What is an Enclosurist anyway? Find out today.
Summary: “Define Enclosurist” you say? This post reveals that it is a word we made up since we couldn’t find an appropriate word to use (and we needed it for branding our cartoon).
An Enclosurist is anybody who is primarily and professionally involved in the design, evaluation, construction, maintenance, or commissioning of building enclosures. Enclosurists come in all flavors, shapes, and sizes.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Who is responsible for the long term success of the building enclosure?
- Is it the Owner who determines the project goals and sets a realistic project budget?
- Is it the Architect or Enclosure consultant who designs the details and produces the specifications and periodically observes work on-site?
- Is it the Contractor or Construction manager that coordinates the work?
- Is it the Enclosure Superintendent that observes the work daily?
- Is it the individual Tradespeople who install the components?
- Is it the Enclosure Commissioning Agent who observes and documents compliance with the basis of design?
- Is it the product manufacturer, technical staff, or sales representative that provides appropriate information and the right product?
- Is it the Building Inspector, Facilities Manager, Future Occupants?
As all answers in building science, the answer is “Yes!” (or “It depends…”)
All these people play a role in the long term success of the building enclosure. Granted, they do not all have the same level of responsibility. Still, it is reasonable to say that significant errors in the work of anybody listed above have the potential to influence the project negatively.
Enclosurist and the topic of building enclosures
It was easy to decide on the topic of this website, but it was tough to identify the audience. We want to create resources that will enable people to make better building enclosures, but as it turns out, there is not just one group that does this.
So many people…
“Perhaps only focus on architects,” we thought, but what about the Owners or Facility Managers that are crucial in setting the basis of design and, more importantly, responsible for the long term maintenance of their enclosures. They also lack much needed educational resources.
What about young Construction Managers who know everything about budgeting, Gantt charts, and logistics yet little about window flashing and curtain walls? “Learning on the job” I hear you say. Do you want them to learn on your job?
What about Commissioning Agents who are often familiar with HVAC systems but with limited experience of enclosure related issues?
What about the fact that most Enclosure consultants come from the engineering fields… Plenty from Civil Engineering! I ask you Civil?!
The list goes on…
Therefore “Enclosurists”
While the majority of people reading this blog are architects, engineers or designers involved in the enclosure design or consulting field, we came up with a word that would not exclude others who also play a crucial role in the process.
In addition to our honorable inclusionary impulses, we also grew tired of typing “architects, engineers, or designers involved in the enclosure design or consulting field”.
We thought the word Enclosurist brings the idea across and would be much more comfortable to type.
Conclusion
So an Enclosurist is anybody who is primarily and professionally involved in the design, evaluation, construction, maintenance, or commissioning of building enclosures. The definition will likely change over time.
Stay tuned (or tell us below what you think)
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Bonus Content: Who can call themselves an Enclosurist?
Excellent question, and one we are happy to answer.
The title Enclosurist is a unique and novel title, and owning it will open multiple doors (front and back) in both industry and academia.
We designed a unique training program that you can complete in-person or online. Once you enroll, we will send you the 1,250-page reference manual and 75-page practice manual to prepare for your exam. Flashcards, apps, and other study aids are available for an additional fee.
Once you pass the exam (taken at our three special testing centers conveniently not located in your town), you can proudly and publically call yourself a Certified Enclosurist TM for a year. You can also join or exclusive Facebook and LinkedIn groups to network with like-minded individuals.
During the first 12 months, we require you to complete 350 continuing training units through our online portal (just because we know how quickly you forgot the content you crammed into your head the night before the exam, and we want to make sure the community is protected from your incompetence). Training units are $75 each.
Since this is a new program and the content in the books is mostly plagiarized, (and half baked) you can enroll as part of our Beta cohort. (Alpha just sounded a little too aggressive). Beta cohort membership is limited to a handful of early adopters (visionaries, we like to say).
Beta Cohort Visionaries also pay a reduced fee for consulting with our in-house experts who are always available to try and figure out what we were attempting to say in the reference manual. (Especially helpful when clients give you the “Whatca talkin’ bout” look).
The introductory fee to enroll as a Beta Cohort Visionary is $1,850.00 for the course. The exam fee is set by the testing center and out of our control. Call your nearest center for pricing, but take a seat when you call.
Enclosurist is not a title, qualification, or certification, so don’t put it on your business card. Here at the Building Enclosure Blog we are more concerned about giving you the information you need in a format you want so that you can build on the experience you have.
Disclaimer: Somebody is going to ask me about the Certification described above. While we do not oppose Certification/Accreditation or paid training programs in general, there is no desire at this time to formalize the Enclosurist as a program. I would, however, be happy to take your money if you need help with that.
