Manufacturer's guide to WELL

Reference the guide below to learn more about the features within each WELL concept that are relevant to the selection and production of furniture, flooring and other building materials. This guide also provides a comparison between WELL v1 and WELL v2 Pilot as well as between WELL v2 Pilot and WELL v2 to demonstrate the even greater opportunities for your product with the more recent iterations of our standard.

Please note that WELL requirements cover the performance of materials, not the performance of the individual products or brands. Products that can be used to satisfy the WELL performance criteria can only contribute toward earning points for WELL Certification; they cannot be said to earn points toward WELL Certification on their own.

We value the input and participation of manufacturers in supporting our shared mission to advance healthier people through better spaces.

FURNITURE & FLOORING MANUFACTURERS

WELL v1

• AIR
  • Preconditions:
    • Feature 4 VOC Reduction, part 3, 5
      To minimize the effect of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in building materials on indoor air quality, this feature outlines VOC emissions requirements for furniture and furnishings.​​
    • Feature 11 Fundamental Material Safety, part 1
      To reduce or eliminate occupant exposure to hazardous materials, this feature outlines restrictions and abatement strategies pertaining to lead, asbestos and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
  • Optimizations:
    • Feature 25 Toxic Material Reduction, parts 1-3, 5
      To minimize the impact of hazardous building material chemicals on indoor air quality and support the health of manufacturing and maintenance workers, this feature outlines limitations or restrictions on ingredients such as perfluorinated compounds, flame retardants, phthalate (plasticizers), isocyanate-based polyurethane and urea-formaldehyde.
    • Feature 26 Enhanced Material Safety, part 1
      To minimize the impact of hazardous building material ingredients on indoor air quality and help support health manufacturing and maintenance workers, this feature outlines requirements for voluntary product screening programs for 25% of all furnishings, built-in furniture, interior finishes and finish materials (calculated by cost).
    • Feature 28 Cleanable Environment, part 1-2
      To reduce occupant exposure to pathogens on high-touch surfaces, this feature outlines requirements for material properties and cleanability.

• LIGHT
  • Optimizations:
    • Feature 59 Surface Design
      To increase overall room brightness through reflected light from room surfaces and avoiding glare, this feature outlines requirements for light reflectance values (LRV) for ceilings, walls and furniture systems.

• FITNESS
  • Optimizations:
    • Feature 71 Active Furnishings
      To reduce sedentary behavior by making active workstations readily available to occupants, this feature outlines requirements to incorporate active workstations and standing desks.

• COMFORT
  • Preconditions:
    • Feature 73 Ergonomics: Visual and Physical, part 2
      To reduce physical strain and maximize ergonomics and safety, this feature outlines requirements for screen, desk and seat flexibility, including the provision of at least 30% of workstations with the ability to alternate between sitting and standing positions through various combinations.
  • Optimizations:
    • Feature 80 Sound Reducing Surfaces, part 2c
      To reduce sound reverberation and maintain comfortable sound levels though absorptive ceiling and wall surfaces, this feature outlines requirements for noise reduction coefficients (NRC) for ceilings and walls. Flooring, furniture and furnishings can contribute to spatial acoustic levels.

• MIND
  • Preconditions:
    • Feature 88 Biophilia I: Qualitative, part 2
      To nurture the innate human-nature connection within the project, this feature outlines opportunities for flooring, furniture, furnishings to contribute to overall biophilic design and natural pattern incorporation strategies.
  • Optimizations:
    • Feature 97 Material Transparency
      To promote material transparency along the supply chain, this feature outlines transparency and accessibility to material ingredient exposures.

WELL v2 pilot

• LIGHT
  • Optimizations:
    • Feature L06 Visual Balance, part 1
      To create lighting environments that enhance visual comfort, this feature requires projects to develop and implement strategies that take into account the light sources used in a space and create a visually comfortable lighting environment.

• MOVEMENT
  • Preconditions:
    • Feature V02 Visual and Physical Ergonomics, parts 1 - 4
      To reduce physical strain and injury as well as improve ergonomic comfort, workplace safety and general well-being, this feature requires projects to provide basic ergonomic workstation furnishings for desk- and standing-based workstations and education about workplace risk factors, signs and symptoms of discomfort, ergonomic policies and available furnishings.
  • Optimizations:
    • V07 Active Furnishings, part 1
      To discourage prolonged sitting and sedentary behavior, this feature requires projects to provide occupants access to traditional sit-stand desks and active workstations such as treadmill or cycle desks.

