The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) and BRE have announced an agreement to pursue alignments between the WELL Building Standard (WELL) and BREEAM that will make it easier for projects pursuing both standards. Under the agreement, the organisations will mutually identify specific credits whereby submitted documentation will be recognised by both organiations, saving project teams the time and costs associated with submitting the documentation twice.
The BRE and IWBI says BREEAM and WELL are both evidence-based systems that have best practice, continual improvement and the interest of both the environment and people at their heart. Certification in both systems is achieved through the submission of project documentation and on-site post-occupancy performance testing.
Gavin Dunn, director of building performance group at BRE, commented: “We’re excited about the opportunity to join forces in a way that will advance the inclusion of health and well-being considerations in Europe’s built environment.
Rick Fedrizzi, chairman and CEO of IWBI, added: “Since the beginning, IWBI has worked to find ways that WELL can work harmoniously with the world’s leading sustainable building standards, because we believe sustainability and health are synonymous.
“We look forward to partnering with BRE to advance this important concept by helping project teams who are using both BREEAM and WELL deliver a more sustainable and healthier built environment as efficiently as possible.”
The IWBI and BRE say the announcement comes at a time when corporations as well as the real estate industry are increasingly looking at how the built environment impacts human health as well as sustainability.
The crosswalk, identifying the applicable credits between the two standards, is being done by WELL’s certifying body, Green Business Certification Inc., and BRE, and is expected to be completed in January 2017.
