WELL certification: wellbeing for property users

Raksystems 7.7.2021 News

People spend up to 90% of their time indoors. The comfort provided by the facilities during the day is not insignificant but can have an essential impact on the productivity and quality of work. WELL certification emphasizes the comfort of the property and the premises, as well as people-centeredness in the design of the premises.

Holistic wellbeing

WELL certification serves as a third-party quality label for the comfort and wellbeing of facilities. The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) issues certificates for facilities or properties if the required criteria are met. Certification provides a clear framework for wellbeing and ways in which it can be promoted among facility users. The aim is to create good conditions for both productivity and creativity in the premises. The certification is based on studies that have examined how the environment affects people.

With WELL certification, the comfort of the premises is measured through various criteria using 10 different areas, such as indoor air and acoustics. The technical characteristics of the facilities are assessed, but in addition, the organisation’s activities from the point of view of wellbeing and its promotion are also taken into account. The facilities encourage a healthy and balanced lifestyle, for example during the working day. In its simplest form, the development of facilities can be seen for example by adding plants or communicating and encouraging a healthier diet.

The WELL certificate takes into account the following 10 areas:

High-quality indoor air
Clean drinking water and hygienic use of water
Healthy diet
High-quality and functional lighting and utilization of natural light
Exercise and promotion of physical activity
Thermal comfort, suitably pleasant and even temperature
Pleasant acoustics
Safe and healthy materials for indoor air
Spatial solutions and operating models that support wellbeing
Spatial solutions and operating models that encourage cooperation

Good facilities create a good reputation

WELL-certified space also increases the company’s attractiveness. When facilities are invested in, it also motivates and attracts future users, such as potential employees.

Certification and investment in the premises can also affect the work done, for example in the case of office space. In WELL-certified workspaces, employees have been found to perform better and work more efficiently. Investing in functional and healthy facilities quickly pays for itself in terms of productivity. In addition to this, the reduction in sick leave is also directly reflected in the company’s profits.

Wellbeing and healthy buildings also contribute to the healthy and wellbeing use of the premises. When buildings are doing well, more likely people inside it are also doing well and are happier.

More than 5,000 WELL projects have already been registered in 67 countries, including our certified Säterinportti office center. From us you will find WELL AP qualified experts and Finland’s only WELL Performance Testing Agent.