Stay up to date on the key enhancements to WELL in the Q1 2022 Addenda

Access the Q1 2022 Addenda toolkit.

This quarter, the WELL Addenda includes updates driven by IWBI’s latest program — the WELL Performance Rating. Because WELL ratings are a subset of WELL v2 features, you’ll see a number of changes reflected in the WELL v2 and the WELL Performance Verification Guidebook to ensure they remain seamlessly integrated and support project teams in scaling their commitments over time.

The WELL Performance Rating is a roadmap for leveraging building performance data and occupant experience insights to shift business performance and organizational culture. Performance measurements cover air, light and water quality as well as thermal and acoustic comfort. Surveys connect building performance with the experience of the people inside, so organizations can make informed decisions for their employees and business. Learn more about the rating requirements, pricing, journey and how you can take the first step on our landing page.

Important metrics

• WELL v2 = 82
• WELL Health-Safety Rating = 6
• Guidebooks & Tools = 19
• Strategies = 13
• AAPs = 19
• Equivalencies = 13

WELL Addenda Highlights

WELL v2
Changes driven by the WELL Performance Rating include:

• New continuous monitoring pathways for several features (A01, A03, A05, A06) supported by a new verification method called “Sensor Data.”
  • Some features allow projects to submit documentation from a traditional performance test OR sensor.
• A05: Enhanced Air Quality, Part 2. The list of speciated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was revised slightly to allow projects to measure EITHER Acrylonitrile or Caprolactam. This eases the testing burden on project teams, WELL Performance Testing Agents and labs.
• A08: Air Quality Monitoring and Awareness. We reduced the density of displays needed to meet this feature from one per 3,500 to one per 5,400 ft2 [325 to 500 m2].
• T01: Thermal Performance. Temperature and humidity data coverage was reduced from six months to one month. This change makes this strategy more accessible to new construction projects and aligns with the timing used in other features.

Other changes include:

• I06β: Carbon Accounting: ACR is now an acceptable carbon accounting and/or offsetting schema for Part 4: Carbon Neutral.
• Nourishment Optimization Features: WELL Core projects with food service tenants may use this tenant space to earn points toward Nourishment optimizations (N03, N04, N05, N06, N09, N11, N14β) so long as the Nourishment preconditions are also achieved within that space.
• W04: Enhanced Water Quality: Due to global challenges in finding qualified labs that routinely test for sulfide, this parameter was removed. Notably, this parameter would rarely be found at elevated levels in isolation of other parameters tested in this feature.
• X11: Cleaning Products and Protocols: A new pathway was added allowing projects to utilize a pre-approved cleaning provider to achieve Part 1 of this feature without documenting their cleaning plan. Current accepted providers include those certified by either Green Seal Standard for Commercial and Institutional Cleaning Services or GBAC STAR Service Accreditation Program. Project teams may submit an equivalency proposal to have other programs considered.

Performance Verification Guidebook

• For the Water Concept, accreditation criteria now includes third-party labs that meet ISO 17025-2017 by an accreditation body authorized by the local government.
• The guidebook now includes a section covering technical sensor specifications. Some specifications have been removed from feature language into the guidebook. Highlighted changes include:
  • Established that initial certification requirements for projects utilizing sensor-based verification pathways requires passing thresholds over one calendar month while renewal requires compliance over one year.
  • Expanded guidance on monitor density based on project size
  • Added more guidance on where to place monitors while remaining flexible (e.g., consider HVAC zones, faces of a building, occupied space types)
  • Added guidance on placement of ceiling monitors
  • Aligned all sensor reporting frequencies to 15 minutes (except radon which remains one hourly due to sensor limitations in the market)
  • Clarified that field calibration processes are allowed to accommodate for monitoring companies that don’t implement a traditional calibration model (annual send in for servicing, swappable sensors) a pathway to meet WELL requirements
  • Aligned thermal comfort and air compliance calculations to 90% of data during occupied hours must meet thresholds

Alternative Strategies

• WELL Performance Rating and WELL v2 projects are eligible to submit an alternative adherence path demonstrating implementation of continuous monitoring for any feature that does not currently offer a sensor-based verification pathway.
• C02 Integrative Design. During public health emergencies, natural disasters or other emergencies that restrict occupants from entering or utilizing the space, projects may defer stakeholder tours until a later date when it is deemed safe to re-enter the building.
• C015β Emergency Resilience and Recovery. Projects may exclude from feature requirements those visitors who will be in the project boundary for less than 15 minutes (on average) provided that the project also meets Feature X12.
• N06: Portion Sizes. Projects which offer broth-based noodle soups (e.g., ramen, pho) in a buffet or other self-service station may offer bowls larger than the listed sizes provided that the size does not exceed 16 fl oz. Bowls larger than 16 fl oz. must be available only near areas where broth-based soups are served and include the appropriate signage regarding their use. This strategy is the result of global collaboration with project teams, WELL coaching contacts, the Standard Development Team and the WELL Nourishment Advisory and acknowledges the cultural practices present in some regions.

WELL Addenda are informed by your feedback and our commitment to improving WELL based on the latest research, technology and best practice. We value your continued input, so if you have any questions, please connect with us via our contact page. Registered projects can reach us via the WELL Support tab in the WELL digital platform.