IWBI WELL Certifications and Indoor Air Quality Monitoring: How to Maximize Your Scorecards

There are many facets to healthy indoor environments, from acoustics and lighting to ergonomics and thermal comfort. One of the most important of these is indoor air quality. With a deep connection to health and well-being, promoting good indoor air quality is essential for building occupant health and is crucial for earning a WELL certification. 

What Is WELL?

The WELL Standard was established by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) to advance health and wellness through the transformation of the built environment. Building off WELL v1, IWBI launched the WELL v2 program and the WELL Performance Rating, both of which focus almost exclusively on building occupant health and well-being. 

While WELL v1 contained seven key concepts that applicants had to optimize for certification, WELL v2 has ten. These include physical conditions, like “Air”, “Light”, and “Water”, and more subjective areas, such as “Mind”, “Community”, and “Nourishment”. Because of the enormous impact of air quality on our bodies, air is listed first among the key concepts WELL aims to enhance. In the context of WELL as a certification program, improving air quality and air quality awareness can earn many points toward certification. 

Image via https://www.wellcertified.com/

Achieving IWBI WELL V2 With IAQ Optimizations

Throughout its standards, WELL promotes excellent indoor air quality by rewarding diverse methods of improving and understanding air. These include eliminating and reducing sources of pollutants, intervening in behaviors that worsen air quality, and a special emphasis on implementing IAQ monitoring systems that provide insights into air. 

Indoor air quality monitoring devices can help you secure the preconditions A01, A03, and T01, as well as earn your project points through A05, A06, A08, T06, and T07. Several of these features contain multiple parts, providing you with various options to meet the requirements. This article highlights the features, parts, and options that can be met via continuous IAQ monitoring, and verified by sensor data. We’ve broken down these categories below.

A01 Air Quality (Precondition)

The first feature listed under the Air concept is A01 Air Quality, which provides air quality thresholds to be verified through performance testing or sensor data, or a shareable technical document. A01 has five parts, which detail air quality thresholds for different air pollutant types and how to verify that levels within a project do not exceed these limits. 

• Part 1:  PM2.5 levels are 15 μg/m³ or lower, and PM10 levels are 50 μg/m³ or lower, to be verified through a performance test or sensor data. Alternative thresholds are available for projects in highly polluted areas. 
• Part 2: Formaldehyde levels are 10 µg/m³ or lower, Benzene levels are 50 µg/m³ or lower, and Toluene levels are 300 µg/m³ or lower in all occupiable spaces confirmed via laboratory testing. Alternatively, TVOC thresholds of 500 µg/m³ or lower are met in occupiable spaces that utilize continuous TVOC monitoring.
• Part 3: Carbon monoxide levels are 10 mg/m³ [9 ppm] or lower, and ozone levels are 100 µg/m³ [51 ppb] or lower, to be verified through a performance test or continuous monitoring. 
• Part 4: Radon levels are 0.15 Bq/L [4 pCi/L] or lower, with a test being conducted for every 2,300 m² [25,000 ft²] of regularly occupied space at or below grade. Alternatively, these regularly occupied spaces at or below grade meet Feature A03, Part 1, Option 1.
• Part 5: The pollutants listed in Parts 1-3 are measured annually and submitted through the WELL Digital Platform. Continuous monitors follow the requirements found in the Performance Verification Guidebook. 

A03 Ventilation Design (Precondition)

In order to dilute natural and product-generated air pollutants, the A03 feature requires projects to bring fresh air into your spaces through natural or mechanical means to ensure adequate ventilation. There are four options for projects to choose from to meet this precondition:

• Option 1: Guidelines for mechanically ventilated spaces
• Option 2: Guidelines for naturally ventilated spaces
• Option 3: Guidelines for naturally ventilated spaces in areas with elevated particulate matter
• Option 4: Guidelines for monitoring ventilation

Of these options, Option 4 can be met by continuous monitoring and verified by sensor data. Option 4 requires all occupiable spaces to be monitored for CO2 levels and ensure that they are either:

• 900ppm or less
• No higher than 500ppm compared to outdoor levels

A05 Enhanced Air Quality (4 Points)

Split into three parts, this air feature requires projects to go above and beyond current IAQ guidelines to provide enhanced air quality for the health and well-being of building occupants.

