WELL-building standard:
Benefits of the WELL-building standard: health gain, higher user satisfaction and labor productivity.
The WELL-building standard consists of 7 categories: air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort,
mind.
Air:
Good air quality is imperative for a healthy environment.
Of concern are multiple health related issues, which may include:
Upper respiratory health
Allergies and asthma
Chronic fatigue
Eye irritations
Headaches and focus issues
Endocarditis
Multiple chemical sensitivities
Odor control
Solutions, protocols and technologies:
Effective air cleaning and treatment practices, including particle filters, UV sanitation and
activated carbon air filters.
Ideal air change rates and air distribution.
Continual air quality measurement tied to air changes with feedback to the user.
Minimization of source chemicals or pathogens in furniture, cleaning products or other
indoor uses.
Sound design practices to avoid trapping contaminants or creating indoor air problems.
Construction protocol to protect, ducts and indoor air quality during construction.
Water:
Water is an essential mechanism of the human body, making up more than two thirds of human-
body weight. The WELL-building standard makes high quality water easily accessible. Proper
hydration, is essential to productivity, sustainable energy levels, reducing fatigue and keeping a
healthy body free of toxins.
Of concern are multiple health related issues, which may include:
Neurophysiological health
Gastrointestinal health
Blood pressure
Colorectal health
Cosmetic health
Neurologic and cognitive health
Cardiovascular health
Endocrine health
Solutions, protocols and technologies:
Removal of potential pathogens, including bacteria, protozoa and viruses.
Removal of sediment and heavy metals.
, Removal of residual chlorine and other disinfectants.
Removal of prescription medications, disinfectant byproducts and other organic
contaminants.
Optimal placement and accessibility to increase intake and encourage proper hydration.
Good water conservation practices.
Nourishment
The WELL-building standard sets protocols to reduce the availability of unhealthy foods within the
built environment, to align menu and ingredients with medically validated dietary guidelines, to
promote awareness, and to introduce appliances and food preparation techniques to maximize
nutrient and antioxidant availability.
Of concern are multiple health related issues, which may include:
Neurophysiological health
Heart attack risk factor
Cancer risk
Food poisoning
Immune system support
Healthy body mass index
Solutions, protocols and technologies:
Ergonomically designed kitchen/pantry spaces that encourage optimal nutrition intake with
herbariums
Minimal surface contaminants/bio load
Readily accessible fresh phytomedicinal
Healthy eating habits
Optimal placement and accessibility to increase intake and encourage proper hydration
Medication and supplement integrity
Light:
Light impacts the body’s circadian rhythm, a biological process that oscillates around a 24-hour cycle,
which is adjusted to the local environment by external cues, the most important of which is daylight.
Further disrupting circadian alignment, high levels of light at night signal to the body to stop
production of melatonin, the sleep hormone. Low production of melatonin reduces quality of sleep
and increases the risk of developing cancer and obesity.
Lack of exposure to natural light has a deleterious effect on the quality of sleep, level of alertness,
emotional state and overall health and wellbeing.
Of concern are multiple health related issues, which may include:
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Serotonin regulation
Circadian rhythm
Melatonin management
Carbohydrate digestion
Antioxidant effects of melatonin
Healthy eye development
Age related macular degeneration
Chronotype
, Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DSPS)
Remediation of jet lag
Healthy sleep patterns
Vitamin D
Solutions, protocols and technologies:
Circadian Lighting Controls to adjust the color temperature and intensity over the course of
the day to help with sleep, alertness and digestion
Adequate daylight during daylight hours and blackout shades at night to optimally manage
outdoor sources of light
Gradually brightening lights in the morning to act as a dawn simulator
High-intensity light to help awaken and increase morning alertness, removing melatonin
levels for optimal daytime energy
Great visual acuity to improve work performance and reduce eye strain
Ultraviolet light to allow the body to generate Vitamin D in settings that avoid risk of eye and
skin damage
Fitness:
Exercise improves strength, stamina and flexibility, improves cardiovascular function, promotes
nerve cell growth, helps maintain a healthy body weight, improves long-term health, and has
profound stress reduction and antidepressant effects. The WELL-building standard promotes physical
activity, awareness, accessibility and urban connectivity trough active design and technology.
