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.

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.

(Approved)
GreenGuard Gold is accepted as an equivalent for Feature 4, Part 5

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.

(Approved)
CalGreen 2013 Title 24, Part 11, California Green Building code has been approved as an equivalent for F04, Parts 1 and 2. For Part 3, projects are required to meet 100% of the resilient flooring requirements according to CalGreen 2013 Title 24 in order to fully comply with WELL requirements.

(Approved)
AFRDI Green Tick Furniture is compliant with Feature 4, Part 5.
It should be noted that GECA's allowable emission levels exceed those required in the ANSI/BIFMA e3-2011 Furniture Sustainability Standard, and GECA does not address the VOC emission concentration thresholds required by the ANSI/BIFMA e3-2011 Furniture Sustainability Standard. However, GECA is currently deemed a best in class within its market at this time.

(Approved)
Floorscore has been approved as an equivalent standard F04, Parts 2 and 3.

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

(Approved)
Green Star Credit 7: Construction Environmental Management, and Credit 9: Indoor Air Quality are considered partially equivalent to WELL Feature 07: Construction Pollution Management. Compliance with the Green Star credit is sufficient to comply with Parts 1 and 2 of the WELL Feature. Note that projects will still need to comply with Parts 3 and 4 of Feature 7 in order to fully comply with the Feature.

(Approved)
GECA and SCS have been approved as acceptable alternatives for F09, Part 1, Requirement d.

(Approved)
The UK Regulations Directive 2009/128/EC has been approved for F10, Part 1, Requirement a. Adopting organic farming principles described in Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 of 28 June 2007 has been approved as an acceptable method to comply with F10 Part 1, Requirement b.
Note that:
1. Any envisaged exemptions adopted from the SF IPM program has to be listed.
2. The public has to be notified of any pesticides use under exempt conditions
3. Annual update of the IPM plan
4. Display the IPM plan in the building communal area and/or on website
5. Engage organic gardening professional for design of landscaping, and if infestation occurs
6. Ensure that ongoing use of IPM is part of any FM contract that manages the landscaping

(Approved)
For Feature 11, Part 1, NUCOR has been deemed best in class product at this time. It should be noted that allowable lead content in NUCOR exceed the WELL Part 1b requirement. However, NUCOR is currently deemed best in class for sheet steel at this time.

(Approved)
The New York Department of Environmental Protection Asbestos Control Program and Asbestos Rules and Regulations has been approved as an equivalent to AHERA for Feature 11, Part 3.
Note that projects must maintain a copy of the records produced by the asbestos investigator/abatement contractor, which should be made available to the building occupants.

(Approved)
The Green Star Innovation Challenge: Air tightness testing is an accepted equivalent to Feature 14: Air Infiltration Management. Compliance with the Green Star credit is sufficient to comply with the WELL feature.

CEN Standards EN 15251:2007 and EN 13779:2007 may be used in lieu of ASHRAE 62.1-2013 for Feature 15, Part 1. ​​​​

The project must meet Category I ​or II​ (described in Table 1)​ and must calculate the ventilation rate based on ​either of the below calculation methods​,​ referenced in EN 15251: 2007​, ​section B.1.3​ ""Method based on ventilation rate per person or per m² floor area​:"" ​
​1​) the addition of the ​occupant and building ​values ​(see section B.1.2)
2​) the highest value (maximum of the calculated value based on per person and the value based on per m² floor area from Table B.3)

​Additionally, 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).

(Approved)
The following equivalencies have been approved for Feature 24 Part 4:
1. Non-road diesel engine vehicles - Euro Stage IIIA, US Tier 3 and 2, Japan MoE standards.
2. On road diesel engine vehicles - Euro V (2012) standard.
It should be noted that Euro Stage IIIA, US Tier 3 and 2, Japan MoE and Euro V (2012) standard's allowable emission levels exceed those required in US Tier 4 and US EPA 2007. However, Euro Stage IIIA, US Tier 3 and 2, Japan MoE and Euro V are currently deemed best in class within Hong Kong at this time.
It should be noted that Euro Stage IIIA, US Tier 3 and 2, Japan MoE and Euro V (2012) standard's allowable emission levels exceed those required in US Tier 4 and US EPA 2007. However, Euro Stage IIIA, US Tier 3 and 2, Japan MoE and Euro V are currently deemed best in class within Hong Kong at this time.

(Approved)
The following European local emission standards have been approved as an acceptable equivalent for F24, Part 4:
1. European Stage IV standard for non-road diesel engine vehicles or the use of non-road diesel engine vehicles equipped with diesel particulate filters (DPF).
2. Euro VI emission standards for on-road engine vehicles or the use of on-road diesel engine vehicles equipped with diesel particulate filters (DPF).

(Approved)
The Hong Kong Food and Drugs Composition and Labeling Regulations may be used to partially comply with requirements of Feature 40. The project will need to label all foods (rather than only cereals) that contain gluten in order to comply with WELL. Note that projects must still submit all applicable documentation to comply with these Features, and will also be subject to a spot check or visual inspection during the Performance Verification to verify compliance.

(Approved)
The EU Regulation No 1169/2011 is an acceptable alternative to the requirements of Feature 40. Note that projects must still submit all applicable documentation to comply with these Features, and will also be subject to a spot check or visual inspection during the Performance Verification to verify compliance.

(Approved)
The Hong Kong Food and Drugs Composition and Labeling Regulations may be used to partially comply with requirements of Feature 43. The project must label monosodium glutamate (MSG), hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite, and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), (rather than only listing ingredients as flavors or preservatives), in order to comply with WELL. Note that projects must still submit all applicable documentation to comply with these Features, and will also be subject to a spot check or visual inspection during the Performance Verification to verify compliance.

