Commercial Performance & Occupant Wellbeing
A clear guide to the WELL Building Standard and the role of indoor environmental quality, comfort and occupant experience in commercial buildings.
For developers, architects, consultants and building owners exploring how air quality, thermal comfort, daylight, acoustics and operational performance can support healthier indoor environments.
Discuss Your WELL PathwayIn Brief
WELL Certification is a building performance pathway based on the WELL Building Standard. It provides a structured framework for addressing how building design, operations and organisational policies can support human health and wellbeing within a specific building or occupied space.
WELL considers ten interconnected concepts: air, water, nourishment, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind and community. Together, these concepts connect building systems and workplace practices with the conditions people experience across commercial buildings, workplaces, fitouts and existing assets.
Unlike an energy rating, WELL is not primarily intended to measure energy efficiency, carbon emissions or code compliance. It addresses the occupant wellbeing and indoor environmental quality layer of building performance and can sit alongside sustainability, energy and operational rating frameworks.
Design, operational and organisational strategies across air, water, nourishment, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind and community.
No. WELL focuses on human health, wellbeing and occupied building conditions. Energy use and carbon performance are assessed through separate compliance and rating frameworks.
WELL can complement sustainability and operational performance frameworks by addressing how buildings and workplace practices affect the people who use them.
Knowledge Navigation
Explore the WELL certification pathway, the principles of indoor environmental quality and the building systems, operational practices and workplace strategies that influence occupant health, comfort and wellbeing.
Foundation
An introduction to WELL Certification, individual WELL Ratings and the role of the WELL Building Standard.
Framework
How WELL organises air, water, nourishment, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind and community.
Certification Pathway
How preconditions, optimisations, documentation, performance verification and certification levels may apply.
Occupant Experience
The relationship between building systems, indoor conditions and the health, comfort and experience of occupants.
Air
How ventilation, filtration, contaminant control and ongoing building operation influence indoor air quality.
Comfort
How temperature, radiant conditions, air movement, humidity and HVAC operation affect occupant comfort.
Visual Environment
How daylight access, electric lighting, glare control and façade design influence visual comfort and occupant experience.
Framework Comparison
How WELL’s focus on health and wellbeing differs from the operational energy, water and environmental performance measured by NABERS.
Operational Performance
How WELL can be pursued across existing assets through operational policies, building improvements and verified performance.
WELL Certification
WELL Certification is a third party verified pathway for projects seeking to address health and wellbeing across building design, construction, operations and organisational policies. It applies the WELL Building Standard to a defined building or interior space and evaluates whether the project has satisfied the requirements associated with its chosen certification level.
In commercial projects, WELL can organise decisions relating to air, water, nourishment, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind and community. These concepts connect physical building conditions with operational practices and the experience of people using the space.
WELL Certification is distinct from the more targeted WELL Ratings, which focus on specific themes such as building performance, health and safety or equity. Project teams may pursue WELL alongside sustainability, leasing and operational performance objectives where occupant wellbeing forms an important part of the project brief.
WELL Building Standard
The WELL Building Standard is an evidence based framework for measuring, improving and verifying how buildings and organisations can support human health and wellbeing. WELL v2 is structured around ten concepts and combines mandatory preconditions with optional optimisations that allow projects to develop a pathway suited to their building type, users and objectives.
WELL translates broad health and wellbeing objectives into requirements that can be documented, measured or verified. Depending on the feature, this may involve design information, operational policies, material information, occupant surveys or onsite performance testing.
The standard connects design decisions with the way a building is commissioned, operated and experienced after occupation. This broader approach helps teams consider indoor environmental quality as an ongoing performance responsibility rather than a design stage exercise alone.
WELL Certification
WELL Certification provides a structured pathway for demonstrating how a project addresses human health and wellbeing through the WELL Building Standard. Projects must satisfy all applicable preconditions and earn points through optional optimisations, supported by documentation review and onsite performance verification.
Assessment begins with a project scorecard that identifies the applicable preconditions and the optimisations selected to support the target certification level. These features may relate to design, construction, organisational policy, operations, testing, monitoring or ongoing management.
Evidence is reviewed through documentation submitted for the project. Relevant environmental conditions are then confirmed through performance verification, which may include onsite testing of factors such as air quality, water quality, lighting, thermal conditions and acoustics.
