"We created everything in due measure." — Quran 54:49
One of the hallmarks of today's world is humanity's persistent striving for a better life. For this reason, people are constantly seeking higher-quality, more beautiful products accompanied by after-sales service, delivered as a complete package. With population growth, the need for housing, hospitals, schools, offices, and all other types of buildings increases. One of the fundamental requirements of every building is suitable, beautiful, and durable doors and windows. Despite the fact that the manufacturing industry for building materials and fixtures — including doors and windows — advances day by day, introducing new technical and aesthetic specifications to the world of engineering, our society's awareness, even among our engineers, of these developments remains very limited. The lack of a centralized information network for the construction industry is one of the fundamental reasons for this situation. Dedicating a permanent and separate section in Memar Magazine under the title "Construction and Industry," along with creating a complementary segment called "Construction Industry Information," would significantly help raise the level of knowledge within the country's engineering community regarding the technical and performance specifications of various products, and would assist them in selecting the best options.
Tonod Company hopes that, through the efforts of engineers and the relevant authorities, the standardization of door and window dimensions in Iran's construction industry will be realized. To draw attention to the importance of this matter, the company presents the following points regarding the significance of standardizing door and window dimensions.
Production of a complete door unit — including the frame and door leaf — is carried out by four methods:
1. Iron frame and door leaf are usually manufactured in the workshop or factory that produces iron doors and window frames according to the various and diverse dimensions specified in each order.
2. Aluminum frame and door leaf are manufactured in workshops that produce aluminum products according to the ordered dimensions.
3. Wooden frame and door leaf are manufactured in carpentry workshops or wood industry factories according to the requested dimensions.
4. Metal frame and wooden door leaf — because the raw materials differ, these are usually produced separately, in two stages and at two separate locations. First, the metal frame is manufactured in workshops or factories that produce metal frames, and then, based on the frame dimensions, the door leaf is produced.
In Iran, the fourth method is used most frequently, which entails numerous problems. Formulating and implementing dimensional standards would preemptively prevent many of these problems from arising.
Standardizing doors and windows has two aspects: first, standardizing the dimensions of doors and windows in terms of height, width, and so forth; and second, standardizing the quality and specifications of the materials used and the application of doors and windows. In this discussion, the first aspect — standardizing dimensions — is the focus, as it resolves many of the problems in this industry. Standardizing dimensions offers numerous advantages, of which we mention several:
- By standardizing frame dimensions, frame profiles are produced in lengths that minimize waste.
- Standard frames are identical for all consumers, and production does not require individual orders.
- With standardized height, the positioning of hinges and the lock-strike slot can be incorporated during frame production.
- Masonry and bricklaying are performed in accordance with standard height and width.
- Raw materials for frames are produced in compliance with standard dimensional requirements.
- Door leaves are manufactured according to standard frame dimensions without the need for re-measurement.
- Installation of doors on frames, given the standardized positioning of hinges and lock-strike slots, is carried out without difficulty and in the shortest possible time.
Standardizing door and window dimensions reduces the time required for design, production, and installation. It makes mass production possible, enabling a percentage reduction in costs and consequently lowering the final price.
The chain from manufacturer to installer operates such that the frame dimension is governed by the frame opening; the frame opening is governed by the placement location in the wall; and the wall placement is governed by the architect's design — which itself follows the client's non-standard requests. However, with dimensional standardization, all parties would be obliged to follow a single logical order.
Considering the above, the most important outcomes of standardization are: reducing waste, saving time, lowering costs, and ultimately greater efficiency in production.
Tonod Company, from the early years of its activity, undertook the standardization of its frame dimensions and produced doors, which was welcomed by engineers and construction companies. The basis for formulating this standard is one meter divided by ten — meaning the range of dimensional variation begins at ten centimeters. The standard frame height is 210 centimeters from the top of the frame to the finished floor level, and the standard width, measured from the back of one frame member to the other, comes in increments of 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110 centimeters, and so on.
Standardization of door and window dimensions requires universal cooperation and the support of relevant authorities, including the Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the Ministry of Industries, the Building and Housing Research Center, municipalities, consulting engineers, construction companies, and ultimately door and frame manufacturing companies.