People cite lack of time as the top reason given for not exercising. To address this, the WELL-building
standard introduces elements in the built environment that make it easier to seamlessly integrate
physical activity into daily life.
Of concern are multiple health related issues, which may include:
Heart health
Hypertensive therapy
Triglyceride maintenance
Stress reduction
Mood maintenance
Alleviation of depressive symptoms
Weight management
Anti-aging
Fibromyalgia management
Improved bone mineral density
Improved muscle strength
Prevention of musculoskeletal disorders
Muscle health
Posture support
LDL cholesterol management
Mobility
Solutions, protocols and technologies:
Enough dedicated space to fit a range of exercise machines and room for stationary aerobics
or yoga
Location next to a bicycle path or public park, enabling cardio activity
, Location near other fitness amenities in the community
Attractive stairs and design to encourage walking instead of using an elevator
Where applicable, access to hydrotherapy facilities for people recovering from injuries or
with muscle and joint pain
Specific fitness programs with feedback for each individual in the building
Comfort:
Comfort not only impacts our ability to feel a sense of relaxation and peace of mind, but also our
ability to concentrate and be productive. The comfort concepts of the WELL-building standard takes
a holistic approach to address the different factors at work in the experience of human comfort,
ergonomics, acoustics, electromagnetic fields, hygiene, temperature control and air flow.
A comfortable interior environment creates conditions that minimize stress and distraction.
Of concern are multiple health related issues, which may include:
Healthy heart rate management
Anxiety/tension reduction
Neurophysiological function
Healthy immune function
Restful sleep
Healthy hearing
Lower back support
Reduced point pressures under foot
Fatigue
Productivity
Muscle pain reduction
Anti-carcinogenic
Healthy neurocognitive function
Solutions, protocols and technologies:
Noise protection, which includes walls, doors and flooring that screen out external noise and
reduce water and appliance sound and vibration
EMF-protected design, which includes bundling wires and shielding them to deflect
electromagnetic fields
Anti-microbial surface protection that reduces bacteria, viruses and pathogens and
minimizes the spread of germs
Floors built to precise depth and resilience to provide maximum heel support
Where available, spa utilities like sauna and hydrotherapy
Great workplace ergonomics design
Mind:
The WELL-building standard introduces the demonstrated concept of biophilia, the idea that there is
an instinctive bond between humans and nature, and that this nature affiliation enables the humans
mind to be more relaxed and calm in the presence of nature. By incorporating elements of the
natural world into the built environment, the WELL-building standard promotes the creation of
spaces that quiet the mind and help to reduce long-term stress.
Of concern are multiple health related issues, which may include:
High blood pressure management
, Heart-rate variability management
Chronic back pain
Healthy immune function
Headaches
Migraines
Improved bowel function
Solutions, protocols and technologies:
Positive practices and habits
Informed decisions with regard to health
Health and lifestyle monitoring/management
Stress management
Mood and emotional balance
Increased knowledge of wellness causes and strategies
Architecture highlighting plants and natural light
Relaxation Support
WELL certification is based on performance and requires a passing score in each of the seven concept
categories of the WELL-building standard. The certification process which includes the submission of
project documentation and an on-site audit, is administered by the international WELL building
institute (IWBI). The IWBI awards certification at one of three levels: blue, silver or gold.
The WELL Vital Signs Scorecard was created to demonstrate an environments compliance with the
WELL Building Standard across each of the Seven Concepts. The WELL Building Standard requires that
in order for an environment to be WELL Certified, all Preconditions across each of the Seven
Concepts be met.
Week 1:
General framework for healthy environments and behavior:
Structure: indoor quality, furniture, location
Process: seeking the service and carrying it out, activities in analyzing, recommending or
implementing actions for improvement.
Outcome: improvements in knowledge, salutary changes in behavior, health status, degree of
satisfaction with the service.
This approach to quality assessment is possible because good structure increases the likelihood of
good process, and good process increases the likelihood of a good outcome. There must be pre-
existing knowledge of the linkage between structure and process, and between process and
outcome, before quality assessment can be undertaken.
