For architects, the design process is all about precision — creating spaces that are not only functional and beautiful but also high-performing. Today, performance modeling tools make it possible to predict how a building should behave in terms of energy efficiency, comfort, and indoor air quality. But as any experienced architect knows, what’s modeled on paper doesn’t always play out as expected on-site.
That’s the real risk.
Whether it’s an airtight building envelope, efficient HVAC system, or durable window assembly, the assumptions that underpin your design must be validated in the real world. If they’re not, the performance gaps can compromise your reputation, disrupt certification goals, and leave clients disappointed.
That’s where air tightness testing services come in — and where a trusted partner like Enforma, in partnership with Finesse can help you align your architectural intent with measurable, verifiable results.
The Risk of the Performance Gap
When you model a high-performance building — Passive House, LEED, or BC Energy Step Code-compliant — the numbers look great. Energy consumption is low, comfort is high, and operational costs are manageable. But if construction doesn’t precisely follow the details of your specifications, the real-world performance can diverge dramatically from what was modeled.
Air leakage is one of the biggest culprits behind this gap. Even minor deviations in how an air barrier is installed can lead to measurable performance failures. That’s why Whole Building Air Tightness Testing is one of the most valuable quality assurance tools available to architects.
Enforma and Finesse Testing specialize in air tightness testing and commissioning services for large buildings — including multi-family residential, mixed-use, and commercial projects. By validating your air barrier design during and after construction, we help ensure your design performance assumptions hold up in practice.
Test Early, Reduce Risk
Testing isn’t just for the end of the project. Mid-construction air tightness testing is a strategic way to verify that the air barrier system is being installed correctly while there’s still time to make corrections. By catching leaks or inconsistencies early, you avoid costly rework and ensure the envelope is performing to spec before finishes go up.
This not only reduces risk — it increases your confidence as an architect. You can stand behind your design knowing it’s being executed as intended.
Aligning with Compliance and Certification
As energy efficiency standards continue to rise, more projects are subject to strict performance-based targets. Architects are often the ones modeling and specifying performance targets to meet programs like:
- BC Energy Step Code
- Passive House
- LEED
- Built Green Canada
- BC Housing Projects
But modeling alone won’t get a project across the finish line. WE help bridge the gap with whole building and diagnostic testing that confirms the building meets compliance thresholds — ensuring your design assumptions translate to actual performance.
Duct and Water Testing: Mitigating Unseen Risks
Unsealed ducts can severely compromise indoor air quality and energy use — two things architects often account for in their performance modeling. Enforma’s Duct Testing ensures HVAC systems are properly sealed and operating efficiently, so you can trust that modeled energy savings are being delivered.
Similarly, Water Penetration Testing of windows and doors (based on ASTM E1105) ensures that envelope components meet your performance expectations under simulated wind-driven rain. Preventing water ingress is critical not only to protect interiors but also to preserve your design’s long-term integrity.
From Model to Measurable: The Architect’s Advantage
As an architect, your reputation depends on how well your design vision performs once it’s built. Air tightness testing, system commissioning, and envelope diagnostics are the tools that turn performance assumptions into assurances.
With Enforma/Finesses as your testing partners, you gain a direct line between your design model and real-world outcomes. That means minimized performance risk, verified compliance, and the ability to confidently meet — or exceed — energy and sustainability goals.
In a world where building performance is under the microscope, aligning your design intent with proven outcomes isn’t just good practice — it’s essential.