What is WELL performance testing?
Some features within the WELL Building Standard are verified by on-site performance testing, including features focused on air and water quality, lighting, acoustics and thermal comfort.
As a WELL at scale participant, you are only required to undergo performance verification if you are pursuing WELL Certification or the WELL Performance Rating at any specific locations. You may also choose to pursue individual performance testing features to validate performance in priority areas and contribute points towards a WELL Score. Third-party performance testing helps ensure that a space is performing at a high level for human health, and can highlight potential opportunities for improvement in environmental quality.
Find out more about performance verification requirements and methodologies:
- Learn which features require on-site performance testing and evaluation:
- See WELL v2 Appendix 1: Verification Methods
- Check the Verification tab of your location’s scorecard in your WELL account or the WELL v2 digital standard
- Read about performance testing methodologies in the Performance Verification Guidebook
How does performance testing for WELL at scale differ from single-asset WELL projects?
Organizations pursuing WELL at scale may submit any number of completed performance testing results for locations within their defined portfolio during a review cycle. A location does not need to pursue all performance-based features at the same time. For example, in the first review cycle, you may submit testing results for some of the performance-based features in the Water and Light concepts but not submit any results in the Air concept until your next review cycle, if desired. You may also pursue WELL at scale without undergoing performance testing.
Organizations subscribed to WELL at scale can submit performance testing results during one or both of the two annual review cycles. You may submit performance testing results concurrently with documentation for the same location during the review cycle.
When should my location undergo performance testing?
To undergo performance testing, a location must be at the point of substantial completion of construction in all areas to be tested. In addition, at least one month must have passed since the certificate of occupancy was issued for the location–WELL Core and multifamily residential locations are exempt from the occupancy requirement. See the table below for more details about the conditions necessary to schedule Performance Verification, including specific conditions for WELL Core and multifamily residential locations.