WELL is therefore best considered early. Requirements are generally easier to coordinate when building services, lighting, materials, workplace policies and operational responsibilities are reviewed before the design or fitout becomes fixed.
The exact requirements depend on the project scope and whether the pathway is WELL Certification or WELL Core. In general, project teams should allow for:
Requires at least 40 points and completion of all applicable preconditions. No minimum number of points per concept applies to standard WELL Bronze Certification.
Requires at least 50 points and all applicable preconditions. Standard WELL Certification also requires at least one point within each WELL concept.
Requires at least 60 points and all applicable preconditions. Standard WELL Certification also requires at least two points within each WELL concept.
Requires at least 80 points and all applicable preconditions. Standard WELL Certification also requires at least three points within each WELL concept.
The detailed scoring rules should always be confirmed against the current IWBI requirements for the selected pathway, particularly because WELL Core uses different minimum point requirements across concepts. The value of the framework lies not only in the final certification level, but in the way it can shape briefing, design, documentation, building services coordination and long term operation. Read more about how to comply with the WELL Building Standard.
Indoor Environmental Quality
Indoor environmental quality describes the conditions within a building that influence occupant health, comfort and daily experience. These conditions can include air quality, ventilation, temperature, lighting, glare, acoustics, material exposure and the operational settings that affect how an occupied building performs over time.
Occupants may experience indoor conditions differently, but many of the underlying causes can be assessed through building science, design review and performance testing. Ventilation rates, pollutant sources, façade design, glazing, HVAC systems, lighting and acoustic control all influence the quality of the internal environment.
WELL brings these factors into a structured health and wellbeing framework, helping project teams treat occupant experience as an important component of overall commercial building performance.
Indoor environmental quality outcomes rarely depend on one discipline alone. Daylight access may also affect glare, solar heat gain and thermal comfort. Air quality may depend on ventilation design, filtration, material emissions, cleaning practices and ongoing system maintenance.
WELL is therefore most effective when design decisions, building services and operational policies are coordinated as part of one connected performance strategy. Read more about how WELL relates to indoor environmental quality.
WELL Concepts
WELL v2 is organised around ten concepts covering physical environmental conditions, organisational policies and the wider experience of people within buildings. Each concept contains features with specific health and wellbeing objectives, including mandatory preconditions and optional optimisations. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Indoor air quality, ventilation, filtration, source control and pollutant management.
Drinking water quality, access, treatment, monitoring and management.
Food environments, nutritional information and support for healthier choices.
Daylight, electric lighting, visual comfort, glare control and circadian support.
Planning, amenities and organisational strategies that encourage physical activity.
Temperature, radiant conditions, humidity, air movement and personal comfort control.
Acoustic comfort, background noise, reverberation and speech privacy.
Material ingredients, hazardous substances, emissions and responsible specification.
Mental health support, restoration, stress management and connection with nature.
Inclusion, engagement, health services, communication and organisational support.
Air Quality & Ventilation
Indoor air quality is a central part of the WELL Building Standard because it directly connects building services, material selection, maintenance and occupancy with the conditions people experience each day. In commercial buildings, air quality can be influenced by outdoor air supply, filtration, pollutant sources, moisture, construction practices, mechanical system performance and ongoing building operation.
A mechanical system may be designed to provide suitable outdoor air, but the occupied result also depends on commissioning, controls, air distribution, actual occupancy, maintenance and the way the system responds under normal operating conditions. WELL therefore considers both design intent and verified building performance.
Relevant strategies may address source control, construction pollution, ventilation effectiveness, filtration, moisture management and the monitoring of pollutants or ventilation conditions. These measures work together rather than operating as isolated compliance items.
Where air movement or ventilation effectiveness cannot be understood from drawings alone, CFD modelling, mechanical design review, commissioning evidence and onsite testing may help identify whether the intended strategy is likely to perform across the occupied space.
Mechanical design, outdoor air provision, filtration, material selection and pollutant source control establish the foundation for healthier indoor air.
Actual conditions depend on occupancy, controls, system operation, cleaning, maintenance and whether air is distributed effectively throughout the occupied areas.
