Updated:
Projects may exceed 500 µg/m³ in total VOCs (part 1c), so long as the following individual component VOCs do not exceed the limits listed in CDPH/EHLB/Standard Method V1.1, Table 4.1 (one half the Chronic Reference Exposure Levels (CREL) issued by Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment):

For Part 1a, remove: "inside the building". Add: "inside the project"

ASHRAE Standard 62.1 – 2007 has not been accepted as an equivalent for the requirements of Feature 03 – Ventilation Effectiveness, Part 1 – Ventilation Design and Part 3 – System Balancing for the United States. Note that while the values for ventilation requirements are identical for the particular space type for this project (sales), EPs are precedent-setting for all projects, and the ventilation requirements for all space types are not equivalent between ASHRAE Standard 62.1 versions 2007, 2010, and 2013. Therefore, these reference standards cannot be considered equivalent for all projects.

A thermal comfort survey has not been accepted as an equivalent means of achieving Feature 03 – Ventilation Effectiveness, Part 3 – System Balancing. Note that the intent of Feature 03 is to ensure adequate ventilation and high indoor air quality. While thermal comfort surveys are a commendable strategy to indicate thermal comfort, the most accurate method to ensure adequate ventilation is through testing and balancing. Additionally, the reference standard for this Feature is ASHRAE 62.1-2013: Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality, not ASHRAE 55-2013, which was referenced in the EP submission and addresses Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy. Therefore, methods suggested in ASHRAE 55-2013 are not applicable. Please note that although a project may comply with Part 1 – Ventilation Design using the IAQ Procedure, which requires subjective evaluation, Part 3 – System Balancing requires balancing.

For Part 2b, add: "(measured at 1.2-1.8 m [4-6 ft] above the floor)" after "below 800 ppm" and add: "maximum" after "at"

EN 13779, section A. 15. 2, Table A.10 may be used to comply with Feature 03, Part 2. Note, projects must adhere to Indoor Air Category IDA 1 or 2.

CEN Standards EN 15251:2007 and EN 13779:2007 may be used in lieu of ASHRAE 62.1-2013 for Feature 03, Part 1.

The requirements of CEN Standard EN 15251-2007 must be met AND the performance requirements of CEN Standard EN 13779:2007 related to ventilation and room conditioning systems must be met (excluding section 7.3, Thermal Environment; section 7.6, Acoustic Environment; section A.16; and section A.17).

Projects must meet Category I or II as described in the standards.

In the Feature description, remove the second paragraph. Replace with the following text:
'Intent: To ensure adequate ventilation and high indoor air quality.'

Under Part 2, after “For all spaces” insert the following: “46.5 m² [500 ft²] or larger”

Remove: "c. Projects comply with all requirements set in the Natural Ventilation Procedure…the previous year."

For Part 4b, remove: "(Ventilation Rate Procedure or IAQ Procedure) for residential buildings of more than 3 floors above grade". Add: "for common areas and other spaces apart from dwelling units"

GreenGuard Gold has been accepted as an equivalent to California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method v1.1-2010 in Feature 04 – VOC Reduction, Part 3 - Flooring.

In part description, add: "interior" after "newly applied"

TÜV Rheinland Green Product Mark Furniture criteria, 2PfG E1992, has been accepted as an alternative for the requirements of Feature 4 Part 5.

The GB 18580-2001 Indoor Decorating and Refurbishing Materials - Limit of Formaldehyde Emission of Wood-based Panels and Finishing Products has not been accepted as an alternative for the requirements of Feature 4 Part 3, 4 and 5. Note the proposed testing method standard does not include methods for testing VOCs other than formaldehyde.

NEN-EN-ISO 17895 has been accepted as an alternative for the requirements of Feature 04, Parts 1 and 2. Note that while NEN-EN-ISO 17895 is acceptable for determining VOC content, the products must adhere to the VOC limits set forth in CARB 2007, Suggested Control Measures (SCM) for Architectural Coatings, or South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule 1113 and Rule 1168.

US EPA Method 24 has been accepted as an alternative to the requirements of Feature 04 VOC Reduction, Part 2. Please note that the products must have VOC content below the allowable limits established in SCAQMD as outlined in Part 2a. This equivalency may be used only in India.

The Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) Paints and Coatings PCv2.2iii-2012 standard has been accepted as an alternative for the requirements of Feature 04, Part 1.

The Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) Building Insulation Materials (BIMv2.0-2017) standard has been accepted as an alternative for the requirements of Feature 04 Part 4.

M1 (ISO 16000) is approved as an acceptable equivalent to the requirements of Feature 4 VOC Reduction Part 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Note, projects must adhere to the minimum formaldehyde requirement specified in CDPH Standard Method v1.1-2010 for VOC emissions.

CRI Green Label Plus is approved as an acceptable equivalent to the requirements specified in the CDPH Standard Method v1.1-2010 for Feature 4 Part 2 and 3.

AgBB is approved as an acceptable equivalent to the requirements of Feature 4 VOC Reduction Part 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Note, projects must adhere to the minimum formaldehyde requirement specified in the CDPH Standard Method v1.1-2010 for VOC emissions.

The REACH standard has not been accepted as an equivalent to the CDPH Standard Method v1.1-2010 guidelines for Feature 04 Part 5. Note that the VOC limit thresholds specified in CDPH Standard Method v1.1-2010 guidelines must be met. The VOC limit thresholds for Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) listed in REACH are not acceptable.

EN 13964:2014 emission testing method has been accepted as an alternative for the requirements of Feature 4, Part 4 for suspended ceilings. Ceilings with heating or cooling properties and walls must meet limits set by the California Department of Public Health Standard Method v1.1-2010. Formaldehyde emission should be measured in accordance with EN 717-1:2004.

Global GreenTag has been approved as an acceptable equivalent to the requirements for Feature 04 Part 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

IS 101.2.2.1986 and IS 101.2.1.1988 are acceptable equivalent testing method standards in order to measure in accordance with the VOC content threshold limits specified in SCAQMD Rule 1168 for Part 2a.

BREEAM-NL New Construction 2014, Hea 09 - Volatile Organic Compounds, is an approved alternative to BREEAM UK New Construction 2014 Hea 02 - Indoor Air Quality to meet WELL Feature 04 Parts 1-3.

GUT has been accepted for Feature 04 Part 3.

The GUT standard was created by the European carpet industry, and aims ""to improve continuously all environmental and consumer protection aspects throughout the life cycle of a textile floor covering (from production to installation, to use phase and recycling"".

This standard is only applicable to Part 3, and thresholds are as follows:

Termination criteria 3 days after loading:
TVOC: 250 µg/m³
Formaldehyde: 9 µg/m³

Desired values 28 days after loading:
TVOC: 100 µg/m³
Formaldehyde: 4 µg/m³

Exemplary level emission criteria for BREEAM International New Construction 2016 scheme has been accepted as an equivalent standard to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard method v1.1-2010 as specified in Part 4a of this feature. The thresholds are as follows:
Formaldehyde limit of 9 µg/m³
TVOC limits of ≤ 0.3 mg/m³
The insulation materials may be tested using one of the following methodologies:
ISO 16000-9
CEN/TS 16516
CDPH Standard Method v1.1

eco-INSTITUT-Label (2015 version) has been deemed acceptable for Feature 04 Part 1 - 4 with the following requirement:
The formaldehyde limit of 9 µg/m³ at 28 days must be met for products using this label.

Previously published as an AAP:
Products and materials that have an A or A+ class rating under the French legislation on VOC emissions meet the requirements of Parts 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Previously published as an AAP:
Field and Laboratory Emission Cell (FLEC) emissions testing is approved as an emissions testing methodology only for furniture and furnishings that are made up of a uniform material and have flat testing surfaces on which the FLEC emissions testing methodology may be applied. For example, flat surfaced cabinetry that is made up of a uniform material may be tested using this methodology. However, chairs that are made from a variety of materials that lack flat surfaces may not be tested using this methodology. The emissions test must be administered by a third party investigator with no affiliation with the project. The associated costs are the responsibility of the project team. Additional tests performed in accordance with ISO 16000 methodology must be performed for total aldehydes and 4-Phenylcyclohexane and must meet the thresholds specified in the WELL Building Standard.