Part I: Meet enhanced thresholds for particulate matter is worth 2 points and is verified by a performance test. For all spaces, the threshold requirements are:

• PM2.5 ≤ 12 μg/m³
• PM10 ≤ 30 μg/m³

• PM2.5 ≤ 10 μg/m³
• PM10 ≤ 20 μg/m³

Part 2: Meet enhanced thresholds for organic gases is worth 1 point, verified by performance testing.

• Acetaldehyde: 140 µg/m³ or lower 

• Benzene: 3 µg/m³ or lower

• Formaldehyde: 9 µg/m³ or lower
  

• Naphthalene: 9 µg/m³ or lower

• Toluene: 300 µg/m³ or lower

• One of the following:

  • Acrylonitrile: 5 µg/m³ or lower

  • Caprolactam: 2.2 µg/m³ or lower

Part 3: Meet enhanced thresholds for inorganic gases is also worth 1 more point, verified by sensor data.

For all spaces, the following thresholds must be met:

• Carbon monoxide less than 7 mg/m³ [6 ppm]
• Nitrogen dioxide less than 40 µg/m³ [21 ppb]

A06 Enhanced Ventilation Design (2 Points)

Building off of A03, this feature calls for advanced natural or mechanical ventilation methods in order to secure a maximum 2 points through continuous monitoring.

Part 1: Increase outdoor air supply is worth 2 points. 

There are four options to meet this requirement:

• Option 1: Increased air supply. Verified by Letter of Assurance - Engineer.
• Option 2: Demand control ventilation. Verified by Letter of Assurance - Engineer.
• Option 3: Enhanced natural ventilation. Verified by Technical Document (Audited).
• Option 4: Ventilation monitoring. Verified by Sensor Data
  

Implementing IAQ monitoring allows you to go through Option 4: Ventilation monitoring to meet the requirement of Part 1 and gain 2 points. 

Under Option 4, one of the following carbon dioxide thresholds is met in occupiable spaces:

• 750 ppm or less.
  
• Not more than 350 ppm above outdoor levels.
  

A08 Air Quality Monitoring and Awareness (2 Points)

WELL divides air quality monitoring and awareness optimization into two distinct parts. Part 1 focuses on implementing air quality monitors, and Part 2 focuses on promoting air quality awareness.

Part 1: Implementing air quality monitors is worth one point and sets air quality parameters, density, data, and calibration requirements for air quality monitors used for WELL. To satisfy these criteria, monitors must measure three of the following, in compliance with the requirements outlined in the Continuous Monitoring Protocols of the Performance Verification Guidebook: 

• PM2.5 or PM10 (accuracy 25% at 50 μg/m³)
• Carbon dioxide (accuracy 10% at 750 ppm)
• Carbon monoxide (accuracy 1 ppm at values between 0 and 10 ppm)
• Ozone (accuracy 10 ppb at values between 0 and 100 ppb)
• Nitrogen dioxide (accuracy 20 ppb at values between 0 and 100 ppb)
• Total VOCs (accuracy 25% at 500 μg/m³)
• Formaldehyde (accuracy 20 ppb at values between 0 and 100 ppb)
  

Alternatively, sensors that are RESET accredited Grade B or above may be utilized, so long as they meet the calibration, measurement interval, and reporting frequencies outlined below:

Calibration:

• Sensors are recalibrated or replaced annually, and projects submit documentation attesting to their calibration or replacement annually through the WELL digital platform.
• Sensors measuring thermal comfort parameters are recalibrated or replaced every three years, and projects submit documentation attesting to their calibration or replacement every three years through the WELL digital platform.

Measurement intervals:

• Sensors must provide continuous measurements during occupied hours.
• Measurements are taken at intervals of no longer than 1 hour for radon, and 15 minutes for other parameters.
  

Reporting Frequency:

• Data are submitted annually through the WELL digital platform.

