The WELL Building Standards® were created by the International WELL Building Institute to transform health and well-being with ‘our people first approach to buildings, organizations and communities.’ They provide a roadmap for creating and certifying spaces that advance human health and well-being.
They are an evidence-based system for measuring, certifying and monitoring the performance of building features that impact health and well-being1, and the standard that IAQ Ventilation adhere to in our consultations with clients, as well as the products we stock and endorse.
We recommend the WELL Building Standard® as a framework for advancing health and wellbeing in buildings across all industries as well as in your home, from new builds to integrated systems in existing buildings.
WELL Building Standard® and COVID-19
According to WELL resources from July 2020, air quality is crucial to combating the spread of disease, along with handwashing efforts and cleaning protocols. Viruses – specifically COVID-19 – can stay airborne for up to three hours and without proper ventilation the risk of transmission increases.2
It is recommended in the WELL Building Standard® that buildings have ventilation and filtration strategies in place3 to
- avoid mould that can result in respiratory diseases
- avoid air stagnation that can result in airborne viruses
- increase ventilation to reduce the risk of influenza, and
- maintain relative humidity to between 40-60% to limit the spread of COVID-19.
WELL Building Standard® and IAQ Ventilation
IAQ Ventilation has been interested in the WELL Building Standard® for some time. It hasn’t just become important due to a global pandemic. Now we have more public attention on the importance of indoor air quality, these standards have become more ‘mainstream’ and we couldn’t be happier.
IAQ Ventilation is all about providing integrated solutions to new and existing buildings for the promotion of clean healthy indoor air. We can integrate into any size building – at home or at work. From design to retro fitting existing buildings, IAQ Ventilation supply products and systems that are WELL building certified.
At IAQ Ventilation we believe clean, ventilated and well managed indoor air promotes health, productivity, comfort, and peace of mind. The WELL Building Standard® help us provide a pathway for clients to implement best practice, whether for a new building or retrofitting an existing one.
WELL Building Standard® In Australia
There is a ‘tick of approval’ that buildings can achieve as ‘Healthy Buildings’ from WELL. Not only do IAQ Ventilation strive to achieve this in our work and consultation with clients, we also supply products from organisations such as GPS that are also WELL Certified.
WELL is a combination of building design, policy and management, and performance-based monitoring for healthy building design4. Our indoor air quality IAQ Ventilation Management System includes three tiers to give you the tick of approval as a healthy building. Our management system includes IAQ Analysis, IAQ Ventilation and Air Cleaning, and IAQ Monitoring – creating indoor environments that promote health for you, your visitors, and colleagues.
What This Means For You
If you’re searching for ways to improve your building’s indoor air quality for the people who spend time there – whether that’s at home or at work, for staff, patients, clients or colleagues and loved ones – IAQ Ventilaton can help you. We conduct consultations to identify where you need to update your current system, we can be part of the planning process for new buildings, or help you upgrade your existing indoor air products and systems.
Contact us today for a consultation.
[1] http://www.greenmoves.com.au/well-buildings/
[2] https://resources.wellcertified.com/zh-cn/articles/how-can-well-help-buildings-in-the-fight-against-covid-19-/
[3] From the wells ffc healthy building presentation
[4] https://www.thefifthestate.com.au/columns/spinifex/is-your-office-doing-well/