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

Individual thermal control

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”).

This feature requires spaces to vary in temperature and gives occupants the flexibility to select a work area where they are most comfortable (termed “free address”). The feature also provides personalized thermal comfort devices allowing occupants to adjust the temperature in their immediate surroundings in order to achieve better thermal comfort.

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 office spaces and between rooms or floors.
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. Employees have access to personal thermal comfort devices such as fans (excluding space heaters).
Immune
Respiratory
Nervous
Integumentary

Applicability Matrix

Core & Shell New & Existing Buildings New & Existing Interiors
Part 1: Free Address - O O
Part 2: Personal Thermal Comfort Devices - O O
Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
Part 1: Free Address - - - - -
Part 2: Personal Thermal Comfort Devices O O - O O

Verification Methods Matrix

Letters of Assurance Annotated Documents On-Site Checks
Part 1: Free Address Policy Document
Part 2: Personal Thermal Comfort Devices Owner Visual Inspection