The placement and density of the monitors also must fit the following criteria:

• Monitor density is tiered based on a project's occupiable space:

  • Projects with occupiable space of < 3250 m2: 1 monitor per 325 m2 [3,500 ft2] in occupiable spaces (minimum 2)

  • Projects with occupiable space of 3250-25,000 m2: 1 monitor per 500 

    m2 [5,400 ft2] in occupiable spaces (minimum 10)

  • Projects with occupiable space of > 25,000 m2: 1 monitor per 1000 m2 [10,800 ft2] in occupiable spaces (minimum 50)

• Monitors are located 3.6-5.6 ft above the finished floor at locations where occupants would typically be seated or standing and at least 3.3 ft away from doors, operable windows and air supply/exhaust outlets.

Part 2: Promote Air Quality Awareness takes Part 1 a step further. To encourage the dispersion of air quality data to regular building occupants, WELL offers an additional point for projects to display their air quality data either through display screens or through digital means, including a phone application or website.

T01 Thermal Performance (Precondition)

Comfortable thermal conditions are required here in order to meet this precondition. Projects must ensure regularly occupied spaces are thermally maintained at levels outlined in the WELL guidebook. 

Continuous monitoring can help you achieve both Parts 1 and 2 of this precondition by measuring and maintaining dry-bulb temperatures between a specified range based on your project’s ventilation method, and by meeting Feature T06 requirements which are covered in the section below.

T06 Thermal Air Comfort Monitoring (1 Point)

To attain points for T06, projects must monitor thermal parameters (dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity) in real-time and display environmental measures according to specific guidelines. The following monitor requirements must be satisfied for your building project to gain points for thermal comfort monitoring:

• The project monitors temperature and relative humidity with sensors that comply with the Device Requirements listed in the WELL Performance Verification Guidebook.
• Real-time data displaying temperature and humidity are made available in all regularly occupied spaces. There must be a minimum of one display screen, or signage on how to access a website or mobile application per every 5,400 ft² of occupiable floor area.
• Data are submitted annually through the WELL digital platform.

• Sensors are recalibrated or replaced at least every three years and certificates attesting to their calibration or replacement are submitted every three years through the WELL digital platform.

Like Part 2 from A08, projects need to go beyond parameter monitoring and provide thermal comfort values to regular building occupants. Again, these readings can be provided by a display or through digital options, including a phone application or website. 

T07 Humidity Control (1 Point)

Feature T07 is achieved by controlling relative humidity for at least 98% of operating hours during the year. The systems required to achieve this goal will vary based on physical location and will be affected by the arrangement of building entrances and locations used for taking humidity measurements.

Projects that meet feature T06: Thermal Air Comfort Monitoring, and maintain humidity between 30% and 60% in regularly occupied areas can satisfy requirements for Option 3 via continuous monitoring.

The WELL Performance Rating

For those looking for a more flexible approach, the WELL Performance Rating provides an alternative to, or stepping stone towards, WELL v2. This new standard is focused on data-driven forms of monitoring and allows you to select a subset of goals from WELL v2 that most suits your business needs. Unlike v2, there are no tiers or preconditions required. Of a total of 33 features, spread out across seven themes, you must select 21. The themes included are:

• Indoor Air Quality (9 features)
• Water Quality Management (4 features)
• Lighting Measurement (2 features)
• Thermal Conditions (2 features)
• Acoustic Performance (5 features)
• Environmental Monitoring (6 features)
• Occupant Experience (5 features)

Verification Pathways for the WELL Performance Rating:

The Well Performance Rating also offers new ways to verify the improvements and optimizations that the standard requires you to make. It’s possible to get accredited using just one of these methods, but most companies rely on a combination. These pathways to verification take place in the following three ways: 

1. On-site inspection conducted by a WELL Performance Testing Agent.
2. Continuous monitoring, usually via IAQ monitors. The data is then sent to WELL for analysis.
3. Occupant surveys that provide data or either Occupant Experience or Thermal Comfort.

The WELL Performance Rating: Accreditation And Renewal

The first step to achieving WELL Performance Rating accreditation is choosing 21 of the 33 features that are more important to you. Once this is done, you can begin to implement the strategies needed to achieve these features, such as monitor installation and occupant surveys.

You must provide one month’s worth of data from your selected features in order to get accredited with the WELL Performance Rating. As mentioned, these can be taken from customer surveys, continuous monitoring, or on-site inspection. Renewal takes place annually and requires data that covers the previous year.