• MATERIALS
  • Preconditions:
    • Feature X01 Fundamental Material Precautions, parts 1 - 3
      To reduce or eliminate human exposure to building materials known to be hazardous, this feature requires the restriction of ingredient components in newly installed building materials, specifically the restriction of asbestos, mercury-containing lamps and lead in plumbing products and paint.
  • Optimizations:
    • Feature X08 Hazardous Material Reduction, part 1
      To reduce or eliminate exposure to hazardous heavy metals and phthalates found in building materials, this feature requires the restriction of heavy metals in various building materials and products, including furniture and furnishings and electrical components.
    • Feature X10 Volatile Compound Reduction, parts 1 - 3
      To minimize the impact of hazardous volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds (VOCs and SVOCs) on indoor air quality, this feature requires the restriction of hazardous VOC and SVOC compounds, halogenated flame retardants (HFRs), urea-formaldehyde and select phthalates commonly used in building materials and products.
    • Feature X13 Enhanced Material Precaution, part 1
      To minimize the impact of hazardous building material ingredients on indoor air quality, protect the environment, protect the health of workers and help support the demand for safer chemical alternatives, this feature requires screening and labeling of products in accordance with programs such as Declare: Living Building Challenge Compliant and Cradle to Cradle Certified™ that restrict the use of hazardous ingredient contents in materials and products.
    • Feature X14 Material Transparency, part 1
      To promote material transparency across building material and product supply chains, this feature requires the compilation and availability of product descriptions, with ingredients evaluated and disclosed down to 1,000 ppm, through transparency labels.

• MIND
  • Preconditions:
    • Feature M02 Access to Nature
      To support occupant well-being, this feature requires the integration of nature into the project’s interior and exterior through design elements that support direct access with nature using plants, water, light and views, and indirect access to nature using natural materials, patterns, colors or images.
  • Optimizations:
    • Feature M07 Restorative Spaces
      To support mental health, this feature requires projects to provide spaces that promote a restorative environment and encourage relief from mental fatigue and stress. This includes consideration of criteria such as seating arrangements that accommodate a range of user preferences and the use of calming colors, textures and forms.
    • Feature M11: Sleep Support, part 1
      To support healthy, restorative and consistent sleep habits among occupants, this feature requires projects to support employee sleep through policies, education and resources to improve sleep hygiene as well as provide opportunities to take short naps during the day. This includes the incorporation of furniture options such as a bed or daybed, couch, cushioned roll-out mat, sleep pod, fully reclining chair or hammock.

WELL v2

• AIR
  • Optimizations
    • Feature A09 Pollution Infiltration Management, Part 1
      To reduce the introduction of pollutants into indoor air through the building envelope and at building entrances, this feature requires the use and maintenance of an entryway system.

• LIGHT
  • Optimizations
    • Feature L07 Visual Balance, part 1
      To create lighting environments that enhance visual comfort, this feature requires that the ambient lighting meet certain parameters for visual balance or that a lighting professional follows best practices for visual balance when designing the lighting within a space.

• MOVEMENT
  • Preconditions
    • Feature V02 Ergonomic Workstation Design, parts 1 - 4
      To reduce the risk of physical strain on the body, this feature requires the provision of ergonomic workstation furnishings to accommodate all users, that support neutral body positions for seated and standing work and provide opportunities to alternate between seated and standing positions.
  • Optimizations
    • Feature V07 Active Furnishings, part 1
      To encourage movement and postural breaks and discourage prolonged sitting or standing at stationary workstations, this feature requires the provision of ample active workstations such as a sit-stand or treadmill desk.

• THERMAL COMFORT
  • Optimizations
    • Feature T04 Individual Thermal Control, parts 1 - 2
      To maximize and personalize thermal comfort among all individuals in a space, this feature requires the provision of individual thermal control devices.

• MATERIALS
  • Preconditions
    • Feature X01 Material Restrictions, parts 1 - 3
      To reduce or eliminate human exposure to hazardous building materials, this feature requires the restriction of widely known hazardous ingredients, namely asbestos, mercury and lead, in newly installed building materials or applied products.
  • Optimizations
    • Feature X05 Enhanced Material Restrictions, parts 1 - 2
      To minimize the exposure to certain chemicals, this feature requires restricting chemicals found in products commonly installed in buildings, such as textiles, plastics, electrical and electronic products, flooring, insulation, ceiling and wall panels and plastic plumbing.
    • Feature X06 VOC Restrictions, parts 1 - 2
      To minimize the impact of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by products on indoor air quality, this feature requires adherence to emission thresholds for materials placed inside the building envelope.
    • Feature X07 Materials Transparency, parts 1 - 3
      To promote material transparency across building material and product supply chain, this feature requires the compilation and availability of product descriptions, with ingredients evaluated and disclosed through transparency programs.
    • Feature X08 Materials Optimization, parts 1 - 2
      To promote the selection of products that have been audited to minimize impacts on human and environmental health, this feature requires screening and labeling of products in accordance with programs that audit and restrict the use of hazardous ingredient contents in materials and products.

