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

Air

Air

The WELL Building Standard™ (WELL) establishes requirements in buildings that promote clean air and reduce or minimize the sources of indoor air pollution.

Background

Clean air is a critical component to our health. Air pollution is the number one environmental cause of premature mortality, contributing to 50,000 premature deaths annually in the United States and approximately 7 million, or one in eight premature deaths worldwide.

Globally, outdoor air quality is deteriorating due to pollution from traffic, construction, agricultural activity, combustion sources and particulate matter. Because ambient air diffuses easily, even distant sources of pollution have a huge impact on the more than 15,000 liters of air we breathe every day. Indoor air quality can be degraded by these outdoor sources, as well as by off-gass...read more

01 Air quality standards

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Standards for Volatile Substances P P P
2: Standards for Particulate Matter and Inorganic Gases P P P
3: Radon P P P

02 Smoking ban

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Indoor Smoking Ban P P P
2: Outdoor Smoking Ban P - P

03 Ventilation effectiveness

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Ventilation Design P P P
2: Demand Controlled Ventilation P P P
3: System Balancing - P P

04 VOC reduction

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Interior Paints and Coatings P P P
2: Interior Adhesives and Sealants P P P
3: Flooring P P P
4: Insulation P P P
5: Furniture and Furnishings P P P

05 Air filtration

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Filter Accommodation P P P
2: Particle Filtration P P P
3: Air Filtration Maintenance P P P

06 Microbe and mold control

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Cooling Coil Mold Reduction P P P
2: Mold Inspections P P P

07 Construction pollution management

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Duct Protection P P P
2: Filter Replacement P P P
3: Moisture Absorption Management P P P
4: Dust Containment and Removal P P P

08 Healthy entrance

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Permanent Entryway Walk-Off Systems P O P
2: Entryway Air Seal P O P

09 Cleaning protocol

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Cleaning Plan for Occupied Spaces - P P

10 Pesticide management

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Pesticide Use P - P

11 Fundamental material safety

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Asbestos and Lead Restriction P P P
2: Lead Abatement P P P
3: Asbestos Abatement P P P
4: Polychlorinated Biphenyl Abatement P P P
5: Mercury Limitation P P P

12 Moisture management

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Exterior Liquid Water Management P - P
2: Interior Liquid Water Management P - P
3: Condensation Management P - P
4: Material Selection and Protection P - P

13 Air flush

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Air Flush - O O

14 Air infiltration management

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Air Leakage Testing O O O

15 Increased ventilation

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Increased Outdoor Air Supply O O O

16 Humidity control

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Relative Humidity - O O

17 Direct source ventilation

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Pollution Isolation and Exhaust O O O

18 Air quality monitoring and feedback

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Indoor Air Monitoring - O O
2: Air Data Record Keeping and Response - O O
3: Environmental Measures Display - O O

19 Operable windows

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Full Control O O O
2: Outdoor Air Measurement O O O
3: Window Operation Management O O O

20 Outdoor air systems

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems O O O

21 Displacement ventilation

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Displacement Ventilation Design and Application - O O
2: System Performance - O O

22 Pest control

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Pest Reduction - O O
2: Pest Inspection - O O

23 Advanced air purification

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Carbon Filtration O O O
2: Air Sanitization O O O
3: Air Quality Maintenance O O O

24 Combustion minimization

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Appliance and Heater Combustion Ban O O O
2: Low-Emission Combustion Sources O - O
3: Engine Exhaust Reduction O - O
4: Construction Equipment O - O

25 Toxic material reduction

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Perfluorinated Compound Limitation - O O
2: Flame Retardant Limitation - O O
3: Phthalate (Plasticizers) Limitation - O O
4: Isocyanate-Based Polyurethane Limitation - O O
5: Urea-Formaldehyde Restriction - O O

26 Enhanced material safety

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Precautionary Material Selection - O O

27 Antimicrobial activity for surfaces

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: High-Touch Surfaces - O O

28 Cleanable environment

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Material Properties - O O
2: Cleanability - O O

29 Cleaning equipment

Core & Shell New & Existing Interiors New & Existing Buildings
1: Equipment and Cleaning Agents - O O
2: Chemical Storage - O O

01 Air quality standards

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Standards for Volatile Substances - P P P P
2: Standards for Particulate Matter and Inorganic Gases - P P P P
3: Radon P P P P P
4: Operational Kitchen Air Quality P - - - -

