Building Enclosure

Abuilding enclosure is an environmental separator. It separates the interior environment from the exterior environment. A building enclosure controls heat flow, water vapor flow, rain, groundwater, light and solar radiation, noise and vibrations, contaminants, environmental hazards and odors, insects, rodents and vermin, and fire. A building enclosure provides strength and rigidity and must be durable, aesthetically pleasing and economical.
Note: The enclosure is a special type of environmental separator. Environmental separators also exist within buildings as dividers between spaces with different environmental conditions.