Documentation, commissioning and onsite measurements may be required to demonstrate that relevant WELL air quality requirements have been achieved. Read more about ventilation, air quality and WELL Rating.
Thermal Comfort
Thermal comfort is one of the most immediate ways occupants experience building performance. It is influenced by air temperature, radiant conditions, humidity, air movement, clothing, activity levels, façade performance, solar exposure and the degree of personal control available within the space.
A workplace may meet a nominal temperature setpoint and still feel uncomfortable where solar exposure, radiant heat from glazing, draughts, stagnant air or poor zoning affect particular occupants. Thermal comfort must therefore be considered as an interaction between the building envelope, mechanical systems, internal loads and patterns of use.
Within WELL, thermal performance may be addressed through design criteria, onsite evaluation, occupant feedback and strategies that provide greater control over local conditions. This recognises that comfort preferences vary and that one uniform setting may not satisfy every occupant.
For project teams, thermal comfort modelling can help identify areas at risk of overheating, excessive radiant temperatures or uneven conditions before they become operational complaints, tenancy concerns or post-occupancy performance gaps.
Façade design, glazing, insulation, shading and orientation influence heat gain, heat loss, surface temperatures and radiant comfort near the building perimeter.
System capacity, zoning, air distribution, control logic and commissioning affect whether suitable conditions can be maintained and adjusted across different occupied areas.
Measured environmental conditions and occupant surveys can help determine whether design assumptions translate into acceptable comfort during normal building operation.
Daylight & Glare
Light is a central part of the indoor environment considered by WELL. In commercial buildings, effective light design involves more than maximising daylight. It requires a balance between daylight access, glare control, electric lighting, solar exposure, façade performance and the visual needs of people using the space throughout the day.
A space may appear bright while still creating visual discomfort through excessive contrast, direct sun, screen reflections or glare from windows and luminaires. Daylight performance must therefore be considered alongside glazing, shading, internal planning, workstation orientation and the electric lighting strategy.
Within WELL, the Light concept connects visual comfort with access to appropriate light throughout the day. Relevant strategies may consider daylight exposure, electric lighting quality, glare management, occupant controls and the way lighting conditions support normal daily patterns.
Daylight modelling can help project teams test daylight distribution, identify glare risks and compare façade, glazing and shading options before design decisions become difficult or costly to change.
Well distributed daylight can improve visual connection with the external environment and reduce dependence on electric lighting during occupied hours.
Direct sun, excessive brightness, contrast and reflections can interfere with visual tasks, particularly in offices, classrooms and screen-based environments.
Façade design, shading, internal layout, electric lighting and occupant controls should work together to provide suitable conditions across changing times and seasons.
Acoustics & Workplace Conditions
Acoustic conditions play an important role in occupant wellbeing, concentration and communication. Within the WELL Building Standard, the Sound concept considers how background noise, speech privacy, reverberation and building services influence the quality of occupied spaces and the daily experience of building users.
A successful acoustic environment is designed to support the activities taking place within a space. Open offices, meeting rooms, healthcare facilities, education environments and collaborative workplaces each require different levels of privacy, speech clarity and background sound control.
Acoustic performance is influenced by building services, façade construction, internal partitions, floor and ceiling systems, room geometry, interior finishes and the interaction between neighbouring spaces. These elements work together to determine how sound is transmitted, reflected and perceived.
Within WELL, acoustic quality forms part of the wider indoor environmental experience alongside air quality, thermal comfort, lighting and occupant wellbeing, helping create workplaces that support focus, collaboration and long term comfort.
Mechanical services, external noise, adjacent tenancies and workplace activity all contribute to the acoustic environment experienced by occupants.
Meeting rooms, consultation spaces and focused work areas often require appropriate acoustic separation to reduce distraction and protect confidential conversations.
Different workplace activities require different acoustic conditions. WELL encourages environments that are appropriate for concentration, communication, collaboration and occupant wellbeing.
Commercial Building Performance
Commercial building performance extends beyond energy efficiency and regulatory compliance. WELL contributes an occupant focused perspective by considering how design, building services, workplace policies and operational practices influence the quality of the indoor environment experienced every day. Rather than replacing other sustainability frameworks, WELL complements them by focusing on the human experience within the building.
