The WELL Building Standard™ is the first building standard to focus on the health and wellness of building occupants. Developed by Delos and managed by the International WELL Building Institute™, WELL was designed using evidence-based medical and scientific research to create a built environment that better supports human health and well-being.

The WELL building Standard™ provides a model for design and construction to integrate human health features in the built environment. This program is a performance based system to measure the impact of built environments on human health.

The OFS Corporate Office project scored a total of 10 points within the WELLv2 Air Concept. We were able to do this by controlled construction pollution management during our office refresh project. This involved minimizing interior dust and pollution creation while the job site was active as well as installing temporary barriers and walk-off mats between construction areas and active office areas. Sealing of ducts, replacing filters and storing absorptive materials in designated areas where they were protected from potential moisture damage.

We also achieved points for enhanced air quality and enhanced ventilation. Enhanced Air Quality was achieved through performance testing. Our results showed that our air tested below the thresholds for particulate matter, organic gases (formaldehyde and benzene) and inorganic gases (carbon monoxide, ozone and nitrogen dioxide). Enhanced ventilation was achieved by operating a demand controlled ventilation system that regulates our outdoor ventilation rate to control CO2 levels and keep them at a minimum.

Other areas of point creation were in Air Filtration and Microbe and Mold Control. All filters within our HVAC system are MERV 8 or higher and on a regular maintenance schedule. UVC light sanitizers were also installed in each of our main air handling units to minimize any potential mold or microbe growth that may form on cooling coils and drain pans.