02 Smoking ban

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Indoor Smoking Ban P P P P P
2: Outdoor Smoking Ban - - P P P
3: Smoke-Free Campus - P - - -

03 Ventilation effectiveness

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Ventilation Design P P - P P
2: Demand Controlled Ventilation P P - P -
3: System Balancing P P - P P
4: Ventilation Rates for Residences - - P - -

04 VOC reduction

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Interior Paints and Coatings P P P P P
2: Interior Adhesives and Sealants P P P P P
3: Flooring P P P P P
4: Insulation P P P P P
5: Furniture and Furnishings P P - P P

05 Air filtration

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Filter Accommodation P P P P P
2: Particle Filtration P P P P P
3: Air Filtration Maintenance P P P P P

06 Microbe and mold control

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Cooling Coil Mold Reduction P P P P P
2: Mold Inspections P P P P P

07 Construction pollution management

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Duct Protection P P P P P
2: Filter Replacement P P P P P
3: Moisture Absorption Management P P P P P
4: Dust Containment and Removal P P P P P

08 Healthy entrance

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Permanent Entryway Walk-Off Systems - P P P O
2: Entryway Air Seal - P P P O
3: Playing Field Staging Area - P - - -

09 Cleaning protocol

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Cleaning Plan for Occupied Spaces P P P P P

10 Pesticide management

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Pesticide Use - P P P P

11 Fundamental material safety

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Asbestos and Lead Restriction P P P P P
2: Lead Abatement P P P P P
3: Asbestos Abatement P P P P P
4: Polychlorinated Biphenyl Abatement P P P P P
5: Mercury Limitation P P P P P
6: Playground Equipment Safety - P - - -

12 Moisture management

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Exterior Liquid Water Management P P P P O
2: Interior Liquid Water Management P P P P O
3: Condensation Management P P P P O
4: Material Selection and Protection P P P P O

13 Air flush

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Air Flush O O O O O

14 Air infiltration management

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Air Leakage Testing O O - O O
2: Leak Tests for Residences - - O - -

15 Increased ventilation

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Increased Outdoor Air Supply - - O - O

16 Humidity control

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Relative Humidity O O O O O
2: Shower Moisture Barrier - O - - -

17 Direct source ventilation

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Pollution Isolation and Exhaust O O - O O
2: Exhaust Hood Design Guidelines O - - - -
3: Makeup Air System Design O - - - -
4: Appliance Guidelines O - - - -
5: Locker Rooms - O - - -

18 Air quality monitoring and feedback

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Indoor Air Monitoring O O O O O
2: Air Data Record Keeping and Response O O O O O
3: Environmental Measures Display O O O O O

19 Operable windows

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Full Control O O P O O
2: Outdoor Air Measurement - O - O O
3: Window Operation Management - O - O O

20 Outdoor air systems

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems O O O O O

21 Displacement ventilation

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Displacement Ventilation Design and Application O O O O O
2: System Performance O O O O O

22 Pest control

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Pest Reduction P P - P O
2: Pest Inspection P P O P O

23 Advanced air purification

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Carbon Filtration O O O O O
2: Air Sanitization O O O O O
3: Air Quality Maintenance O O O O O

24 Combustion minimization

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Appliance and Heater Combustion Ban - O O O O
2: Low-Emission Combustion Sources - O O O O
3: Engine Exhaust Reduction - O O O O
4: Construction Equipment O O O O O

25 Toxic material reduction

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Perfluorinated Compound Limitation O O O O O
2: Flame Retardant Limitation O O O O O
3: Phthalate (Plasticizers) Limitation O O O O O
4: Isocyanate-Based Polyurethane Limitation O O O O O
5: Urea-Formaldehyde Restriction O O O O O

26 Enhanced material safety

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Precautionary Material Selection O O O O O

27 Antimicrobial activity for surfaces

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: High-Touch Surfaces O O O O O
2: Locker Room Coating - O - - -

28 Cleanable environment

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Material Properties P O O P O
2: Cleanability P O O P O
3: Cleanable Locker Rooms - O - - -

29 Cleaning equipment

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Equipment and Cleaning Agents O O O O O
2: Chemical Storage O O O O O

P9 Advanced cleaning

Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
1: Advanced Cleaning Protocols O - - - -