In response to increasing industry focus on health and wellbeing and consumer demand for healthy buildings, the WELL Standard has been developed as a performance based certification scheme which measures the impact of internal spaces on human health. The design principles of the standard can be applied even where full certification is not pursued.
Whilst WELL is aimed primarily at commercial buildings, it is currently being piloted across other sectors, including residential. Seven key concepts are considered, these are: air; water; nourishment; light; fitness; comfort; and mind. The standard allows a degree of flexibility in how a project meets acceptable thresholds. Silver, Gold and Platinum certification is available depending on the level achieved.
Launched by the International WELL Building Institute and supported by the UK Green Building Council, it aims to act in the same way as a nutrition label on a food packet, providing transparency on the quality of the built environment.
With an increasing demand in high quality buildings, the UK Green Building Council has a particular interest in this area. See our recent article on our involvement in the UK-GBC Healthy Homes Task Group.
WELL can be used as a guide for optimising health and wellbeing on new build projects and fit out of existing buildings.