Thirty years ago, a glass engineer was a person who knew which coatings existed. Today the role requires structural reasoning, thermal modelling, fire strategy and a working knowledge of factory tolerances. It is finally being recognised as a discipline.
What the six have in common
All six came through fabrication rather than architecture, and all six said the same thing: factory reality is what taught them. Several now teach. Two are writing standards.
The professional gap
There is no universally recognised qualification. The nearest equivalents are national engineering registers that do not contemplate a glass specialist. Until that closes, employers are hiring on instinct.
What it will take
A syllabus, a professional body, and a client base that asks for certification the way it asks for chartered engineer status. All three are closer than they were.