Commercial projects are commonly evaluated through frameworks that measure energy efficiency, operational performance, environmental impact and regulatory compliance. WELL complements these measures by considering how the indoor environment supports occupant health, comfort and wellbeing throughout the life of the building.
Many WELL outcomes depend on the same building systems that influence broader environmental performance, including ventilation, lighting, façade design, thermal comfort, acoustics, materials and ongoing facilities management. This creates natural connections between WELL, indoor environmental quality and wider commercial sustainability strategies.
For owners, developers, tenants and consultants, WELL can provide an additional layer of value during project briefing, workplace design, tenancy upgrades, existing building improvements and long term asset management.
Building layout, lighting, materials, thermal comfort, acoustics and workplace planning all contribute to healthier occupied environments.
Ventilation, HVAC, lighting controls, water quality and facilities management all influence the indoor environmental conditions recognised within WELL.
Performance continues after practical completion. Ongoing operation, maintenance, monitoring and workplace management all influence whether healthy indoor environments are maintained over time.
WELL and Other Rating Systems
Commercial buildings are often assessed using multiple frameworks because each evaluates a different aspect of building performance. WELL focuses on how the built environment supports human health and wellbeing, while NABERS benchmarks measured operational performance and Green Star recognises broader sustainability outcomes across the building lifecycle. Rather than competing, these frameworks are designed to complement one another.
Measures how buildings support human health and wellbeing through the design, operation and ongoing performance of occupied spaces across the ten WELL concepts.
Benchmarks measured operational performance through rating tools for energy, water, waste and indoor environment, allowing owners to compare building performance over time.
Recognises sustainability across planning, design, construction and operation, considering environmental, social and economic outcomes throughout the building lifecycle.
Many commercial developments seek multiple certifications or ratings because each framework answers a different question. A project may pursue WELL to enhance occupant wellbeing, NABERS to benchmark operational performance and Green Star to demonstrate broader sustainability leadership.
Rather than competing, these frameworks often reinforce one another. Improvements to ventilation, lighting, thermal comfort, acoustics, building services and operational management can contribute to better outcomes across multiple frameworks, even though each measures performance differently.
Learn more about NABERS, Green Star and Commercial Building Performance to understand how these frameworks work together throughout the lifecycle of a commercial building.
Existing Buildings & Operations
Many WELL strategies relate to how a building is operated after construction is complete. Indoor environmental quality is influenced not only by the original design, but also by building services, maintenance, workplace policies, tenancy fitouts and the way occupied spaces are managed over time.
Environmental conditions often change after a building becomes occupied. Tenant alterations, changing workplace layouts, equipment loads, HVAC settings, maintenance practices and operational decisions can all influence ventilation, lighting, thermal comfort, acoustics and indoor air quality.
Because WELL considers both physical building conditions and operational practices, it is applicable to new developments, existing commercial buildings, workplace refurbishments and tenancy fitouts. The framework encourages ongoing performance rather than focusing solely on design intent.
For owners, tenants and facilities managers, WELL can provide a structured approach to reviewing indoor environmental quality, operational policies and workplace conditions throughout the building lifecycle.
Ventilation systems, façades, central plant and building controls establish many of the indoor environmental conditions experienced by occupants.
Interior layouts, materials, lighting, acoustic treatments and workplace amenities all contribute to the quality of occupied spaces.
Monitoring, maintenance, cleaning, workplace policies and facilities management all influence whether healthy indoor environments are maintained throughout building operation.
WELL Requirements
WELL Certification is generally voluntary and is not a mandatory requirement under Australian building regulations. Instead, it is most often pursued because it forms part of a client brief, tenant requirement, ESG strategy, leasing objective or broader commitment to creating healthier commercial workplaces.
Although WELL Certification is not required by the National Construction Code or most planning authorities, it may become a contractual requirement where it has been included within a project brief, lease agreement or client specification. In these situations, certification targets should be considered from the earliest stages of design.
Many organisations choose WELL Certification because they want to demonstrate leadership in occupant wellbeing, improve indoor environmental quality, support workplace performance or strengthen their sustainability and ESG credentials.
Where WELL Certification forms part of the project brief, early coordination between architects, engineers, sustainability consultants, building services designers and facilities managers can make certification significantly more efficient.
