COVID-19 FAQs: Guidance on navigating COVID-19 impacts on WELL projects

In an effort to support our global WELL project teams, we have compiled guidance for navigating potential COVID-19 impacts on a project’s operations and ability to meet WELL Building Standard (WELL) requirements.

Feature Guidance

Q: Can projects comply with Nourishment preconditions, Feature N01: Fruits and Vegetables and N02: Nutritional Transparency, if food and beverage operations are temporarily suspended due to lack of occupancy or COVID-19 restrictions?

A: Yes, projects that have temporarily stopped serving food and/or beverages due to COVID-19 precautions or local health guidance may still comply with Nourishment preconditions.

• For Feature N01 Part 1 in WELL v2 and WELL v2 pilot and Feature 38: Part 1 in WELL v1:
  • Project teams may submit documentation outlining project’s policy regarding the provision of fruits and vegetables that will be in effect once the building is re-occupied or fully operational again. The project team should provide a short narrative about how the project is navigating some temporary changes related to COVID-19 but plans to return to the submitted policy as soon as possible.

• For Feature N01 Part 2 in WELL v2 and WELL v2 pilot and Feature 38: Part 2 in WELL v1:
  • During the on-site performance testing visit, the project team should have a placeholder located where fruits and vegetables are normally or will be located once the building is occupied again. For example, if the project will be providing apples and bananas in a bowl in the kitchen, the project can have a bowl on display with a note that says "apples and bananas to go here upon occupants returning to the building.” The same approach can be taken for the vegetables. Photographs of the placeholders will be captured by the performance testing agent while on site.

• For Feature N02 Part 1 in WELL v2 and WELL v2 pilot and Feature 44 Part 1 in WELL v1:
  • Projects that have an existing contract with a food vendor may submit the language included in the contract confirming compliance with WELL requirements.

• For Feature N02 Part 2 in WELL v2:
  • Projects may comply with the food allergy training requirements by submitting documents outlining the policy as they plan to implement it. For signage, project teams should place the required signage in the location it will be once the building is occupied. Photographs of the signage will be captured by the performance testing agent while on site. Project teams should also provide a narrative explaining the temporary changes related to COVID-19 and the commitment that once the project is occupied, WELL requirements will be restored.

• For Feature N02 Part 3 in WELL v2 and WELL v2 pilot:
  • Project teams can submit their plan for labeling menu items as stated in the WELL feature language and include a narrative explaining the temporary changes related to COVID-19 and the commitment that once the project is occupied, WELL requirements will be restored.

Q: My project is pursuing Nourishment optimizations, but due to COVID-19 impacts, the cafeteria/pantry will be closed for the foreseeable future. Is it still possible to achieve these optimizations?

A: Yes, it is still possible to pursue WELL v2, v2 pilot, and v1 Nourishment optimizations if a project has been impacted by COVID-19. The project team can submit documents outlining the policy as they plan to implement it to achieve the specific feature. Project teams should also provide a narrative explaining the temporary changes related to COVID-19 and the commitment that once the project is occupied, WELL requirements will be restored.

Q: Can projects comply with Feature T02: Verified Thermal Comfort in WELL v2 or T02 Part 1 in WELL v2 pilot if employees are working remotely due to COVID-19?

A: No, if a project has not been occupied due to COVID-19, the project will not be able to comply with this feature. The reason for this being, achievement of Feature T02 depends on project teams demonstrating that thermal satisfaction is consistently achieved within the project through survey results. If the project has been vacated due to the pandemic, these results cannot be obtained. Projects that are unable to pursue this feature during initial certification can consider adding T02 during recertification.

Performance Verification

Q: Can a project progress toward Performance Verification if 50% occupancy (required in accordance with the WELL Certification Guidebook) is not possible for some time due to COVID-19?

A: Yes, a project that will not be able to achieve 50% of the expected occupancy prior to on-site performance testing, due to COVID-19, can still progress toward Performance Verification.

The project team should provide a narrative that includes the current versus full occupancy numbers, for how long the project is expected to be at limited occupancy and any project-specific context as to why the 50% occupancy cannot be met. This narrative should be included as a general document as part of documentation review submission, so that the WELL Reviewer understands the context of the project.

Note: this is relevant for WELL v2 and WELL v2 pilot (excluding multifamily residential and Core projects), WELL v1 New and Existing Buildings, and WELL v1 New and Existing Interiors, where 50% occupancy is a necessary condition to conduct performance testing.

Q: My project is unable to schedule performance testing due to COVID-19 travel, quarantine and/or building access restrictions. Are there other options to continue the WELL journey toward certification?

A: We know that you’re eager to achieve WELL Certification, and we want to do all we can to support you. We will do our best to find a performance testing agent who can conduct performance testing for your project. If the project team submits full WELL documentation and cannot move forward with Performance Verification due to COVID-19 related restrictions, IWBI will provide a complimentary application for the WELL Precertification designation once the final documentation review is approved. Precertification is an interim milestone that can help projects communicate progress toward achieving WELL. We would then continue to work with you to schedule Performance Verification as soon as it is possible. Please reach out through the project’s Support tab in the WELL digital platform to inquire about this opportunity.

Q: Given all of the COVID-19 travel restrictions, could my project use a local performance testing agent to conduct testing?

A: Yes, under WELL v2 pilot and v2, project teams can contract directly with an approved performance testing organization for on-site testing. By locating a WELL Performance Testing Organization in the project’s country or region (see the full list here, located mid-page), the project may be able to schedule on-site testing more quickly.

For v1 projects: GBCI conducts performance testing for WELL v1 projects. If a GBCI performance testing agent is not available in your location due to COVID-19 restrictions, we will work with you to explore other performance testing options. Please reach out through the project’s Support tab in WELL Online.

Q: What is the COVID-19 Release of Liability Form?

A: The COVID-19 Release of Liability Form must be signed if a project would like a GBCI performance testing agent to conduct on-site performance testing. This form was introduced in 2020 in order to resume on site testing during the pandemic and to help ensure that all parties involved take the appropriate measures regarding COVID-19 during on-site testing.

If a project team is contracting directly with another performance testing organization, it is up to that organization to determine that the necessary COVID-19 measures are in place for a safe on-site visit.

Annual Reporting & Recertification

Q: If a building is vacant or has reduced occupancy due to COVID-19, can a project submit required ongoing operational and maintenance feature documentation for annual reporting?

A: Yes, the project team can submit required ongoing operational and maintenance WELL feature documentation for annual reporting for an unoccupied or reduced occupancy space.

We understand that the current pandemic has affected occupancy and operations. Where necessary, the project team should provide a narrative explaining any deviations during the time the building has been unoccupied and the commitment to restore the operational and maintenance procedures and training to WELL requirements once occupied.