Enhancements to WELL

The WELL Building Standard (WELL Standard) undergoes regular maintenance to ensure the rigor, feasibility and impact of the program. During this process, IWBI publishes changes that aim to clarify language, streamline the WELL program, enable projects to pursue novel pathways and more. The vast majority of changes made to the WELL Standard are intended to present language more clearly, based on feedback received from the WELL community. Occasionally, and often based on new evidence, we make more substantive adjustments to the program that impact the way that a feature is implemented, documented or evaluated.

We consider multiple streams of input when determining what changes to make to the WELL Standard. We learn from projects implementing the WELL program in spaces around the world; listen to input from IWBI advisors and working groups; stay abreast of evolving research, standards and best practices; and are in constant conversation with the WELL community to understand how the WELL program can be more rigorous, feasible and impactful.

This feedback is considered by IWBI’s Standard Development Team and, before changes are approved and incorporated, all proposals go through a rigorous internal review process.

You can find a detailed change log here.

Q2 2025 Addenda Overview

Program Guidebook:

• We expanded the scope of Enterprise subscription to allow real estate clients that enroll all of their managed properties (even if this subset does not constitute their entire legal entity) to be eligible for the WELL Score and other Enterprise benefits.

Performance Verification Guidebook:

• We removed the requirement that devices must be dark calibrated for each measurement. Instead they can be calibrated when they’re powered on and before taking the first measurement. This change aims to greatly streamline and simplify on-site testing procedures for lighting parameters.

• To ensure proper distribution of samples in WELL Core projects pursuing A01 and A05, we revised the guidance related to sample quantities. Instead of requiring that 50% of samples be taken in leased space, projects now calculate the required number of samples from non-leased spaces first and then allocate the remaining quantity in leased space.

WELL Standard:

Scope reduced:

• N10 Part 1: We removed the requirement that the provided utensils must be reusable, which improves flexibility and implementability of this strategy. Projects must still supply non-plastic plates, bowls, and cups.

• S02 Part 1: We removed the threshold for C-weighted L10 measurements (LC10) since the three remaining metrics in this feature part (LA10, LAeq, LCeq) can sufficiently characterize the noise levels in a space. This change simplifies the process for collecting on-site measurements and was informed by additional feedback from the Performance Testing Agent community and the Sound Advisory.

• L08 Part 1: In the requirements for circulation areas, we aligned with the newest version of the IES reference standard by slightly reducing the stringency of two metrics for color quality, making this strategy easier to achieve.

New pathway available:

• C06 Part 5: Projects can now include eldercare as one of four required health benefits offerings.

• X07 Parts 1 and 3: Projects can now leverage third party material ingredient disclosure through C2C Circularity in addition to other programs already listed.

• X10 Part 1: Projects can now leverage CEPA Certification as valid pest management credential for third-party vendors in addition to other programs already listed.

• X11 Part 1: Projects can now leverage providers certified through the British Institute of Cleaning Science to achieve option 2.

• I05: Projects can now leverage Florida Green Building Certification and the Brasil Condominio Standard to achieve the Green Building Rating System requirements.

• Gateways to the Health-Safety Rating: Projects can now leverage the NABERS Indoor Environment Certificate and Report (minimum of 4 stars) to achieve innovation points in the WELL Health-Safety Rating. Projects utilizing this program are ineligible to pursue SA4: Monitor Air and Water Quality.

Strategies:

• L08.2 Equivalency: Projects located in Europe can now utilize the European eco-design directive 2009/125/EC to satisfy the flicker requirements.

• V05.1 Equivalencies: Projects located in Europe and Japan can now utilize the ILS Walkability metric and the Japanese Walkability Index, respectively, in lieu of WalkScore which is primarily a US-based index.

• C13.1 Alternative Adherence Path: Projects can earn credit for this strategy by demonstrating achievement of the Todo Accessible Distinctive A program at the Silver, Gold or Magenta levels.

Clarifications:

• C02 Part 1: We restructured language to better clarify the requirements and to guide projects to hosting an impactful charrette that identifies specific goals.

• We added two new glossary terms covering office spaces and industrial spaces:

  • Office space: An open or enclosed area within a building where commercial and/or professional activities take place such as administrative and/or technical activities, internal and/or external meetings, and/or collaborative work. Office spaces are found in many types of buildings, including hospitals, multifamily residences, manufacturing facilities and schools.
    -Industrial space: A building or area within a building that accommodates manufacturing, production, fabrication, sorting and/or storage of goods.

How can my project or organization use updated feature language?

If you’re looking to leverage newer language for a specific WELL feature, simply make a note in your documentation submission. To benefit from a more streamlined user experience and smoother documentation reviews, consider upgrading your entire account to a newer version. Explore our tutorial to get started or reach out to IWBI via your Support Tab in the WELL platform.

Questions?
Want to learn more about these changes? Contact our support team via your Support Tab in the WELL platform. Customers who are not yet enrolled in WELL programs (WELL) may contact us by filling out this form.