The WELL Building Standard has changed the way people think about buildings. It takes a holistic approach to health in the built environment addressing behavior, operations, and design and how they all can be optimized to advance human health and well-being. As a performance-based system, every WELL project is verified through on-site, post-occupancy testing of building performance by WELL Performance Testing Organizations that employ GBCI-trained WELL Performance Testing Agents.
We are always looking for ways to minimize the impact of the built environment while improving building quality for its users. Back in November 2020 I became Cyclone’s first WELL Performance Testing Agent. Later in April of 2021 I became the first WELL AP at our company. Later that year I ushered the efforts for Cyclone Energy Group to officially become a WELL Performance Testing Organization. This designation is awarded by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). With this designation, Cyclone is authorized to provide independent, third-party verification for building projects pursuing WELL certification in support of human health, productivity, well-being, and comfort. Cyclone is among the first consulting firms in the world to earn this designation. In my new role as Cyclone’s first Director of Sustainability, spearheading this effort has been very exciting. Ask anyone at Cyclone and they will tell you WELL is my baby!
A WELL Performance Testing Organization is an organization that provides performance testing services to WELL v2 projects. Each WELL Performance Testing Organization has at least one approved WELL Performance Testing Agent, one WELL AP, has a quality management plan that has been approved by GBCI, and has agreed to GBCI’s Terms & Conditions.
On-site performance testing is required for WELL certification and the results of the data collected for each applicable feature are reviewed by the GBCI to determine whether a feature has been achieved. Once the project is complete, the WELL checklist is approved by the reviewer, and the space is occupied, a site visit is scheduled for the authorized WELL assessor(s) to validate the project’s design documentation and complete the performance testing. Testing covers features under the following concepts: Air, Water, Light, Sounds, and Thermal Comfort.
WELL Performance Rating
Ratings demonstrate progress and performance. They are a targeted approach that focuses on a subset of strategies addressing specific themes. The IWBI released their newest rating last year and will officially open the window for registration in March 2022.
The WELL Performance Rating is an evidence-based, third-party verified pathway for measuring, benchmarking, and monitoring building performance and occupant experience. The rating consists of 33 features, with 21 required to achieve the rating. It is an annual rating with single level of achievement. Fees are scheduled to be similar to the WELL Health and Safety Rating fee Structure. All documentation is submitted together for two rounds of review: Preliminary and Final review stages.
The rating focusses on 7 areas:
How Performance is Currently Measured in WELL
*Part of this feature utilizes continuous monitoring, including our airPLAN service
Performance Verification Components
Step 1: Preparation:
Step 2: Onsite Testing:
Step 3: Performance Review:
With our high-performance building expertise and our knowledge gained from the WELL AP and WELL Performance Testing Trainings, we look forward to providing pre-testing and WELL Performance Testing Services to our clients to support their needs in creating healthier and better buildings.
If you need performance testing for WELL v2 compliance and pre-testing, feel free to reach out to us at workwithus@cyclone.energy
815 S Wabash Ave
Chicago, IL 60605
615 S. College Street, 10th Floor
Charlotte, NC 28202