Add: "b. For furnishings, California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method v1.1-2010."

Updated:
LEED v4 EQc Low-emitting materials credit is deemed equivalent for Part 1. Please note that the project must adhere to the ""Additional VOC content requirements for wet-applied products"" section (found in LEED v4). Additionally, all newly applied paints and coatings must be in compliance.
BREEAM UK NC/RFO 2014, INC. 2016 and IRFO 2015 Hea 02: Indoor air quality - Volatile organic compound (VOC) emission levels (products) credit is deemed equivalent for Part 1. Please note the project must adhere to the Volatile organic compound (VOC) emission levels for products (found in Table 18 in the BREEAM UK New Construction 2014, Table 20 in the UK RFO 2014, Table 17 and 18 in the INC 2016). Additionally, all newly applied paints and coatings must be in compliance.

LEED v4 EQc Low-emitting materials credit is deemed equivalent for Part 2. Please note that the project must adhere to the ""Additional VOC content requirements for wet-applied products"" section (found in LEED v4). Additionally, all newly applied adhesives and sealants must be in compliance.
BREEAM UK NC/RFO 2014, INC 2016 and IRFO 2015 Hea 02: Indoor air quality - Volatile organic compound (VOC) emission levels (products)credit is deemed equivalent for Part 2. Please note the project must adhere to the Volatile organic compound (VOC) emission levels for products (found in Table 18 in the BREEAM UK New Construction 2014, Table 20 in the UK RFO 2014, Table 17 and 18 in the INC 2016). Additionally, all newly applied adhesives and sealants must be in compliance.

LEED v4 EQc Low-emitting materials credit is deemed equivalent for Part 3. Please note that the project must adhere to the ""General emissions evaluation"" section (found in LEED v4). Additionally, all newly installed flooring must be in compliance.
BREEAM UK NC/RFO 2014, INC 2016 and IRFO 2015 Hea 02: Indoor air quality - Volatile organic compound (VOC) emission levels (products) credit is deemed equivalent for Part 3. Please note the project must adhere to the Volatile organic compound (VOC) emission levels for products (found in Table 18 in the BREEAM UK New Construction 2014, Table 20 in the UK RFO 2014, Table 17 and 18 in the INC 2016). Additionally, all newly installed flooring must be in compliance.

LEED v4 EQc Low-emitting materials credit is deemed equivalent for Part 4. Please note that the project must adhere to the ""General emissions evaluation"" section (found in LEED v4). Additionally, all newly installed insulation must be in compliance.

LEED v4 EQc Low-emitting material credit is deemed equivalent for Part 5. Please note that the project must adhere to the ""Furniture evaluation"" section (found in LEED v4). Additionally, 95% (by cost) of all newly purchased furniture and furnishing must be in compliance.

Note BREEAM equivalency is only applicable for Feature 4 Parts 1-3.

ORIGINAL RULING (10/24/2016):
(Not approved)
GreenGuard Certification is not an accepted equivalent standard to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard method v1.1-2010 as specified in Part 4a of this feature. Therefore Greenstuf is not an acceptable material for newly installed thermal or acoustic insulation, based on the evidence provided. The excerpt taken from GreenGuard Standard Method for Measuring and Evaluating Chemical Emissions from Building Materials, Finishes and Furnishings Using Dynamic Environmental Chambers refers to the GreenGuard Children and School certification (now GreenGuard Gold Certification), which does in fact meet/exceed CDPH standards. However, according to the Material Safety Data Sheet provided, Greenstuf is GreenGuard Certified and is not GreenGuard Gold Certified.

UPDATED RULING (1/11/2017):
(Approved)
Greenstuf has been considered an acceptable material, as it complies with GreenGuard Gold Certification, which has been approved as an equivalent standard for Feature 04, Part 4.

For Feature 4, Part 5, as an alternative to the formaldehyde emissions thresholds cited in ANSI/BIFMA e3-2011 7.6.2, projects may use certain approved thresholds. For systems furniture laminates: CDPH Standard Method v1.1-2010 limits (9 ug/m3) may be used. For furniture substrates: CARB Phase II limits (50 ppb for hardwood plywood with veneer core, 50 ppb for hardwood plywood with composite core, 90 ppb for particleboard, 110 ppb for medium density fiberboard, and 113 ppb for thin medium density fiberboard) may be used. Additionally, note that the project will still be required to demonstrate Feature 01: Air Quality Standards.

