BRE and the International WELL Building Institute™ (IWBI™) have released (on 22 January) a new, improved briefing paper that outlines how projects may achieve both a certified BREEAM rating and WELL Certification.
The updated crosswalk document, Assessing Health and Wellbeing in Buildings – Alignment between BREEAM and the WELL Building Standard (viewable here), was developed as part of a commitment to continuous improvement by IWBI and BRE using industry feedback from professionals working to achieve joint certification of BREEAM and the WELL Building Standard™ (WELL™). To simplify the process for project teams pursuing both standards, BRE and IWBI have worked together to compare performance requirements, harmonise evidence and identify opportunities to streamline the process of achieving dual certification.
Specific improvements and enhancements to the guidance document include instructions for projects that clarify how to use the crosswalk, minor amendments to the alignments and overlaps between the two standards, and a simplified labeling system. The new crosswalk also features useful notes and comments to clarify these alignments.
Additionally, the project types and schemes for both certification programs have expanded. Extra guidance is now included for Core & Shell projects targeting dual certification, to ensure that all WELL project types – New and Existing Buildings, New and Existing Interiors and Core & Shell – have a clear roadmap forward. BREEAM schemes in the crosswalk include BREEAM New Construction UK and International, BREEAM Refurbishment & Fit Out, BREEAM-In-Use and now BREEAM USA –In-Use.
“Our friends working to deliver sustainable, healthy buildings in the UK and Europe have given us specific and thoughtful input that helped inform this update. We’re pleased to continue our collaboration with BREEAM to make it easier for project teams to link their sustainability initiatives to WELL,” said IWBI Chairman and CEO Rick Fedrizzi. “Through this enhanced crosswalk, together we can advance the positive impacts we can have on both people and the planet.”
“We welcome this feedback from the early adopters of the Crosswalk. Since its development over 25 years ago health and wellbeing factors like air quality, lighting, ventilation and ecology have been a key part of the BREEAM standard. WELL introduces further complementary factors and post occupancy measurement. We look forward to working together to drive further progress in delivering a built environment that enhances the lives of people and the planet,” said Alan Yates, Technical Director of BREEAM.
Originally published in January 2017, the document demonstrates the significant synergies between the two methods and the efficiencies that exist between their assessment and certification processes.
It highlights the BREEAM credits that can be used to demonstrate compliance with WELL features and, conversely, the WELL features that can be used to demonstrate compliance with BREEAM assessment issues.
WELL is a global standard and addresses a number of issues already covered by regulations in the UK and across the EU. For this reason, the document also sets out the areas where WELL requirements are aligned with UK and/or EU regulations.
BREEAM is the world’s leading sustainability assessment method for masterplanning projects, infrastructure and buildings. It is now applied in 77 countries around the world with over 2.2million buildings registered under its schemes.
This work forms a part of an ongoing collaboration between BRE and IWBI to work together to harmonise their approach to health and wellbeing in the built environment across their standards, research programmes and services generally.
BREEAM and WELL are both evidence-based systems that have best practice, ongoing improvement and the interest of both the environment and people at their heart. Certification under both systems is pursued through the submission of project documentation and on-site post-occupancy performance testing.
BRE and IWBI will continue to work together to update this document as BREEAM and WELL are significantly updated or modified. This will include the launches of BREEAM UK New Construction 2018 and WELL v2.
Join us for an interactive webcast on 31 January to learn more about the updated crosswalk and how to apply it to projects. Register here (UK) and here (Europe).