The WELL Performance Rating: How IAQ Monitoring Can Help

Like WELL v2, the WELL Performance Rating acknowledges the considerable impact that air quality can have on occupant health. Reflecting this, “Indoor Air Quality” contains nine features, significantly more than any other theme. Not only can IAQ monitoring help you secure most of the features in the Indoor Air Quality category, it can also cover some of those in “Thermal Conditions” and “Environmental Monitoring”, potentially earning you 13 of the necessary 21 points. You can see how this might work below:

Indoor Air Quality (+ 7 points)

• PA1 Meet Thresholds for Particulate Matter
• PA2 Meet Enhanced Thresholds for Particulate Matter
• PA3 Meet Thresholds for Organic Gasses
• PA4 Meet Enhanced Thresholds for Organic Gases
• PA5 Meet Thresholds for Inorganic Gasses
• PA7 Ensure Adequate Ventilation
• PA8 Increase Outdoor Air Supply

Thermal Conditions (+ 2 points)

• PT1 Provide Acceptable Thermal Environment
• PT2 Manage Relative Humidity
  

Environmental Monitoring (+ 4 points )

• PM1 Measure Air Parameters
• PM2 Install Indoor Air Monitors
• PM3 Promote Air Quality Awareness
• PM4 Monitor Thermal Environment

Earning Points Toward WELL With Air Quality Monitoring From Kaiterra

From installation to air quality education, Kaiterra’s line of commercial devices is designed to help you achieve WELL v2 optimizations A05, A06, A08, T06, and T07, adding six points to your WELL application, and satisfying preconditions A01, A03, and T01. The same devices can add up to 13 of the 21 features required for the WELL Performance Rating. Accuracy and resolution also satisfy WELL’s requirements. The table below contains a breakdown of how the parameters that Kaiterra’s devices measure can contribute to your WELL v2 score. (Note: simply monitoring the parameters doesn't guarantee the points under each feature or part.)

To learn how Kaiterra helps you achieve WELL certification, download the info pack here..

Why Choose Kaiterra for Your WELL Project

From installation to continuous training, automated smart reporting, and support on improving your indoor environment, Kaiterra’s IAQ monitoring solutions are designed to help you achieve WELL v2 certification, adding value at every step:

Understand Your Air with Continuous Monitoring

Kaiterra’s commercial air quality monitors measure PM2.5, TVOC, CO2, dry-bulb temperature, and relative humidity every minute, well within requirements for accuracy, resolution, and collection frequency. Continuous monitoring also helps you gain a holistic view of your air and make data-driven decisions to improve your indoor environment in the long run.

Easy Calibration, Lowest Maintenance Cost 

With an innovative modular design, Kaiterra IAQ monitors - the Sensedge and Sensedge Mini - can be easily recalibrated by swapping out old sensors for new ones. New sensors come with a certificate of calibration, which you can submit to WELL online. This process replaces traditional calibration and field calibration, significantly reducing maintenance costs and sensor down time, while minimizing the carbon footprint compared to replacing the whole monitoring system.

Advanced Data Analytics and Reporting

The Kaiterra Dashboard provides a new way of analyzing your IAQ data. Manage, compare, and analyze your data in one place, and generate intelligent reports with our pre-built template. Users can opt-in to receive weekly reports with detailed insights, optimization tips, and opportunities to improve IAQ - all powered by Kaiterra’s unique algorithm.

You can also leverage the WELL Certification report to get a clear pass/fail result to stay on top of your certification progress. Export your data directly in the format recognized for WELL certification.

Proven Success: Kaiterra Commercial Air Quality Monitoring in IWBI’s NYC Office

In 2019, IWBI’s global headquarters relocated its office and earned a WELL Platinum rating. 

IWBI utilized the Kaiterra Sensedge in its NYC headquarters.

Featuring Kaiterra’s Sensedge, among other indoor health optimizations, IWBI received over 80 points toward its own certification program. To read more about this project, check out our full case study: How IWBI Transformed Its Aging NYC Office Into a Healthy Workplace.

For more inspiration, take a look at how some leaders in business and commercial real estate achieved WELL Platinum status (Often with a little help from Kaiterra IAQ monitoring solutions!) here.

Kaiterra’s commercial  air quality monitoring devices are great options for not only WELL, but also RESET, LEED, and more. Find out more about our commercial line of air quality monitors by reaching out to our team below!