The more important question is whether WELL Certification has been nominated by the client, tenant or asset owner as part of the project objectives. Understanding the certification target, project scope and evidence requirements early helps teams integrate WELL efficiently into design, construction and ongoing building operations.
Workplace Environmental Quality
Modern workplaces are increasingly expected to provide more than functional office space. Occupiers, investors and employers are placing greater emphasis on indoor environmental quality, including air quality, thermal comfort, lighting, acoustics, materials and the overall experience of people using the building. WELL Certification provides a recognised framework for addressing these expectations.
Occupant wellbeing is increasingly considered alongside energy efficiency, sustainability and operational performance when evaluating commercial buildings. Organisations want workplaces that not only operate efficiently but also provide comfortable, healthy and productive environments for the people who use them every day.
WELL Certification supports this objective by providing a structured framework for evaluating indoor environmental quality, workplace policies and operational practices. Rather than relying on general wellbeing claims, the framework encourages measurable strategies that contribute to healthier occupied spaces.
This approach is particularly valuable for organisations seeking to improve workplace quality, attract and retain tenants, strengthen ESG outcomes or demonstrate a long term commitment to healthier commercial buildings.
Healthy indoor environments can contribute to greater comfort, satisfaction and overall workplace experience.
Many organisations use WELL Certification to support tenant expectations, workplace quality and broader sustainability objectives.
Maintaining healthy indoor environments depends on ongoing building operation, maintenance and workplace management throughout the life of the asset.
The Future of Commercial Buildings
Commercial building performance is becoming increasingly holistic. Energy efficiency, operational performance, carbon reduction, indoor environmental quality and occupant wellbeing are no longer viewed as separate disciplines. Together, they provide a more complete understanding of how buildings perform throughout their lifecycle.
Traditional commercial building assessments have focused on regulatory compliance, energy efficiency and operational outcomes. While these remain fundamental, there is growing recognition that building performance also includes the quality of the environments experienced by occupants every day.
WELL Certification complements existing performance frameworks by focusing on the health, comfort and wellbeing of people within occupied spaces. Together with frameworks such as NABERS and Green Star, it contributes to a broader understanding of commercial building performance.
As expectations continue to evolve, successful commercial buildings are increasingly measured not only by how efficiently they operate, but also by how effectively they support the people who use them throughout the building lifecycle.
Rather than replacing existing compliance, sustainability or operational frameworks, WELL Certification complements them by focusing on the quality of the indoor environment and the experience of the people who occupy the building. Together, these frameworks help create healthier, higher performing commercial buildings.
Related Commercial Building Knowledge
WELL Certification forms part of a broader commercial building performance ecosystem. Understanding topics such as thermal comfort, daylight, ventilation, building physics, operational performance and sustainability frameworks provides valuable context for creating healthier, higher performing commercial buildings.
Understand how temperature, radiant heat, humidity, air movement and building systems influence occupant comfort.
Explore how daylight availability, glare control and façade design contribute to healthy indoor environments.
Learn how airflow, ventilation effectiveness and air distribution can be evaluated within commercial buildings.
Discover how operational building performance is measured through NABERS ratings for commercial buildings.
See how Green Star assesses sustainability outcomes throughout the planning, design, construction and operation of commercial buildings.
Understand how NCC Section J energy efficiency requirements fit within the broader commercial building performance framework.
Official WELL Resources
For the latest WELL Building Standard requirements, WELL v2 documentation, certification pathways and technical guidance, refer to the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), the organisation responsible for administering and maintaining the WELL Building Standard worldwide.
Visit the official WELL websiteSupporting Articles
WELL Certification connects with a broader field of indoor environmental quality, workplace design, building services and operational performance. These supporting articles explore the individual conditions, technical considerations and project decisions that influence occupant health, comfort and wellbeing in commercial buildings.
Indoor Environmental Quality
Understand how air quality, thermal comfort, daylight, sound and materials contribute to healthier occupied environments under WELL.
Building Frameworks
Compare WELL’s focus on occupant wellbeing with the measured operational performance assessed through NABERS ratings.
Thermal Comfort
Explore how air temperature, radiant temperature, humidity, air movement and HVAC operation influence occupant comfort.