• MIND
  • Preconditions
    • Feature M02 Nature and Place, part 1
      To support occupant well-being, this feature requires the integration of the natural environment throughout the project.
  • Optimizations
    • Feature M06 Restorative Opportunities, part 2
      To support employee well-being and encourage a healthy work-life balance, this feature requires the provision of opportunities and space for recovery and restoration.
    • Feature M07 Restorative Spaces, part 1
      To alleviate mental fatigue and stress, this feature requires the provision of spaces that promote a restorative environment and encourage relief from mental fatigue and stress.

• COMMUNITY
  • Optimizations
    • Feature C09 New Mother Support, part 2
      To encourage and support breastfeeding, this feature requires the provision of dedicated lactation rooms with supportive design and amenities.

CONTRIBUTING FEATURE SET
Separate to WELL features with explicit requirements for product specifications, furniture and flooring can also contribute to the achievement of several other WELL features. Below is a list of features where furniture and flooring products can indirectly support the achievement beyond the previously listed feature set.

WELL v1

• AIR
  • Preconditions:
    • Feature 1 Air Quality Standards, part 1
      To promote a basic level of high indoor air quality, this feature outlines performance-based thresholds for several categories of air pollutants. Material selection within flooring, furniture and furnishing can contribute to overall indoor air quality.

• MIND
  • Preconditions:
    • Feature 99 Beauty and Design II
      To promote occupant comfort and spatial familiarity, this feature outlines requirements for ceiling height, artwork and spatial familiarity. Furniture and flooring can contribute to these overall strategies.

• INNOVATION
  • Feature 101 to 105 Innovations
    To promote the continuous evolution of the standard by enabling projects to propose a new feature that addresses health and wellness in a novel way.

WELL v2 pilot

WELL v2

• AIR
  • Feature A01 Air Quality, part 2
    • To provide a basic level of indoor air quality that contributes to the health and well-being of building users, this feature requires acceptable air quality levels through performance-based thresholds for air pollutants as determined by public health authorities. Material selection within flooring, furniture and furnishing can impact overall indoor air quality.
  • Feature A05 Enhanced Air Quality, part 2
    • To encourage and recognize buildings with enhanced levels of indoor air quality that promote the health and well-being of people, this feature requires going above current guidelines and outlines enhanced thresholds for air pollutants. Material selection within flooring, furniture and furnishing can impact overall indoor air quality.

• INNOVATION
  • Feature I01 Innovate WELL, part 1
    • To promote the continuous evolution of WELL, this feature encourages the proposal of new strategies that address health and well-being in a novel way.

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Does your product meet the requirements of WELL features? Please review the below excerpts from our trademark guidelines before creating marketing or promotional materials.

Logos on product packaging
The International WELL Building InstituteTM (“IWBITM”) does not review, certify or endorse products. As such, trademarked logos may not be used to indicate any kind of endorsement by IWBI of any product or service, to indicate that any official status for any product or service has been conferred by, or is otherwise associated with IWBI. Logos may not be placed on product packaging under any circumstances.

Referencing the WELL Building Standard in product literature
Manufacturers may reference the WELL Building Standard in their product literature, provided that the language does not state or imply endorsement by IWBI or the WELL Building Standard. The language must clearly acknowledge that WELL requirements cover the performance of materials, not the performance of the individual products or brands. Products that can be used to satisfy the WELL performance criteria can only contribute toward earning points required for WELL Certification; they cannot be said to earn points toward WELL Certification on their own.

DO SAY:

• Product ‘A’ contributes toward satisfying Feature # under the WELL Building Standard®

DON’T SAY:

• Product ‘A’ is WELL Certified, qualified, compliant, accredited, approved.
• "WELL Certified Product”
• Product ‘A’ meets, satisfies, fulfills, complies with Feature #.

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Interested in aligning with WELL? Become an IWBI member to demonstrate your commitment to wellness and elevate your brand with recognition at industry events, shoutouts on our website and more.