Eurovent Summit, Krakow; september 29, 2016

The WELL certification scheme:

Indoor Environmental requirements

and HVAC system implications

Atze Boerstra, PhD

REHVA + BBA Binnenmilieu

ab-bba@binnenmilieu.nl

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Introduction

• New standard for HEALTHY building

• Performance-based system that adresses

impact of built environment on human health

• International (originally from US 2014)

– IWBI (International WELL Building Institute)

– GBCI (Green Building Certification Institute, LEED)

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Context

McKinsey marketing research report 2012

“The trends all point in a single direction: more

and more consumer spending on health and

wellness…”

“WELLNESS IS THE NEXT TRILLION DOLLAR

INDUSTRY as employers invest in healthy living

programs and as customers take more

responsibility for optimizing their own health.’’

(Cloos et al., 2012)

WGBC IEQ & productivity report:

“There is overwhelming evidence that office

design significantly impacts the health, wellbeing

and productivity of staff” (WGBC, 2015)

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3 levels of WELL certification

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Nutrition label analogy

WELL homepage (www.wellcertified.com):

“WELL is like a nutrition label for your building,

providing transparency on the quality of our built

environment…”

WELL certification process

WELL for HVAC Engineers (main focus on AIR and COMFORT features)

In practice…

= Maximum capacity of ventilation system ≥ 0,1 m3/min p. m2 = 6 m3/h p. m2 = 60 m3/h pp

• Air flush is required prior to first occupancy for 8 days continuous

• Relative low ventilation rates in occupied spaces:

• Office ventilation ASHRAE 62.1: 2,5 l/s pp + 0,3 l/s per m2

• Office ventilation EN 15251 cat. II: 7,0 l/s pp + 0,35 l/s per m2

• But high ventilation rate requirement for parking garages (3,7 l/s per m2)

MERV 13 = EU 7

Other air quality related requirements

Additional obligatory features:

• Increased ventilation (+30%)

• Quarterly visual inspection of cooling coil (mold)

• Clean air ducts

Beneficial but not required:

• DOAS (dedicated outdoor air system)

• Displacement ventilation

• Humidity control

• Direct source ventilation

• Air quality monitoring and feedback

• Advanced air purification

Or NEN-EN-ISO 7730 / EN 15251: min. B / Cat. I

(-0,5 < PMV > +0,5; temperature winter

20-24 °C, temperature summer 23-26 °C)

?

US example of a WELL certified building

Additional costs WELL building

Typology Certification cost for a 20.000m2 office (source: WELL site)

Core and Shell $51.361 €46.224* $2,57 p. m2 €2,31 p. m2*

New and Existing Interiors $115.292 €103.763* $5,76 p. m2 €5,18 p. m2*

New and Existing Buildings $131.361 €118.224* $6,56 p. m2 €5,91 p. m2*

Cost of additional WELL measures for a 20.000 m2 NL office (1 example)

Core and Shell

Silver

Core and Shell

Platinum

€600k –700k €30-35 p. m2 €800k – 900k €40-45 p. m2

Conclusion

• Interested in creating healthy, comfortable and productivity

enhancing buildings? Inform yourself about WELL

• WELL includes several HVAC-system related requirements

• Some HVAC-related Features need adjustments to:

• Suit the European market

• Maximize health & productivity benefits

• Improve practical applicability

More information

• www.bluebuildinginstitute.eu/

• www.wellcertified.com

(this is where you can download the WELL building standard)