The WELL Health-Safety Rating it's a seal launched by the International WELL Building Institute, after a group of almost 600 officials public health officials, virologists, government officials, academics, business leaders, architects, designers, building scientists, and real estate professionals to meet with the aim of to help guide a concrete and effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Therefore, this is a seal that draws on both the knowledge gleaned from this working group and the guidance on the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections from various competent bodies and institutions around the world.
What is the WELL Health-Safety Rating?
The WELL Health-Safety Rating it is a seal created by the International WELL Building Institute to which all types of buildings can be subjected. It is a third-party validated, science-based certification that focuses on operational policies, maintenance protocols, and design strategies that enable a safe return to spaces post COVID-19. The seal has designed to empower owners and CEOs of large and small businesses to take the necessary steps for the health and safety of all involved.
Consequently, the WELL Health-Safety Rating can help reduce the risk of transmission of different viruses and respiratory illnesses, as the implemented strategies are far-reaching and apply to various health and safety issues. For this reason, the WELL Health-Safety Rating can help to users, occupants and the wider community can trust that they can reintegrate into their workplaces in a post-COVID-19 scenario with confidence and peace of mind. Typically, the implementation of this certification requires the involvement of a specialised WELL consultant to guide the certification process.
El WELL Health-Safety Rating está dirigido a todos los edificios y espacios en los que las personas pasan tiempo, incluyendo oficinas, escuelas, hospitales, inmuebles de venta al por menor, instalaciones industriales y de hostelería.
The unprecedented impact of the past few months on the places where we live, work, learn, and play is well known. Therefore, The WELL Health-Safety Rating aims to support not only offices, but also restaurants, retail, hospitality venues, schools, industrial facilities, residential common areas, places of worship, and all types of spaces. From large, busy sports centres to small workspaces can begin to reopen in conditions where people feel confident, safe, and at ease.
¿Why was the WELL Health-Safety Rating created?
The WELL Health-Safety Rating This is created out of the need to provide a centralised source and an institutional body to validate the efforts made by building owners and CEOs of various companies in the face of the urgent COVID-19 scenario.
While the WELL Certification includes features that help to To prevent a range of respiratory illnesses, including the spread of COVID-19, although these measures are effective against most common germs, bacteria and fungi, obtaining full certification can be a task requiring considerable time and effort. In this way, the WELL Health-Safety Rating nace como una herramienta rápida y eficiente, which, with the help of a specialised WELL consultant, focuses on the different actions that allow for the guidance, validation, recognition and scaling of efforts addressing immediate health and safety issues.
“The WELL Health-Safety Rating has certified over 6,750 spaces and more than 65 million square metres. In addition, sports centres, theatres, hotels, restaurants, offices, schools, shops, residences, and more have been certified.”
What are the strategies of the WELL Health-Safety Rating?
The charter focuses on six main health and safety themes and includes more than 20 strategies, of which a minimum of 15 must be met:
Cleaning and disinfection procedures
- Handwashing support
- Reduction of contact with surfaces
- Improvements in cleaning practices
- Cleaning product selection
- Reducing exposure to airborne particles
Emergency preparedness programmes
- Emergency preparedness plan development
- Business Continuity Plan Creation
- Healthy Re-entry Planning
- Provide emergency resources
- Strengthening resilience in emergencies
Healthcare resources
- Provide sick leave permissions
- Provide health benefits
- Supporting mental health recovery
- Promote flu vaccines
- Promote a smoke-free environment
Air and water quality management
- Assess the ventilation
- Evaluate and maintain air treatment systems
- Develop a Legionella management plan
- Monitor the Air quality and the water
- Dealing with mould and damp
Stakeholder Engagement and Communication
- Promoting health and wellbeing
- Sharing information about food inspection
Innovation
The WELL Health-Safety Rating Strategies have been based on the characteristics of the WELL Building Standard, the IWBI Task Force on COVID-19, and the guidance of the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as recognised standards-making bodies such as ASTM International and ASHRAE, and academic institutions and research leaders from the United States.
