Health and Well-being Certification Schemes

What are the WELL Building Standard and Fitwell Certification schemes?

The WELL Building Standard and Fitwel are certification schemes promoting healthy, sustainable design, construction, and operation practices in buildings. Developed by the International WELL Building Institute and the U.S. CDC/GSA respectively, both programs focus on human factors in the built environment, unlike broader schemes like LEED and BREEAM. They provide frameworks for evaluating and rating buildings on health and well-being performance.

Key principles include access to clean air and water, healthy food options, opportunities for physical activity, comfortable spaces supporting well-being, and enhancing mental health through biophilic design.

What are the similarities and differences between the two schemes?

Similarities: 

1. Focus: Both WELL and Fitwel concentrate on human health and well-being in buildings.
2. Rating systems: Both use point-based systems; Fitwel has a 3-star rating with no pre-conditions, while WELL offers Silver, Gold, and Platinum ratings with pre-conditions.
3. Custom performance scorecards: Both provide tailored scorecards for various project types and stages.
4. Adoption: Both originated in the US and are now globally recognised.

Differences: 

1. WELL requires Performance Verification assessment and more detailed technical assessments, leading to higher third-party costs. 
2. Fitwel is managed by the CDC, emphasising research and evidence-based public health outcomes.

What other frameworks focus more specifically on human health and well-being within the real estate sector?

Frameworks focusing specifically on human health and well-being within the real estate sector often address air quality, as it significantly impacts human health. 

The RESET Standard, originating in Asia, measures Internal Air Quality (IAQ) and has been adopted primarily in Asia, with some certified buildings in Europe and the US.

Other air quality schemes include AirRated in the UK and emerging schemes like RESET's focus on materials addressing VOCs. Indoor air quality is expected to become a regulatory issue in developed real estate markets.