A05: Enhanced Air Quality – Above Green

(4 points)

INTENT

Encourage and recognize buildings with enhanced levels of indoor air quality that promote the health and well-being of people.

SUMMARY

This WELL feature requires projects to go above current guidelines to provide enhanced air quality levels that have been linked to improved human health and performance.

ISSUE

Studies have shown that air pollution contributes to the large global burden of respiratory and allergic diseases, which include asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia and possibly tuberculosis. There is an emerging body of evidence that air pollution can disrupt physical and cognitive development in children. Researchers have also identified a clear relationship between indoor air quality and human productivity in buildings. On average, 10% of productivity loss could be attributable to health issues related to poor indoor air quality in office buildings.

SOLUTIONS

Enhanced air quality is positively correlated with improved health, cognitive and physical development, higher incomes and better economic performance. For example, the premature mortality rate could be reduced by up to 15% if PM₁₀ is reduced from 70 to 20 μg/m³. Indoor air quality can be properly managed primarily through source control strategies, passive and active building design and operation strategies and human behavior intervention. High levels of indoor air quality require both professionals and building users to collaborate in the implementation of adequate approaches.

IMPACT

Provision of enhanced air quality indoors positively impacts human health, well-being and performance and constitutes one of the most important factors of healthy buildings.

REQUIREMENTS

Part 1

Meet Enhanced Thresholds for Particulate Matter (Max: 2 points)

Verified by Performance Test

For All Spaces

The following requirement is met:

Projects comply with the thresholds specified in the table below:

Particulate Matter Thresholds

Points

PM_2.5 < 12 μg/m³.

PM₁₀ < 30 μg/m³.
1

PM_2.5 < 10 μg/m³.

PM₁₀ < 20 μg/m³.
2

Part 2

Meet Enhanced Thresholds for Organic Gases (1 point)

Verified by Performance Test

For All Spaces

The following thresholds are met:

Formaldehyde less than 13.4 ppb.
Benzene less than 3 μg/m³.

Part 3

Meet Enhanced Thresholds for Inorganic Gases (1 point)

Verified by Performance Test

For All Spaces

The following thresholds are met:

Carbon monoxide less than 6 ppm.
Ozone less than 25 ppb.
Nitrogen dioxide less than 21 ppb.