¿Quels sont les avantages de l'obtention de la classification WELL Health-Safety Rating ?
- Trust It is fundamental to restore trust and peace of mind that the maintenance of spaces is carried out according to the world's best health and safety practices and guidelines.
- Flexibility It is applicable for both large and small organisations across all facility types. Users, guided by a specialised WELL consultant, can follow strategies that reflect their specific needs and objectives.
- VerificationThe WELL Health-Safety Rating is based on third-party document review and annual verification of policies, procedures, and strategies through Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), instilling confidence in all parts of an organisation.
- Scalability.Provides a framework for organisations to efficiently develop, implement, and validate health and safety protocols and plans across multiple properties.
- AccessibilityPrice for accessibility, with a focus on interventions requiring little or no capital expenditure.
“The WELL Health-Safety Rating seal is a guarantee that a building's health and safety efforts are supported and validated by competent organisations.”
¿What is the process for obtaining the WELL Health-Safety Rating?
The certification can be obtained very simply through 7 steps, which are carried out with a specialised WELL consultant.
- ResearchDownload and review the criteria for achieving the WELL Health-Safety Rating.
- RegistrationRegister and share the commitment to obtain the seal.
- Personalised approachSelect the features that are relevant and applicable to the particular building or space.
- Sending information Provide documentation of the strategies using the digital platform to demonstrate that the building or space meets the certification requirements.
- ReviewSubmit the documentation to the GBCI for review to confirm that the specific requirements for each function have been met.
- ObtainingAchieve the WELL Health-Safety Rating and promote the achievements.
- RenewalTo request the annual stamp to demonstrate ongoing commitment to adherence to operational policies, maintenance protocols, and emergency plans.
¿How much does it cost to implement the WELL Health-Safety Rating?
Among the costs of the WELL Health-Safety Rating are consultancy costs, implementation costs and certification costs. In the consulting process, Evalore will be responsible for making a personalised proposal. to each client. The implementation cost will depend on a Feasibility study carried out by Evalore. Lastly, the cost of certification for the WELL Health-Safety Rating, which is based on a scalable pricing model that varies according to the size of the space. In this way, it can meet the needs of any organisation or facility, regardless of size or type.
Certification Costs
- Small businesses: $2,730. In small businesses with fewer than 50 employees and an annual turnover of less than 10 million.
- Standard: $4.200. In individual spaces or buildings not yet registered for WELL Certification or enrolled in the WELL Portfolio programme.
- High-capacity, multi-purpose: $12.600. In locations that can accommodate over 10,000 people per day and provide four or more distinct uses, such as retail, restaurants, accommodation, offices, etc.
- Various locations: from $400. In several locations with a single owner. This route requires all locations to apply for documentation in a simplified, consolidated, and joint manner.
What is the role of the WELL Consultant in the WELL Health-Safety Rating?
Normally the implementation of the The WELL Health-Safety Rating requires the participation of a specialised WELL consultant. that accompanies them throughout the process of obtaining the seal. It is for this reason that at Evalore we help the client to identify the most pertinent strategies, integrate them into the project, implement them through specialised suppliers and finally validate them, sending all the necessary documentation to the international body.
In addition to serving as a specialised advisor for the WELL Health-Safety Rating, at Evalore we are also specialists in implementing various international certifications such as WELL Certification, Passivhaus, BREEAM, LEED, among others. To this list we must add the Spanish certification Airfirst, rating with the same intention and purpose as the WELL Health-Safety Rating.
In Spaces Evaluate We are pioneers in the development of measures Wellness We offer tailored solutions and have extensive experience in obtaining various certifications. If you're interested in the WELL Health-Safety Rating or in making your company a healthy workplace, don't hesitate to contact us. Contact us and we'll give you a free diagnosis.
Israel Leal Vegas
Architect, Spaces Evaluate
