Performance verification is a hallmark of WELL Certification and differentiates the WELL Building Standard (WELL) from other building certification programs. The performance verification step in the WELL Certification process ensures that WELL Certified buildings are performing to their stated design specifications and the rigorous health and well-being requirements of the WELL Building Standard. 

Performance verification, which is required to achieve WELL Certification, encompasses on-site performance testing, conducted by WELL Performance Testing Agents and submission of the on-site performance testing data for performance review. 

A WELL Performance Testing Agent is an individual who has attended a WELL Performance Testing Agent training, is employed by an approved WELL Performance Testing Provider and is approved to conduct on-site performance testing. 

The table below shows how you can contract a Performance Testing Provider depending on your project version and the type of testing (initial, retesting or testing for recertification) needed.

Initial testing for ALL WELL v1 projects must be coordinated through IWBI.

There is no on-site testing required for projects pursuing the WELL Health-Safety Rating and the WELL Equity Rating with the exception of applicable WELL v2 features selected under Innovation options.

Timeline for hiring a WELL Performance Testing Agent

All projects are different and may decide to contract with a WELL Performance Testing Provider at different phases of the WELL Certification process. The sooner you can determine who will conduct on-site testing for your project, the better. Contracting with a WELL Performance Testing Provider early in the process helps projects gather all the costs associated with the WELL Certification process upfront. This approach also allows teams to identify which features they would like to conduct pre-testing for, if any. For more information on pre-testing, explore our pre-testing best practices.

Projects are encouraged to decide who will conduct their on-site testing prior to the time of documentation submission and no later than the anticipated date for the return of documentation submission review. Use this timeline estimator to help estimate the WELL Certification timeline for your project.

Options for hiring a WELL Performance Testing Provider for on-site testing

Option 1: Work with IWBI to coordinate scheduling

If you are pursuing initial testing for a v1 project, you must coordinate through IWBI.

WELL Certification projects may work with IWBI to schedule performance verification or contract with a WELL Performance Testing Provider to provide on-site testing. 

If you would like IWBI to coordinate scheduling on your behalf, complete the WELL PV Scheduling Form. Importantly, the form asks for preferred performance testing dates.

These dates should be a minimum of 8 weeks out from the time of form submission, to allow adequate time for the IWBI team to coordinate and for the Performance Testing Provider to prepare.

Once you've submitted the form, you will receive a response from a member of the IWBI team, confirming that your request has been received.

Then, the IWBI team will work to find a Performance Testing Provider who can service your region and has a high quality Performance Testing Agent available to complete the onsite testing.

The IWBI team will handle the contract with the Performance Testing Provider. 

Once the contract has been confirmed, you will receive an email introducing your project team to the selected Performance Testing Provider's agent(s) and an invoice for the performance testing services. If you would like to receive a cost estimate for Performance Testing coordinated by IWBI prior to coordinating scheduling or for planning purposes, please fill out the Performance Testing Quote form or you can request a quote via your support tab. 

Quotes are only valid for 30 days. The provided quote includes all expenses related to testing services, such as reimbursable travel, on-site testing, lab fees, data analysis, and preparation of the final PV submittal data. If retesting is needed due to failed results, additional testing fees will apply and will be determined by the quantity of tests and the feature. 

After the introduction has been made, the Performance Testing Agent(s) will take over communication with your team regarding next steps, such as: setting up a pre-PV call to discuss logistics and schedule of the testing, confirming the testing dates, etc. The IWBI team may continue to be in contact with you throughout the process through to certification achievement. 

Please do not hesitate to contact the IWBI team throughout the process with any questions you may have.

Option 2: Scheduling directly with a Performance Testing Provider

Approved WELL Performance Testing Providers are listed in the Works with WELL directory. To find a Performance Testing Provider, set the Affiliation filter to Performance Testing Provider and enter the applicable region/country/service area.

You can search for providers in your region and use the contact information provided to reach out to the Performance Testing Provider directly.

Please note: when contracting directly with a Performance Testing Provider, IWBI does not have any involvement in the cost or contract details. Teams work directly with the WELL Performance Testing Provider of their choice to coordinate and schedule on-site testing.

Regardless of how you contract with a Performance Testing Provider, please provide the following info:

• Project Information and Performance Estimator Tool (PIP): Complete and uploaded to the project WELL Online Dashboard
  • Please ensure you have completed the latest version of this form.
  • Learn how to complete the form.
• Scorecard listing all features being pursued or current documentation review report
  • Note: For any features that have an option of a performance test pathway or other verification method (i.e. L01), the project team should clearly list in the scorecard which option is being pursued.
• For v1 projects only:
  • Floor Plans: Project Boundary, Furniture Layout, and Room Names
  • Mechanical and Electrical Drawings
• Recertification Tool (if applicable)

Note on addressing unmet testing thresholds

A WELL Performance Testing Agent may conduct an on-site test and determine that the result does not meet the requirements of the designated feature/part. In this scenario, the Agent can report the result to the project team directly and organize re-testing.

Re-testing may be conducted until you receive passing results. The WELL Performance Testing Agent is only required to report passing results, noting failed attempts and what corrective action was taken by the project team. To avoid a conflict of interest, the WELL Performance Testing Agent may not advise or consult with the project to recommend mitigation tactics related to curative action. Projects are responsible for any costs associated with follow-up testing required for re-testing. For advice on appeals, project teams can contact the WELL coaching team via the support tab of their WELL project account.

Information about approved WELL Performance Testing Providers and Agents

A list of approved WELL Performance Testing Providers can be found here. Providers are added to the directory as they become approved and pay their enrollment fee.

WELL Performance Testing Agents may subcontract various on-site tests, but the WELL Performance Testing Agent of record must be present to supervise and sign off on all performance testing activities and is responsible for all performance data submitted for review.

WELL Performance Testing Agents must not have a conflict of interest (COI) with the WELL Certification for the project. Generally, a COI is a situation in which an individual has competing professional or personal interests on any given WELL project. Such situations include:

• Professional: Decisions may be influenced by competing professional obligations, for example, having both a role on a project team and as the assigned WELL Performance Testing Agent.
• Financial: Decisions may be influenced by financial gain or potential business opportunities.
• Legal: Decisions may be influenced by liability risks.
• Ethical: Decisions may be influenced by reasons other than compliance with the required standards.

Still have questions? Reach out to WELL coaching support via the support tab of your WELL project account or email us at PTAgents@wellcertified.com.