T04: Individual Thermal Control

(3 points)

INTENT

Maximize and personalize thermal comfort among all individuals.

SUMMARY

This WELL feature requires projects to improve thermal comfort of people in the space through the provision of personal thermal comfort devices and flexible dress codes that ensure individual thermal preferences are met.

ISSUE

The current standards that govern thermal comfort in buildings aim to provide a thermal environment where at minimum 80% of people will perceive the thermal environment as acceptable.^[1] Thermal comfort preferences are highly individual, meaning that not everyone will be equally comfortable under the same environmental conditions. Besides the six primary factors of thermal comfort, many secondary factors may at least subtly influence thermal comfort. Age, sex, health condition, personal thermal adaptation and thermal history, including climatological origin, are considered as major secondary factors. Factors such as temperament, preferences, social and cultural norms and seasonal variation also play an important role in determining individual thermal comfort. These factors make it nearly impossible to find indoor thermal comfort conditions that will satisfy all people in the same space at the same time.

SOLUTIONS

The capability of controlling the thermal environment in individuals’ immediate surroundings can be important for achieving personal thermal comfort. Provision of individual thermal control devices results in improved individual thermal comfort and in expansion of the thermal comfort acceptability limits. For example, a personal ventilation device that allows user control over airflow rate and air temperature can efficiently provide thermal comfort. The provision of individual thermal control allows for a broader range of recommended indoor air temperatures, which is linked to energy savings potential. For example, the use of a chair equipped with fans allows the room air temperature to increase without compromising thermal comfort. In larger shared spaces, it is necessary to provide localized control to people who work in cubicles and other work areas. The use of personalized equipment, such as desktop fans or heating/cooling chairs and pads, is a good strategy to give people the ability to better control their sensation and comfort. In addition, flexible dress codes are important because clothing insulation is also one of the primary forms of intervention for addressing suboptimal thermal conditions.

IMPACT

The design of the thermal environment can allow people to easily make system adjustments and therefore maximize their thermal comfort. WELL encourages projects to adopt a holistic approach to thermal comfort that results in the provision of acceptable thermal environment for all people in buildings.

REQUIREMENTS

Part 1

Ensure Personal Thermal Comfort (Max: 3 points)

Verified by Owner

For All Spaces except Commercial Kitchen Spaces & Dwelling Units

Points are awarded based on the proportion of regular building occupants that are covered by at least one of the following requirements:

Availability	Points
50-99%	2
100%	3

1. In all regularly occupied and shared spaces within the same heating or cooling zone, regular building occupants have access upon request to personal thermal comfort devices (e.g., personalized fans, heated/cooled chairs, and others, except combustion-based space heaters) that provide individual user control of air speed, air temperature and/or mean radiant temperature.

2. All rooms with a heating and/or cooling system that are regularly occupied by a single occupant meet one of the below conditions:

   1. Occupant has the ability to adjust the temperature.
   2. Occupant has access to personal thermal comfort devices. 
   3. Implement localized air delivery as described in Part 4: Implement Advanced Air Distribution of Feature A06: Enhanced Ventilation.  

ADDITIONAL POINT OPPORTUNITY
To earn an additional point for WELL Core, projects should also meet the requirements in all leased spaces.

Part 2

Facilitate Thermal Adaptation (1 point)

Verified by Policy Document

For All Spaces except Commercial Kitchen Spaces & Dwelling Units

Projects meet the following requirements:

1. All occupants have access upon request to blankets. Used shared blankets are washed at minimum on a weekly basis.

2. A flexible dress code policy allows for individual thermal preferences.

© International WELL Building Institute