In Parts 3, 4 and 5 of this Feature, change 'VOC content' to 'VOC emissions'

Green Star Credit 13: Indoor Pollutants is considered partially equivalent to WELL Feature 04: VOC reduction.
Compliance with the Green Star credit is sufficient to comply with Parts 1 and 2, as well as to a portion of Part 3 (only flooring that is classified as carpeting) of the WELL feature.
Projects will still need to comply with Part 3 (all non-carpet flooring), as well as with Parts 4 and 5 in order to fully comply with the Feature.

Indoor Advantage Gold is accepted as an equivalent for F04, Parts 1, 2, 4, and 5.

Field and Laboratory Emission Cell (FLEC) emissions testing is approved as an emissions testing methodology ONLY for furniture and furnishings that are made up of a uniform material and have flat testing surfaces on which the FLEC emissions testing methodology may be applied. For example, flat surfaced cabinetry that is made up of a uniform material may be tested using this methodology. However, chairs that are made from a variety of materials that lack flat surfaces may not be tested using this methodology. The emissions test must be administered by a third party investigator with no affiliation with the project. The associated costs are the responsibility of the project team.

Additional tests performed in accordance with ISO 16000 methodology must be performed for total aldehydes and 4-Phenylcyclohexane and must meet the thresholds specified in the WELL Building Standard.

Under Part 2c, delete "VOC control" and replace with "VOC content".

Add Contractor Letters of Assurance as required documentation.

Remove: "Rack space and fan capacity is in place for future carbon filters or combination particle/carbon filters." Add: "Rack space is available and rack location identified for future implementation of carbon filters or combination particle/carbon filters."

Class F 7 (or higher) media filters are an acceptable equivalent to MERV 13 (or higher) media filters.

In a project with a split-system air conditioning unit that does not allow for accommodating MERV 13 filters, the following measures may be implemented as an alternative. For Parts 1 and 2a of this feature, a standalone air purifier with carbon filter and HEPA filter performing equivalent to MERV 17-20 may be used in accordance with manufacturer’s guidelines. Installation of the HEPA filters may not be conditional based on the criteria in Part 2b. A sufficient quantity of stand-alone air purifiers and carbon filters and HEPA filters must be provided in accordance with the manufacturers recommended area coverage. Provide a policy document to confirm Part 3 of this Feature, and a policy document that confirms that the project owner will maintain and replace the filters and filter units located within the project as per manufacturer specifications.

Add "or combination particle/carbon filters." to the end of Part 1a. Part 1a now reads "Rack space and fan capacity is in place for future carbon filters or combination particle/carbon filters."

In lieu of installing rack space for future carbon filters, an execution plan for future modifications to the HVAC system to create rack space for carbon filters may be provided in the event that the installation of carbon filters is a requirement of the WELL Building Standard in the future. To follow this approach, it must be confirmed that the system would be able to physically accept carbon filters should the necessary rack space be created, the plan must identify the cost estimates of renovating the HVAC system to include the necessary rack space to confirm that it is considered a capital improvement item, and the owner must commit to making the upgrades should the WELL Building Standard require carbon filters in a future recertification of the project.

As an alternative to the quarterly inspection of cooling coils required in Feature 6, Part 1b, projects may sample 25% of the project’s cooling coils per quarter (representative of all building orientations and equal to 100% of cooling coils per year) through either visual inspection or performance inspection tests. Policy documentation must be provided that includes a detailed description of the inspection protocols for cooling coils and drain pans, and confirming that cleaning will be provided if mold is found before the annual inspection. The inspection and analyses must be performed in accordance with ISO 16000-18 and ISO 16000-17.
Note that dated photos must still be provided to IWBI on a yearly basis.

Add annotated operations schedule OR MEP drawing as required documentation, remove MEP Letter of Assurance, remove on-site spot checks.

Add: "newly installed" after "all"