Your guide to the Q4 2020 addenda

The first addenda for the second version of the WELL Building Standard (WELL v2) and second for the recently released WELL Health-Safety Rating.

It’s my pleasure to introduce the Q4 2020 addenda, the first addenda for the second version of the WELL Building Standard (WELL v2) and second for the recently released WELL Health-Safety Rating. This article helps guide you to the most pertinent updates for each WELL rating system, including published alternative adherence paths and equivalencies. As always, the addenda process reflects our commitment to evolution and co-creation. Across the board, amendments are informed by the community and go through an extensive review process both internally and with our certification partner - Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI).

Access & download all addenda resources in the Q4 addenda toolkit.

Q4 2020 ADDENDA HIGHLIGHTS

AMENDMENTS

The Q4 2020 addenda includes 26 amendments to the WELL Health-Safety Rating, 31 to WELL v2, 17 to the WELL v2 pilot and 12 amendments to the guidebooks, tools and resources. The amendments largely comprise a series of small language tweaks that were made to align features included in the WELL Health-Safety Rating, WELL v2 and WELL v2 pilot. The Q4 addenda does not include any amendments to WELL v1, WELL v1 pilots or the WELL Community Standard.

WELL Health-Safety Rating

Innovation Features:
- In addition to WELL Health-Safety projects being able to earn three Innovation features for achieving WELL Certification, projects can now earn one Innovation feature for achieving WELL Precertification.
- We added two approved WELL v2 and WELL v2 pilot features to Option 3 from the Movement concept that address active transportation and stair use. These design-based features help projects manage a safe return to the building in two key ways:
  - Limit congestion at elevators by encouraging those who are able to take the stairs.
  - Encourage active transportation and provide an alternative to public transportation and car travel.
Reduce Surface Contact and Support Hand Washing: We clarified that these features don’t apply to dwelling units in alignment with equivalent features in WELL v2.

WELL v2

M09 Enhanced Access to Nature: To streamline implementation, projects can now count multiple smaller greenspaces (the total combined greenspace) towards feature requirements.
C1βSupport for Victims of Domestic Violence: We’re pleased to introduce our latest beta feature, which requires projects to implement a policy that supports victims of domestic violence, and offers educational resources. This feature was developed in collaboration with the Community and Mind Advisories and was inspired by several successful innovation submissions from projects in Australia on this critical public health issue. C18β is available for WELL v2 and WELL v2 pilot projects.
Space Types: The term “dining spaces” was renamed to “commercial dining spaces” for WELL v2 (and WELL v2 pilot and the WELL Health-Safety Rating). This shift in nomenclature aligns with the original definition included in the WELL v2 overview. Features that apply to commercial dining spaces require on-site food preparation and/or full-service dining. These projects typically include a commercial kitchen and food service staff.
Glossary:
- WELL v2, the WELL v2 pilot and the WELL Health-Safety Rating now contain two new terms for “high-touch surfaces” and “trauma-focused psychotherapy”.
- The “occupiable spaces” term was revised to clarify that circulation areas and bathrooms are within scope.
- Did you know that the digital standard includes a navigable glossary list available on the left side bar and an interactive glossary embedded in feature language? Experience it here!

WELL v2 pilot

V10 Enhanced Ergonomics: In alignment with the WELL v2 beta feature V11 Ergonomics Programming, Feature V10 now includes two beta parts that address integrated ergonomics design and the needs of remote workers.

Resources

WELL Portfolio Guidebook
- With the release of WELL v2, it is possible to include both WELL v2 and WELL v2 pilot projects within a defined portfolio. The WELL Portfolio Guidebook now describes how projects can share documentation across projects registered under WELL v2 pilot and WELL v2 via the WELL v2 Skybridge:
  - WELL v2 projects can use pilot documentation for features listed in Table 2.
  - WELL v2 pilot projects can use WELL v2 documentation for features listed in Table 1.
WELL v2 pilot One-Directional Crosswalks
- LEED:
  - When applying the one directional LEED to WELL v2 pilot crosswalk, projects can now use LEED design-stage review results to demonstrate compliance with WELL features using LEED credits.
  - Added a new alignment between LTC High Priority Site (option 3) and X06 VOC Restrictions. Projects pursuing this credit may achieve 2 points in Feature X06 Part 1.
- GreenStar: We clarified that V05 Site Planning and Selection is aligned with Greenstar credit 17B.4A for projects pursuing Green Star Interiors.
WELL v2 to WELL v2 pilot Skybridge
- We added an expanded pathway in the Nourishment Concept. Projects upgrading to WELL v2 pilot (Table 3) may use language in WELL v1 Feature 52 Mindful Eating in lieu of WELL v2 pilot Feature N08 Mindful Eating in addition to N10 Food Preparation.

STRATEGIES

We published three AAPs to WELL v2, two AAPs for the WELL v2 pilot and one AAP to the WELL Health-Safety Rating. In addition, we published a total of 40 equivalencies this quarter including 24 equivalencies to WELL v2. AAPs and equivalencies are available in the “strategies tab” of the digital standard and a full digest is available on the resources page. Equivalencies are updated in the digital standard on a rolling, monthly basis while AAPs and the strategies table are updated quarterly.

Featured WELL v2 pilot AAPs

I03 Educate WELL: Projects may offer virtual WELL Educational tours, including pre-recordings and submit them toward Innovation Feature I03.
M05 Stress Support: Projects that are not yet occupied may provide a preliminary stress management plan towards M05, Part 1. The plan should outline the stress-related issues that may impact occupants and how the project plans to prevent or address these issues. This strategy is also available for WELL v2 projects.

Featured WELL v2 AAPs

W08 Hygiene Support: WELL v2 projects that include private guest rooms, such as hotels, that are designed with private bathrooms may use individual wrapped soap bars and reusable cloth towels, both replaced during room changeover, towards feature W08 Support Hand Washing. This strategy is also available for the WELL Health-Safety Rating via Support Hand Washing.

WELL AP exam updates

The WELL AP exam is now online! Whether you’re looking to update an existing reservation or schedule for the first time, you can now take the WELL AP exam from the comfort of your own home. To stay up to date on in-person availability, view testing center reopenings near you. To learn more about remote proctoring and how to get started, check out our program announcement.

The WELL AP exam will continue to be based on the WELL Building Standard v1 until late 2021. Please use the WELL Building Standard Q1 with the Q1 2019 addenda and The WELL Certification Guidebook with Q1 2019 addenda to prepare for your WELL AP exam through 2020.

With its graduation out of pilot, we will be closing registrations for new projects under WELL v1 and WELL v2 pilot on December 31, 2020. As these rating systems enter the next stage of their life cycle, we want you to know that we’re here with you every step of the way. Projects will continue to have access to certification resources including the digital standard, project lobby and key resources after registration closes.

Any questions?

Registered projects can reach out to our WELL coaching team via the support tab of their account on the WELL digital platform, and all others can contact us here.
Thank you for working alongside us to help shape the evolution of WELL!