This is a legacy version of the WELL Building Standard. Please check the latest version here.
  1. Fitness
  2. Interior fitness circulation

Interior fitness circulation

Features>Fitness>64. Interior fitness circulation

64. Interior fitness circulation

Intent: 

To encourage intermittent bouts of physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior through accessible, safe, and visually appealing stairs, entryways, and corridors.

The integration of interior pathways and stairs within the built environment can provide a convenient way to incorporate short periods of physical activity into the workday, thus reducing sedentary tendencies. Stair climbing is a low-impact, moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity that burns calories and has been associated with improved cardiorespiratory fitness and a lower risk of stroke. To encourage greater use, pathways and stairs should be aesthetically pleasing and easily accessible from high-traffic routes.

Part 1: Stair Accessibility

In projects of 2 to 4 floors, at least one common staircase meets the following requirements:

a.27 Stairs are accessible to regular building occupants during all regular business hours.
b.87 Wayfinding signage and point-of-decision prompts are present to encourage stair use (at least one sign per elevator bank).
Part 2: Stair Promotion

In projects of 2 to 4 floors, at least one common staircase meets the following requirements:

a.27 Located within 7.5 m [25 ft] of the entrance to the building or the edge of its lobby.
b.27 Clearly visible from the main entrance to the project, or located visually before any elevators present upon entering from the main entrance.
c.87 Stair width set at a minimum of 1.4 m [56 in] between handrails.
Part 3: Facilitative Aesthetics

In projects of 2 to 4 floors, both common stairs and paths of frequent travel display elements of aesthetic appeal by incorporating at least 2 of the following:

a.87 Artwork, including decorative painting.
b.87 Music.
c.27 Daylighting using windows or skylights of at least 1 m² [10.8 ft²] in size.
d.87 View windows to the outdoors or building interior.
e. Light levels of at least 215 lux [20 fc] when the stairs are in use.
Cardiovascular
Skeletal
Muscular

Applicability Matrix

Core & Shell New & Existing Buildings New & Existing Interiors
Part 1: Stair Accessibility P P O
Part 2: Stair Promotion P P O
Part 3: Facilitative Aesthetics P P O
Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
Part 1: Stair Accessibility - P P O -
Part 2: Stair Promotion - P P O -
Part 3: Facilitative Aesthetics - P P O -

Verification Methods Matrix

Letters of Assurance Annotated Documents On-Site Checks
Part 1: Stair Accessibility Visual Inspection
Part 2: Stair Promotion Visual Inspection
Part 3: Facilitative Aesthetics Visual Inspection

27

U.S. Green Building Council. Pilot Credit 78: Design for Active Occupants. http://www.usgbc.org/node/4810558?return=/credits/new-construction/v4. Published 2013. Accessed October 17, 2014.
64.1.a

LEED v4 Pilot Credit 78: Design for Active Occupants for primary staircase(s) includes classifying regularly occupied floors for re-entry, allowing all building users to access them, and providing access via stairs to at least 50% of the tenant floors.
64.2.a

LEED v4 Pilot Credit 78: Design for Active Occupants includes a requirement for a main staircase to be located within 25 ft of any edge of the lobby.
64.2.b

LEED v4 Pilot Credit 78: Design for Active Occupants includes a requirement to locate a main staircase that is visible before occupants encounter elevators and/or escalators.
64.3.c

LEED v4 Pilot Credit 78: Design for Active Occupants requires some features, one of which is the provision of daylighting with windows and/or skylights that are at least 8 square feet.
87

New York City Departments of Design and Construction, Health and Mental Hygiene, Transportation, City Planning. Active Design Guidelines: Promoting Physical Activity and Health in Design. Published 2010: 4-7; 34; 43; 72-76; 85-87.
64.1.b

NYC Active Design Guidelines: Promoting Physical Activity and Health in Design recommends including permanent signage encouraging stair use, to be integrated with the building’s wayfinding program.
64.2.c

NYC Active Design Guidelines recommends a strategy for making stairs wide enough for traveling in groups, or in two directions, a width of at least 56 inches can comfortably accommodate this.
64.3.b

NYC Active Design Guidelines recommends strategies for encouraging stair use through a number of methods, including adding music to stairwells.
64.3.d

NYC Active Design Guidelines recommends strategies for encouraging stair use through a number of methods, including highlighting interesting views onto nature or interior areas.
64.3.a

NYC Active Design Guidelines recommends strategies for encouraging stair use through a number of methods, including the incorporation of artwork into the stair environment.
Features>Fitness>64. Interior fitness circulation