WELL, the label for occupant health

The WELL Building Standard is an American label launched in 2014 by IWBI (International WELL Building Institute). It is the world’s first label focused exclusively on the health and well-being of occupants.

Whereas BREEAM, HQE and LEED measure a building’s impact on the environment, WELL measures its impact on the people who occupy it. It is as much about health as about engineering.

It does not replace the other labels. It is often layered on top of LEED or BREEAM to cover the social dimension, the “S” in ESG.

The WELL v2 standard is organised around ten concepts. Here are the main requirements of each.

AirAir

High-efficiency filters (MERV 13 or HEPA) required; fine particle (PM2.5) and VOC thresholds stricter than WHO guidelines; real-time air quality sensors visible to occupants.

WaterWater

Regular testing (lead, legionella, pesticides); free filtered water fountains every 30 m; touchless fixtures to limit the spread of germs.

NourishmentNourishment

Fruit and vegetables promoted through gentle nudges; clear labelling of allergens and added sugars; smaller portions to curb overconsumption.

LightLight

Circadian lighting, whose colour changes with the time of day to follow the body clock; daylight maximised in all offices; strict glare control (blinds, UGR index).

MovementMovement

Open, attractive staircases that encourage people to skip the lift; sit-stand desks for at least 25% of workstations; showers and secure bicycle parking.

Thermal comfortThermal Comfort

Individual or micro-zone thermostats; fine control of humidity and air speed; zones with differentiated thermal conditions.

SoundSound

Physical separation of quiet and noisy areas; sound-absorbing ceilings and furniture, sized on reverberation time; sound masking for confidentiality.

MaterialsMaterials

Exclusion of asbestos, lead, mercury and PCBs; transparency required through Declare, HPD or Cradle to Cradle labels; cleaning protocols free of harmful products.

MindMind

Biophilia, with plants and natural materials given a prominent place; quiet spaces for power naps or disconnecting; HR policies on stress and the right to disconnect.

CommunityCommunity

Universal design, accessible to people with all types of disability; vaccination programmes and paid sick leave; emergency preparedness plans (defibrillators, first aid kits).

WELL works on points, up to 110, with mandatory preconditions.

This is WELL’s great strength: declarations are not enough. Certification relies on a very thorough on-site audit, known as Performance Verification.

The stakeholders

WELL APAccredited Professional

An accredited consultant who guides the project team.

Performance Testing AgentTesting agent

Samples air and water, and measures light and sound on site.

Certification fees

WELL is expensive: the registration fees paid to IWBI are high, and on-site testing adds laboratory costs.

A return measured in human resources

The return on investment is not calculated in energy savings but in team performance. Salaries account for 90% of a company’s costs, against 1% for energy: the leverage is considerable.

Advantages

• Strong appeal for employees: it is the top asset for bringing them back to the office.
• Scientific credibility, grounded in medical research.
• Synergies: WELL automatically earns points under BREEAM and LEED, thanks to the correspondence tables (crosswalks).

Limitations

• A short validity period, renewable every 3 years, and therefore a recurring cost.
• Very strict requirements on VOCs from materials: adhesives, paints, furniture.
• Strong commitment from senior management, extending to catering and sport.

Reaching Gold, or even Platinum, does not mean chasing every point. The following table shows, by project type, how easy it is to secure the points in each concept to reach Gold. It says nothing about their return in human resources terms, which is covered further down.

To help you decide, here is the value each concept can deliver in human resources terms, expressed in productivity, retention or absenteeism. These figures come from the Cundall (London) and CBRE (Madrid) case studies.