WELL Tip: Contracting with a WELL Performance Testing Organization

WELL Performance Verification is a hallmark of WELL Certification and differentiates the WELL Building Standard (WELL) from other building certification programs. The Performance Verification step in the WELL Certification process ensures that WELL Certified buildings are indeed performing to their stated design specifications and the rigorous health and wellness requirements of the WELL Building Standard.

In 2018, IWBI and GBCI, the third-party certification body for WELL, debuted updates to Performance Verification by introducing the WELL Performance Testing Agent and WELL Performance Testing Organization. On-site performance testing can be conducted by WELL Performance Testing Agents who are employed by a WELL Performance Testing Organization.

As part of this new pathway to WELL Certification, GBCI facilitates WELL Performance Testing Agent trainings around the globe. Individuals learn performance testing methodologies, how to execute on-site performance tests and where to submit test results and data (e.g., equipment types, raw data collected, photographs of testing locations).

While GBCI remains the sole provider of on-site testing for WELL v1 projects, WELL v2 projects have the option to contract directly with an approved WELL Performance Testing Organization to conduct on-site testing as part of Performance Verification. This option was inspired by feedback from the WELL community ahead of the launch of the WELL v2 pilot. The introduction of the WELL Performance Testing Organization and WELL Performance Testing Agent were born of the desire to provide WELL v2 projects with the option to contract locally, potentially reducing the lead time and cost associated with on-site testing.

What is a WELL Performance Testing Organization and a WELL Performance Testing Agent?

A WELL Performance Testing Organization is an organization that employs trained WELL Performance Testing Agents, has a quality management plan that has been approved by GBCI, employs at least one WELL AP and agrees to GBCI’s terms and conditions.

A WELL Performance Testing Agent is an individual who has attended a WELL Performance Testing Agent training, is employed by an approved WELL Performance Testing Organization and thereby approved to conduct on-site performance testing for WELL v2 projects. WELL Performance Testing Agents must be employed by a WELL Performance Testing Organization to conduct on-site performance testing for WELL projects.

Can all WELL projects contract with a WELL Performance Testing Organization?

WELL v1 projects must contract with GBCI for on-site testing. WELL v2 projects and WELL Portfolio clients are encouraged to contract with a WELL Performance Testing Organization to provide on-site testing. There is no on-site testing required for projects pursuing the WELL Health-Safety Rating for Facility Operations and Management.

What are the benefits of contracting with a WELL Performance Testing Organization?

• Streamlined communication due to familiarity with local dialect and code.
• Increased availability and flexibility with scheduling of initial on-site testing and re-testing.
• Improved timelines given WELL Performance Testing Agents can retest until results that meet requirements are achieved, submitting only acceptable results to GBCI for review.
• Decreased environmental impacts associated with international travel.
• Stimulation and growth of local economies.
• Expanded opportunities for clients to use the same WELL Performance Testing Organization and Agents for multiple projects.

At what point in the certification process does my project team need to determine whether GBCI or a WELL Performance Testing Organization will conduct on-site testing?

All projects are different and may decide to contract with a WELL Performance Testing Organization at different phases of the WELL Certification process. The sooner you can determine who will conduct on-site testing for your project, the better. Projects are encouraged to decide who will conduct their on-site testing prior to the time of documentation submission and no later than the anticipated date for the return of documentation submission review.

Projects that have already built out a custom scorecard prior to registration may already know what optimizations their project is pursuing and select their Performance Testing Organization at the time of registration. Contracting during this phase will help projects gather all the costs associated with the WELL Certification process up front. This approach also allows teams to identify which features they would like to conduct pre-testing for, if any. For more information on pre-testing, discover our pre-testing best practices.

Other projects may have a work-in-progress schedule where their custom scorecard is frequently evolving. In this case, projects may decide to contract their Performance Testing Organization closer to their estimated testing date. Use this timeline estimator to help estimate the WELL Certification timeline for your project.

I have a WELL v2 project and would like to engage a local Performance Testing Organization. What steps do I need to take?

Approved WELL Performance Testing Organizations are listed on IWBI’s Performance Testing page. You can search for organizations in your region and use the contact information provided to reach out to the Performance Testing Organization directly. It is recommended to provide the Performance Testing Organization with basic info of your project, including:

• Project name, size and location
• Targeted achievement level (e.g., Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum)
• Scorecard (if available)
• Current phase of project (e.g., pre-registration, registration, documentation submission, documentation review)
• Preferred certification achievement date
• Proposed testing dates
• Anticipated dates for completion of construction and occupancy
• Any AAPs or EPs that the project is using

WELL v2 projects work and contract directly with WELL Performance Testing Organizations to negotiate fees. IWBI and GBCI do not have any involvement in the cost or contract details. Teams should work directly with the WELL Performance Testing Organization of their choice to coordinate and schedule on-site testing.

If on-site testing has indicated that some requirements are not being met, can the Performance Testing Agent let the project team know in real-time?

Yes, if a WELL Performance Testing Agent conducts an on-site test and determines that the result of that on-site test does not meet the requirements of that feature/part, they can report that result to the project team and organize re-testing.

To avoid a conflict of interest, the WELL Performance Testing Agent may not advise or consult with the project to recommend mitigation tactics related to curative action. Re-testing may be conducted until passing results are achieved. The WELL Performance Testing Agent is only required to report passing results, noting failed attempts and what corrective action was taken by the project team. Projects are responsible for any costs associated with follow-up testing required for re-testing. For advice on curative action, project teams can reach out for WELL coaching support via the support tab of their WELL digital platform account.

Where can I find information about approved WELL Performance Testing Organizations?

A list of approved WELL Performance Testing Organizations can be found here. Organizations are added to the directory as they become approved and pay their enrollment fee.

WELL Performance Testing Agents may subcontract various on-site tests, but the WELL Performance Testing Agent of record must be present to supervise and sign off on all performance testing activities and is responsible for all performance data submitted to GBCI for review.

WELL Performance Testing Agents must not have a conflict of interest (COI) with the WELL Certification for the project. Generally, a COI is a situation in which an individual has competing professional or personal interests on any given WELL project. Such situations include:

• Professional: Decisions may be influenced by competing professional obligations, for example, having both a role on a project team and being the assigned WELL Performance Testing Agent.
• Financial: Decisions may be influenced by financial gain or potential business opportunity.
• Legal: Decisions may be influenced by liability risks.
• Ethical: Decisions may be influenced by reasons other than compliance with the required standards.

Still have questions about whether contracting with a WELL Performance Testing Organization is right for your project? Reach out to WELL coaching support via the support tab of your WELL digital platform account or email us at PTAgents@wellcertified.com.