Well vs Fitwel

In its first years, the WELL Standard had nearly 80 projects registered or certified across five continents. And it has enjoyed a time of unchallenged, unparalleled acceptance as the only choice for Health and Wellbeing certification in the built environment. But now, there’s a new standard on the block.

Both WELL and Fitwel focus on improving the health of a building’s occupants, but they are two very different certifications. WELL is closely modeled after LEED, but focuses exclusively on occupant health. Fitwel, which was created by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the General Services Administration (GSA), was designed for commercial interiors and multi-tenant and single-tenant buildings.

Well vs Fitwel

Scientific Rigour
Both standards are the result of years of impressive-sounding American research. But FITWEL goes the other way in how targets are presented. The Beta Workplace Scorecard is far simpler, with less scientific jargon and minimal medical mumbo. The credit contexts have been just as thoroughly examined, but are worded in a less technical manner which makes the standard more approachable and appealing.

Categories and credits
FITWEL has followed the WELL principle of core categories, but with a much looser approach. This less stringent, more flexible approach is also reflected in the credits themselves.

Practicality
FITWEL is undeniably a more practical, low-impact and user-friendly building certification. An uncomplicated online portal, and substantially smaller price tag makes FITWEL seem the younger, cooler and more techno-savvy sibling of the paper-heavy WELL standard.

With early adopters of the standard already branding it as ‘WELL Lite’, FITWEL seems destined to be categorised as the easy option to Health and Wellbeing certification. This is no bad thing, FITWEL offers an appealing alternative of small steps in the right direction.

They are not the same, and they will not realistically compete with each other – FITWEL is a much simpler, mass-market approach to health and wellbeing than the exceptionally comprehensive WELL Building Standard.

Sources: www.sigearth.com and www.buildinggreen.com