Proposing a new AAP and don't know where to start? Follow the step-by-step guide below.

Evaluate the parts of the feature that your project is struggling to meet

For example, a project may be challenged to meet Part 1: Design Health Entryways of Feature A09: Pollution Infiltration Management in WELL v2 pilot or WELL v2, or Part 2: Entryway Air Seal of Feature 08: Healthy Entrance in the WELL Building Standard v1. For the WELL v1 example, while the project has a walk off system that meets the requirements of Part 1: Entryway Walk-Off Systems, it cannot meet the requirements of the other part. Part 2: Entryway Air Seal of Feature 08: Healthy Entrance has three means of compliance as listed in the WELL Building Standard, none of which this project meets.

Understand the feature intent

To be approved, an AAP needs to achieve the intent of that feature or feature part, so it’s important that you are very clear on what that is. There are several places to find information about a feature’s intent, including:

• The intent listed for the feature
• The concept the feature falls within
• The introductory text about the feature
• The feature requirement language
• This information can be found in the digital standards linked here: WELL v1; WELL v2 pilot; WELL v2
• Review existing AAPs, equivalencies and FAQs for the feature

For WELL v2 pilot and WELL v2, equivalencies and AAPs can be found under the Strategies tab and technical FAQs can be found under the FAQ tab for each feature. For WELL v1, each feature page in the digital WELL Building Standard has tabs that link to the feature’s equivalencies, AAPs and technical FAQs. These existing resources can help to inform new AAPs or illuminate another pathway to achieving the feature without submitting a new AAP.

Review relevant WELL citations to identify potential AAP strategies

AAPs should be substantiated with evidence. It’s not enough to state that you think a proposed strategy will achieve the feature’s intent. You need to demonstrate that the strategy you’re proposing is supported by evidence suggesting that it will achieve the intent of the feature. Start by reviewing the citations for that feature and its relevant parts as they will help to provide context for the WELL feature requirement and may provide ideas for AAPs. Citations are included for each feature page of the digital WELL Building Standard in WELL v1 and are hyperlinked in the feature language in WELL v2 pilot. For WELL v2, citations can be found in the References tab at the bottom of each feature page.

Consider conducting your own research to identify and substantiate your proposed AAP

To substantiate your AAP proposal, consider doing some of your own research to evaluate alternative strategies you might employ to comply with the intent of the feature that you’re not able to meet. To get started:

• Check out relevant citations from the documents cited in the WELL Building Standard feature pages
• Conduct a literature review utilizing peer-reviewed research
• Compile other data to help support your proposed AAP (i.e., government-sourced air quality data, employee data, etc.)

Make sure your proposed AAP is an actual alternative strategy, rather than a request for an exemption from the feature requirement

Your proposed AAP must include an actual alternative strategy that meets the intent of the feature. It cannot be a request for an exemption or for a reduced threshold without offering another means of achieving the feature’s intent.

An example of an AAP that would not be accepted is one for Part 2: Desk Height Flexibility of Feature 73: Ergonomics: Visual and Physical in WELL v1 that states that it is too expensive for the project to achieve the minimum threshold of 30% sit/stand options at workstations, so the project seeks to meet a threshold of 15% instead. This AAP does not provide any alternative strategies for meeting the feature’s intent and the required threshold. This example can similarly be applied to Part 2: Ensure Desk Height Flexibility of Feature V02: Visual and Physical Ergonomics in WELL v2 pilot, and Part 2: Provide Height-Adjustable Work Surfaces of Feature V02: Ergonomic Workstation Design in WELL v2.

However, one of the universally applicable AAPs that was approved for this WELL v1 feature part states that "the project may provide a lower threshold of the required initial percentage of sit/stand workstations required by the feature, in conjunction with a future purchase commitment and an educational campaign." This approved AAP clearly outlined alternative strategies to meet the feature’s intent and threshold goals.

Draft the proposal

In addition to providing clear, substantiated evidence about your alternative strategy in your proposal, you should also be prepared to respond to the following fields found in the submission form:

• Applicable feature and parts
• Reason for alternative means and methods
• Proposed means of compliance
• Documents (optional)

We recommend you draft your responses in a separate document before pasting into the form fields at submission.

Consider attaching annotated supporting documentation

Submitting supporting documentation for your proposed AAP can be helpful, though it is not required. Documentation could include anything from a floor plan of your office highlighting relevant elements to a cited research paper. When submitting documentation, please make sure that it is annotated and that the relevant parts to your proposed AAP and project are clearly highlighted. Supporting documentation needs to be in the English language.

Submit the proposal for review in your WELL online account

Questions about AAPs on your project? Registered projects can contact our WELL coaching team via the Support tab of their WELL account. Unregistered projects can use our contact form.