Light and Visual Comfort
Learn how daylight access, glare management, electric lighting and internal planning affect visual comfort in workplaces.
Air Quality
Review how ventilation, filtration, pollutant control, monitoring and maintenance contribute to healthier indoor air.
Existing Buildings
Discover how WELL can be applied to occupied buildings, workplace fitouts, refurbishments and ongoing building operations.
Who This Page Is For
This Knowledge Hub is designed for commercial project teams seeking to understand where WELL Certification fits within building design, workplace fitout, operational management and broader sustainability planning. It provides useful context during early briefing, design coordination, tenancy planning, certification scoping and comparisons with other commercial building performance frameworks.
For owners and asset managers considering how WELL Certification may support asset quality, tenant expectations, workplace performance and long term operational outcomes.
For occupiers, tenant representatives and workplace teams evaluating how air quality, thermal comfort, daylight, acoustics and amenity influence daily workplace experience.
For architects, engineers and specialist consultants coordinating WELL requirements with building services, façade design, materials, internal planning and project documentation.
For sustainability professionals comparing WELL Certification with NABERS, Green Star, indoor environmental quality and wider commercial building performance objectives.
Before Pursuing WELL
Before WELL Certification is incorporated into a project brief, teams should clarify the intended outcome, project boundary, certification target and allocation of responsibilities. These early decisions influence design coordination, tenancy fitout, building services, documentation, operations and performance verification.
A project may pursue WELL Certification to satisfy a client or tenant brief, support workplace strategy, strengthen asset positioning, contribute to ESG objectives or improve indoor environmental quality. Defining the primary objective helps establish the appropriate level of commitment, coordination and evidence.
The team should confirm which building areas, tenancies and operations are included within the project. A new development, existing building, base building and workplace fitout may each involve different interfaces, evidence requirements and areas of responsibility.
WELL requirements often extend across several disciplines. Air quality can involve mechanical design, filtration, pollutant control, maintenance and testing. Thermal comfort may depend on façade performance, HVAC controls, zoning and occupancy assumptions. Light requirements can involve daylight access, glare management, electric lighting and interior planning. These interfaces are easier to manage when they are identified before the design becomes fixed.
An early WELL review can also determine whether the project is pursuing formal certification, using the WELL Building Standard as design guidance or responding to a specific client, tenant or workplace requirement. This distinction affects project scope, programme, consultant inputs and verification obligations.
Which WELL Certification pathway and project scope are appropriate?
Is the project targeting Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum certification?
Which requirements sit with the owner, tenant, design team, contractor or operator?
What drawings, calculations, policies, testing and operational records will be required?
Project Pathways
Projects pursue WELL Certification for different reasons. Some seek formal third party certification, while others use the WELL Building Standard to inform workplace design, fitout quality, operational improvements or broader sustainability objectives. Understanding the intended pathway helps determine the level of coordination, documentation and performance verification required.
Formal Certification
Many projects pursue WELL Certification as a defined project outcome. This typically involves project registration, documentation, coordination across design and operations teams, independent performance verification and certification by the International WELL Building Institute.
Workplace Fitouts
Commercial fitout projects often use WELL principles to improve occupant wellbeing through better air quality, lighting, materials, acoustics, thermal comfort, movement and workplace amenities.
Existing Buildings
Existing buildings may use WELL Certification to review indoor environmental quality, operational practices, occupant experience and ongoing building performance as part of continuous improvement.
Portfolio Strategy
Many organisations integrate WELL Certification alongside Green Star, NABERS, energy efficiency initiatives and indoor environmental quality assessments to support healthier workplaces, stronger ESG outcomes and higher performing commercial property portfolios.
Supporting Articles
WELL Certification sits within a broader field of indoor environmental quality, workplace design, building services and operational performance. These supporting articles explore the individual conditions, technical considerations and project decisions that influence occupant health, comfort and wellbeing in commercial buildings.
Indoor Environmental Quality
Understand how air quality, thermal comfort, daylight, sound and materials contribute to healthier occupied environments under WELL.
Building Frameworks
Compare WELL’s focus on occupant health and wellbeing with the measured operational performance assessed through NABERS ratings.
Thermal Comfort
Explore how air temperature, radiant temperature, humidity, air movement and HVAC operation influence occupant comfort.
