The door industry can streamline its processes and achieve ISI certification using modern engineered materials, thus ensuring both increased productivity and profits – and, at the same time, maintaining a minimal benchmark of quality.

In the realm of door manufacturing, a new era is dawning with the advent of engineered doors certified with IS 2202 Part 2:2022 and IS 2191 Part 2:2022. It is time to debunk the myth that solid timber-infill doors are inherently superior.

Flush doors, irrespective of their construction, can now be certified under four distinct standards, each tailored to different materials and applications. These standards are:

•        IS 2202 (Part 1): 2023: wooden flush door shutters (solid core type with plywood face panels).

•        IS 2202 (Part 2): 2022: wooden flush door shutters (solid core type with particle board, high density fibre board, medium density fibre board, and fibre hardboard face panels).

•        IS 2191 (Part 1): 2022: wooden flush door shutters (cellular, hollow, and tubular core type with plywood face panels).

•        IS 2191 (Part 2): 2022: wooden flush door shutters (cellular, hollow, and tubular core type with particle board, high density fibre board, medium density fibre board, and fibre hardboard face panels).

Despite variations in construction, performance criteria remain consistent. The belief that solid timber doors are inherently superior is a misconception. Flush door shutters can now be classified into two grades: BWP (boiling water-proof) grade, recommended for use in both humid and dry locations; and MR (moisture-resistant) grade, recommended for dry locations only.

All four types of flush doors fall under mandatory quality control orders, necessitating the ISI mark on all manufactured doors from the beginning of March, 2025. The flush doors must undergo a series of rigorous tests. The include type tests such as:

•        Dimensions and squareness test

•        General flatness test

•        Local planeness test

•        Impact indentation test

•        Flexure test

•        Edge loading test

•        Shock resistance test

•        Buckling resistance test

•        Slamming test

•        Misuse test

•        Varying humidity test

•        End immersion test

•        Knife test

•        Glue adhesion test

•        Screw withdrawal resistance test

The acceptance tests include the following:

•        Dimensions and squareness test

•        General flatness test

•        Local planeness test

•        Slamming test

•        End immersion test

•        Knife test

•        Glue adhesion test

It is evident that doors made with engineered materials offer the same performance with superior surface finishes. This presents an opportunity for the door industry and furniture manufacturers to transition to 100% engineered material doors certified under IS 2202 Part 2 or IS 2191 Part 2, allowing the use of popular MDF/HDF skins and decorative options with modern edge banding.

Door manufacturers stand to gain numerous advantages by adopting engineered doors, such as:

•        No need to search for wood.

•        Elimination of timber seasoning requirements.

•        No chemical treatment necessary.

•        Minimal energy costs during production.

•        Reduced labour costs.

•        Increased production efficiency.

•        Superior finish.

•        Eco-friendly and sustainable product.

Engineered doors represent not just a technological advancement, but a sustainable and efficient solution for the future of door manufacturing. With the adoption of modern materials and standards, the door industry can look forward to a future of innovation, productivity and quality assurance.

– The writer is a veteran in the furniture and wood-based panels industry. He is Founder-Director and CEO of the award-winning, Pune-based Sleek Boards Marketing Services LLP. He can be contacted at sleekboards@gmail.com.

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