Sector: Building Enclosure

Market Overview: The building enclosure, also called the building envelope, is the outer structure of a building, which separates the interior of the building from the outdoors. It keeps moisture, winds, and pests out while keeping conditioned (heated/cooled) air inside. As a result, the building enclosure is essential for maintaining the interior comfort and health of occupants.

For an exterior wall, the enclosure typically includes all building components from the interior surface of the wall (drywall/gypsum wallboard) outward to the exterior surface/façade of the building, including windows and doors. For foundations, building components extend from the interior surface of the foundation wall and floor/concrete slab outward to the foundation insulation and soil.

The way buildings are constructed varies, but as an example, here are the common building enclosure components of an exterior wall. Starting from the exterior of a building, the outermost layer is the rain-screen/cladding/siding layer, which keeps out most rain or bulk water from entering the building. Commonly, some wind-driven water will get past, but the next layers stop it: exterior (board-type) insulation and/or the weather/vapor/air barrier that is attached to the sheathing or concrete block.

Next is wood or steel wall framing, which supports the sheathing. Facilities manufacturing the components of this framing are vast and not included on BuildingClean.org. The cavities of the framed wall are filled with insulation and are finally topped by drywall/gypsum wallboard to provide the interior surface of the exterior wall. This is the last layer of the building enclosure.

BuildingClean.org has separate sectors on roofing, insulation, joint sealants, and windows, doors, and skylights that together with the building enclosure listings represent U.S. manufacturing in this important building concept.

It is only relatively recently and due to significant improvements in technology that have resulted in many cross-over products that the building enclosure concept has begun to drive construction and design. The linkage with occupant health through mold prevention and keeping out pollution and pests has brought even more visibility on the importance of what's called a "tight" envelope to keep both the structure and its occupants sound.

Company Location
3M Corporation St. Paul, Minnesota
3M Corporation Cottage Grove, Minnesota
3M Industrial Adhesives and Tapes Division Hutchinson, Minnesota
3M Industrial Adhesives and Tapes Division Springfield, Missouri
A&J Industries, LLC Uxbridge, Massachusetts
A-1 Block Corporation Orlando, Florida
A. C. Krebs Company Louisville, Kentucky
A. Duchini, Inc. Erie, Pennsylvania
A. Jandris & Sons Gardner, Massachusetts
AARA Architectural Metals Mesa, Arizona
ABC Polymer Industries Helena, Alabama
ABC Seamless Omaha, Nebraska
ABC Seamless Fargo, North Dakota
Accella Polyurethane Systems Maryland Heights, Missouri
ACM Chemistries Inc. Norcross, Georgia
Acme Brick Sealy, Texas
Acme Brick Malakoff, Texas
Acme Brick Tulsa, Oklahoma
Acme Brick Denton, Texas
Acme Brick Fort Worth, Texas
Acme Brick Bennett, Texas
Acme Brick Leeds, Alabama
Acme Brick Elgin, Texas
Acme Brick Jonesboro, Arkansas
Acme Brick Montgomery, Alabama
Acme Brick Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Acme Brick Malvern, Arkansas
Acme Brick Malvern, Arkansas
Acme Cone Company Eugene, Oregon
Acrylux Paint Manufacturing Company Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Acrymax Technologies, Inc. Media, Pennsylvania
Active Ventilation Products, Inc. Newburgh, New York
Adams Products Greensboro, North Carolina
Adams Products Rockwood, Tennessee
Adams Products Dunn, North Carolina
Adams Products Morrisville, North Carolina
Adams Products Castle Hayne, North Carolina
Adams Products Asheville, North Carolina
Adams Products Inman, South Carolina
Adams Products Colfax, North Carolina
Adams Products Franklin, North Carolina
Adams Products Cowpens, South Carolina
Adams Products Holly Hill, South Carolina
Adfors North Charleston, South Carolina
Adfors Grand Island, New York
Adfors Albion, New York
Adlam Films Shannon, Mississippi
Advanced Aluminum of Polk County, Inc. Lakeland, Florida
Advanced Architectural Sheet Metal & Supply Shelby, Michigan
Advanced Architectural Stone (AAS) Fort Worth, Texas