This is a legacy version of the WELL Building Standard. Please check the latest version here.
  1. Comfort
  2. Thermal comfort

Thermal comfort

Features>Comfort>76. Thermal comfort

76. Thermal comfort

Thermal comfort can affect mood, focus and productivity. However, preferences are highly personal and differ greatly from one individual to another. Balancing the energy requirements of large buildings with these varied occupant preferences can be challenging.

This feature uses best practices to ensure a sufficient level of comfort for the majority of occupants. ASHRAE Standard 55 specifies that thermal comfort can be achieved in two ways, either through the Standard Comfort Zone or the Adaptive Comfort Zone.

Part 1: Ventilated Thermal Environment

All spaces in mechanically-ventilated projects meet the design, operating and performance requirements in the following criteria:

a) ASHRAE Standard 55 2013 Section 5.3, Standard Comfort Zone Compliance.
Part 2: Natural Thermal Adaptation

All spaces in naturally-ventilated projects meet the following criteria:

a) ASHRAE Standard 55-2013 Section 5.4, Adaptive Comfort Model.
Part 3: Thermal Comfort in the Kitchen

The following requirements will be met at all times in the kitchen:

a) The operative temperature in the kitchen does not exceed 80 °F.
Integumentary
Nervous
Respiratory
Immune

Applicability Matrix

Core & Shell New Construction WELL Interiors
Part 1: Ventilated Thermal Environment P P P
Part 2: Natural Thermal Adaptation P P P
Part 3: Thermal Comfort in the Kitchen - - -
Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Retail
Part 1: Ventilated Thermal Environment O P P P
Part 2: Natural Thermal Adaptation O P P P
Part 3: Thermal Comfort in the Kitchen O - - -

Verification Methods Matrix

Letters of Assurance Annotated Documents On-Site Checks
PART 1 (Design)
Ventilated Thermal Environment 		MEP
PART 2 (Design)
Natural Thermal Adaptation 		MEP
PART 3 ()
Thermal Comfort in the Kitchen 		MEP

92

ASHRAE (formerly American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers). Standard 55: Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy, Atlanta, GA: American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers; 2013: 8-13.
76.1.a

ASHRAE Standard 55: Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy sets best practices for thermal comfort in buildings.
76.2.a

ASHRAE Standard 55: Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy sets best practices for thermal comfort in buildings.
Features>Comfort>76. Thermal comfort