This is a legacy version of the WELL Building Standard. Please check the latest version here.

Individual thermal control

Individual thermal control

Intent: 

To maximize and personalize thermal comfort among all occupants.

BACKGROUND

Thermal comfort preferences are highly individual, and can be affected by metabolism, body type and clothing. These factors make it nearly impossible to find a temperature that will satisfy all occupants in the same space at the same time. Providing areas with different thermal gradients, as well as individual thermal comfort devices can ensure that building occupants can choose areas with temperatures that best fit their thermal preferences (termed “free address”).

Part 1
Free Address

Projects over 200 m² [2,150 ft²] meet the following free address requirement:
a.
The building provides a thermal gradient of at least 3 °C [5 °F] across open workspaces and between floors or rooms with more than 10 people.
b.
All open office spaces with occupants performing tasks that require similar workstations allow for at least 50% free address to allow occupants to select a work space with a desired temperature.

Part 2
Personal Thermal Comfort Devices

The following condition is met in spaces with 10 or more workstations in the same heating or cooling zone:
a.
Occupants have access to personal thermal comfort devices such as fans (excluding space heaters).