(Approved)
The Hong Kong Food and Drugs Composition and Labeling Regulations may be used to partially comply with F43.
Note that projects must label monosodium glutamate (MSG), hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite, and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), (rather than only listing ingredients as flavors or preservatives), in order to comply with WELL. Projects must still submit all applicable documentation to comply with these Features, and will also be subject to a spot check or visual inspection during the Performance Verification to verify compliance.

(Approved)
The Hong Kong Food and Drugs Composition and Labeling Regulations may be used to partially comply with requirements of Feature 44. The project will also need to label Vitamin A and C, calcium, and iron in order to comply with WELL. Note that projects must still submit all applicable documentation to comply with these Features, and will also be subject to a spot check or visual inspection during the Performance Verification to verify compliance.

(Approved)
The EU Regulation No 1169/2011 is an acceptable alternative to the requirements of Feature 44. Note that projects must still submit all applicable documentation to comply with these Features, and will also be subject to a spot check or visual inspection during the Performance Verification to verify compliance.

(Approved)
The China standard GB50024-2013 has been approved to meet the requirements of Feature 53 Part 1a.
Note that this a performance based feature and spot checks will be conducted during performance verification against the proposed China GB50024-2013 to ensure compliance.

(Approved)
The Unified Glare Rating (UGR) value may be used in lieu of the requirements of Feature 55 as written. Specifically, the recommendations in EN 12464-1 may be used in place of Part 1. For Part 2, workstations should have a UGR of 19 (or less).

(Approved) Green Star Credit 12.0: Glare Reduction is an accepted equivalent for Feature 56. Compliance with the Green Star Credit requirements is sufficient to comply with the WELL feature.

(Approved)
BREEAM UK New Construction 2014, Credit Hea 01: Visual comfort, criteria 3a or 3b has been approved to comply with F62 of the Multifamily Residential Pilot.
Note that projects are required to include bedrooms in addition to kitchens, living and dining rooms, when pursuing option 3a or 3b.

Previously published as an AAP:
Projects may utilize the Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), as amended January 1, 2015, as an equivalent local standard to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Previously published as AAP:
The UK Part M Volume 2 Standard (Buildings other than dwellings) may be used lieu of the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design as long as the following additional requirements are met: 1. Signage adheres to the requirements of BS 8300: Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people, as referenced within the Part M Volume 2 Standard. 2. Drinking fountains adhere to the requirements of ADA Standards for Accessible Design, Sections 211 and 602 for Drinking Fountains.

(Approved.)
The Dutch Standard NEN 1814 is an acceptable equivalent to the American Disabilities Act (ADA) design regulations. Note, similarly to the application of the ADA to buildings in the US, the Dutch Standard NEN 1814 must apply to all buildings. Furthermore, all WELL buildings should be considered "accessible" building for the purposes of the code.

(Approved)
The Dutch Integral Accessibility Standard is an accepted equivalent for the American Disabilities Act (ADA) design regulations. Note, similarly to the application of the ADA to buildings in the US, the Dutch Integral Accessibility Standard must apply to all buildings. Furthermore, all WELL buildings should be considered "accessible" building for the purposes of the code.

(Approved)
The Building Requirements for Persons with Disabilities from British Columbia Building Code has been deemed equivalent to the ADA for Feature 72. Note, similarly to the application of the ADA to buildings in the US, the BC Building Code must apply to all buildings. Furthermore, all WELL buildings should be considered "accessible" building for the purposes of the code.

(Approved)
The Australian Disability Discrimination Act is an acceptable equivalent to the American Disabilities Act (ADA) design regulations. Note, similarly to the application of the ADA to buildings in the US, the Australian Disability Discrimination Act must apply to all buildings. Furthermore, all WELL buildings should be considered "accessible" building for the purposes of the code.

(Approved.)
Projects in Canada may utilize the Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), as amended January 1, 2015, as an equivalent local standard to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

(Approved.)
The UK Part M Volume 2 Standard (Buildings other than dwellings) may be used lieu of the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design as long as the following additional requirements are met:

1. Signage adheres to the requirements of BS 8300: Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disables people, as referenced within the Part M Volume 2 Standard.
2. Drinking fountains adhere to the requirements of ADA Standards for Accessible Design, Sections 211 and 602 for Drinking Fountains.

(Approved)
The Code for Design of Sound Insulation of Civil Buildings’ (B50118-2010) and ‘Environmental Quality Standard for Noise’ (GB3096-2008) have been approved an acceptable method to comply with F74.

(Approved)
The Green Star Credit 14 is an accepted equivalent to the requirements of Feature 76: Thermal Comfort. Compliance with the Green Star credit is sufficient to comply with the requirements of Feature 76.

(Approved)
The China national standard 'Code for Design of Sound Insulation of Civil Buildings' (GB50118-2010) has been approved an acceptable method to comply with F81.
Note that projects must comply with the verification method according to Appendix D.

(Approved)
The Leesman Survey is an accepted alternative to the Occupant Indoor Environmental Quality Survey required for Feature 86, Part 1: Occupant Survey Content.

(Approved)
The Green Star Innovation Challenge: Occupant Engagement is an accepted alternative to the requirements of Feature 86: Post-Occupancy Surveys. Therefore, compliance with the Green Star credit is sufficient to comply with the WELL feature.

(Approved)
The 'Five Insurance' offered under the Labor Law of the People’s Republic of China has been approved as an acceptable method to comply with F92.