INDUSTRY STANDARDS
BUILDING WELL
FOR LIVING WELL
In an urban world where we are increasingly paying
attention to our physical and mental health needs,
the buildings that we occupy can be designed and
managed in ways that help us improve our health
and wellbeing. The WELL Building Standard provides
indicators that can be used by the designers, owners
and managers of buildings to create a healthier built
environment.
W
ELL is a system for measuring, certifying and
monitoring the impact of buildings on the health
and wellbeing of their occupants. In addition to
factors such as air and water quality, aesthetics
and lighting in buildings, it also pays attention to
the choices available for healthy living, such as fresh fruit and physical
activity, and the support that is provided for occupants’ mental health.
It is based on scientific and medical research and literature on
subjects such as architecture, medicine, environmental health and
human behaviour, and builds on existing international and government
standards and performance indicators. It was launched in 2014 after a
lengthy development process by professionals who personally implement
health and wellness practices in their lives. Its development included a
scientific, practitioner and medical peer review.
Water
With water, WELL requires an
evaluation of the building’s water source,
and the installation of adequate filtration.
Limits are imposed on the concentration of
certain organic and inorganic contaminants,
and water quality should be tested periodically
to make sure that standards are maintained. All
occupants should have easy access to water, which
can be promoted through drinking fountains indoors and
outdoors.
Mind
WELL has over 100 performance indicators within the themes of air,
water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind. All are designed to
make buildings healthier places for working, living, learning and playing.
Mental and physical health are closely connected. For example,
exercise can be a healing aid for people with mental health illnesses,
and reducing stress can increase resilience to physical illnesses. In
the mind theme, WELL indicators include incorporating beautiful and
mindful design elements to improve mood and morale, and providing
dedicated private space for contemplation and relaxation, as well as
stimulus management through creating different work or living zones,
such as designated quiet zones and collaboration zones.
Air
With air, among the factors that WELL looks at are how well the building
is ventilated, whether air filtration effectively cuts the amount of
pollution entering the building, and the avoidance of potential sources of
pollution such as tobacco smoke or emissions. The presence of common
pollutants such as formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and radon have to be
kept below certain levels, which – among other things – entails choosing
paints and building materials carefully. Entrances can be designed to
prevent harmful substances coming in with people, for example through
grilles or grates that capture particles from shoes, as well as air seals
such as revolving entrance doors. Pests, allergens and bad smells can
be controlled with chemicals that do not worsen indoor air quality. High-
touch surfaces need disinfection schedules, and cleaning products have
to meet stringent standards. Poor air quality can diminish productivity
and cause sick building syndrome, in addition to acute effects such as
headaches, fatigue and upper respiratory illnesses. Improving air quality
in buildings therefore has significant health benefits for occupants.
Fitness
Physical activity is essential for mental and physical health, and our
increasingly sedentary lifestyles threaten our ability to remain fit. Many
buildings inherently include simple options for activity, but they aren’t
always attractive. For example, using the stairs instead of the lifts brings
short bursts of activity into our working lives, but we aren’t likely to do
this if stairways are badly lit or dirty. Within the fitness theme, WELL
looks at factors such as whether stairways are accessible throughout
the day, visibl e from the entrance of the building, and incorporate
aesthetically pleasing elements. Some of the other fitness indicators
are whether there are spaces for physical activity indoors and outdoors,
options for standing desks and active desks such as bicycle desks
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