Light and Visual Comfort
Learn how daylight access, glare management, electric lighting and internal planning affect visual comfort in workplaces.
Indoor Air Quality
Review how ventilation, filtration, pollutant control, monitoring and maintenance contribute to healthier indoor air.
Existing Buildings
Discover how WELL can be applied to occupied buildings, workplace fitouts, refurbishments and ongoing building operations.
Project Timing
WELL Certification is easier to coordinate when it is considered early enough to influence the project brief, certification strategy, consultant responsibilities, building services, fitout scope and operational requirements. When WELL is introduced late, some features may be difficult to document, verify or incorporate without redesign, additional cost or programme delays.
Stage 01
Confirm why WELL is being considered, which stakeholders require it and whether formal certification is a project objective.
Stage 02
Define the project boundary, certification target, applicable WELL features and allocation of design and operational responsibilities.
Stage 03
Coordinate air, water, light, thermal comfort, sound, materials, movement, amenity and building services requirements.
Stage 04
Compile drawings, specifications, calculations, policies and testing evidence for review and performance verification.
Stage 05
Maintain the required conditions through building management, monitoring, maintenance, workplace policies and ongoing operations.
WELL requirements can extend across architecture, building services, interior design, construction, workplace policy, operations and performance testing. An early review helps identify which requirements are already addressed, which need further coordination and which may require specialist modelling, testing or operational evidence before critical project decisions become fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
WELL Certification is a third party certification administered by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). It evaluates how buildings support occupant health and wellbeing across concepts including air, water, nourishment, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind and community.
WELL Certification assesses the overall performance of a project against the WELL Building Standard. WELL Ratings are separate IWBI products that recognise performance in specific areas such as health and safety, performance or equity.
No. WELL focuses on occupant health, wellbeing and indoor environmental quality. Energy performance is typically assessed through frameworks such as NABERS, Green Star and NCC energy compliance.
No. WELL Certification is generally voluntary and is typically pursued to meet client, tenant, investor or organisational objectives rather than building code requirements.
Requirements vary according to the project and certification target, but typically include design strategies, operational policies, documentation, performance testing and third party verification across multiple WELL concepts.
WELL focuses on occupant health and wellbeing, while NABERS measures operational building performance such as energy, water, waste and indoor environment performance. Many commercial projects use both frameworks together.
Yes. WELL Certification can be applied to existing buildings, workplace fitouts and occupied environments, provided the project satisfies the applicable WELL requirements and verification process.
Yes. Thermal comfort is one of the core WELL concepts and considers factors such as air temperature, radiant temperature, humidity, air movement and occupant comfort.
Yes. WELL includes requirements relating to daylight access, electric lighting, glare management and visual comfort to help create healthier indoor environments.
Building performance modelling can support WELL Certification by helping project teams evaluate daylight, thermal comfort, airflow, ventilation effectiveness and other environmental conditions before construction, reducing design risk and improving decision making.
Reading Path
WELL Certification can be approached from different directions depending on the project stage and the decisions that need to be made. Some teams first need to understand the certification pathway and project requirements. Others need to review indoor environmental quality, compare WELL with other building frameworks or consider how an existing asset is performing in operation.
Start Here
Begin with what WELL Certification is, how the WELL Building Standard is structured and what formal certification involves.
Performance Layer
Explore how air, water, light, thermal comfort, sound, materials and building operations influence occupant health and experience.
Compare Frameworks
Compare WELL with NABERS and Green Star to understand where each framework applies and how they can support complementary project objectives.
Existing Assets
Review how WELL can apply to occupied buildings, workplace fitouts, refurbishment projects, maintenance, monitoring and ongoing management.
Project Review
Provide your project brief, architectural drawings, fitout information or sustainability objectives for an initial review. Certified Energy can assess whether WELL Certification is appropriate for your project, identify the likely certification pathway and highlight the building performance considerations that may influence project outcomes.
Early project coordination can reduce redesign, improve documentation and help integrate air quality, thermal comfort, lighting, acoustics, materials and operational requirements into the wider design and delivery process.
Last reviewed: July 2026. This page is maintained by Certified Energy as part of its Commercial Performance Knowledge Hub, covering WELL Certification, indoor environmental quality and healthy buildings.
