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

WELL Crosswalks & Alignments

The International WELL Building Institute™ (IWBI™) recognizes and values the complementary nature of green building and building for occupant health and wellness. To support projects pursuing both the WELL Building Standard™ (WELL) and leading green building standards from around the world, the IWBI is putting forth WELL Crosswalks.

Crosswalks are intended to identify synergies between WELL and other green building standards, and streamline efforts for projects seeking a dual rating by acknowledging where WELL Building Standard requirements are deemed equivalent and aligned with aspects of the alternate building rating tool.

IWBI continues to support research on equivalent standards to ones referenced within the WELL Building Standard. Currently, WELL has formed Crosswalks with Green Building Council of Australia (Green Star), BRE (BREEAM), U.S. Green Building Council (LEED) and the International Living Future Institute (Living Building Challenge).

Crosswalks identify synergies between WELL and other green building standards, and streamline efforts for projects seeking a dual rating by acknowledging where the WELL Building Standard requirements are deemed equivalent or aligned with aspects of the alternate building rating tool.
IWBI collaborated with the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) to identify alignments between Green Star, with BRE to streamline the process of achieving WELL and BREEAM certification, and with USGBC and GBCI to identify synergies between WELL and LEED.
Yes, projects must always be pursuing dual certification to use crosswalks.
The crosswalks only pertain to: LEED v4, BREEAM 2014 New Construction (NC) or 2014 Refurbishment & Fit Out (RFO); and Green Star Design & As Built v1.1, Interiors v1.1, or Performance v1.
Yes, the project can schedule their performance verification, however, IWBI will not award WELL Certification until proof of credit from the green building rating system is provided.
The project must submit proof of the green building standard certification award, as well as evidence that the equivalent credit was achieved.
There is currently no agreed overlay with any older versions of green building standard schemes. Any equivalency to WELL Feature requirements needs to be submitted for consideration on a Feature-by-Feature, project-by-project basis. Approved Equivalencies are added to the online digital standard bi-weekly, so check for updates.
Proof of the awarded credit is all we need to accept its equivalency. So even if something might have a spot check or visual inspection (or in rare cases, on-site testing) listed for WELL, that’s skipped if the projected is awarded a crosswalked credit.
No, however the project may be able to reference the green building credit requirements as support of an Equivalency proposal.
The crosswalk is currently open to all projects that have certified under the listed schemes. Given that these projects will still be subject to onsite testing and Performance Verification under WELL, it is advisable to investigate any changes or maintenance activities which may have occurred since green building certification was attained – for example, any new furniture or painting activities that may impact indoor air quality.
The UKR/EUR designation within the BREEAM/WELL crosswalk highlights that there is an existing regulation or law that will likely contribute positively towards achievement. It is identifying projects located in the UK/EU have a head start towards achievement of these WELL Features. Final approval and validation through Documentation Review and Performance Verification will still be required for all items - for example, all Features in the Water concept will still be subject to onsite water quality sampling and laboratory analysis by the WELL Assessor.

 

Have additional questions?
Please reach out to your WELL Assessor or contact technical@wellcertified.com, if your project is not yet registered.



LEED

LEED and WELL work alongside one another to ensure that buildings and communities preserve energy and precious resources for a brighter and more equitable future; while supporting enhanced human health, well-being and performance.

IWBI, USGBC and GBCI have developed the following guidance to show how LEED can assist in meeting WELL, and to show how WELL can assist in achieving LEED. The following crosswalk document outlines where achievement of LEED credits and WELL features will provide achievement of a credit or feature in the corresponding program.



Green Building Council of Australia - Green Star

The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) and the International WELL Building Institute™ (IWBI™) announced a new partnership in 2016, and are working collaboratively to promote health and wellbeing in the design, construction and operations of buildings, fitouts and communities in Australia.

The document provides guidance specific to new buildings or new fitouts being rated under Green Star – Design & As Built or Green Star – Interiors. Future versions will include guidance specific to buildings seeking Green Star – Performance ratings.



BRE - BREEAM

BRE and the International WELL Building Institute™ (IWBI™) are collaborating to promote health and wellbeing in the design, construction and operation of buildings and fit-outs, internationally. The document, Assessing Health and Wellbeing in Buildings, has been created to make it easier for those wishing to obtain both a certified BREEAM rating and a WELL Certified™ rating. It also sets out the areas where WELL requirements are addressed by UK and/or EU regulations, and where these can be omitted from an assessment for buildings undergoing a WELL assessment in these territories.