European Union
WELL certification - what does it involve?
WELL has been designed to complement BREEAM and LEED certifications. Unlike the certifications which focus on the environmental impact of buildings, WELL examines their adaptation to the needs of the employee. What do we need to know about it?
What is WELL certification?
The WELL Building Standard is a multi-criteria building certification system introduced by Delos in 2014, and as of 2019 it had already been implemented in 48 countries. It is used to evaluate whether buildings comply with the standards related to users' health and well-being. It is worth mentioning that a separate office space can also be certified. The standards are based on scientific, medical and environmental research, as well as health and demographic reports. It is also supported by the principles of building design, construction and facility management. In 2018, a second, refined version of the certification - WELL v2 was launched. It covers a wider spectrum of categories than its first version. MARO offers a wide array of office furniture suitable for buildings pursuing WELL certification.
Basic evaluation criteria
The WELL Building Standard is a multi-criteria building certification system introduced by Delos in 2014, and as of 2019 it had already been implemented in 48 countries. It is used to evaluate whether buildings comply with the standards related to users' health and well-being. It is worth mentioning that a separate office space can also be certified. The standards are based on scientific, medical and environmental research, as well as health and demographic reports. It is also supported by the principles of building design, construction and facility management. In 2018, a second, refined version of the certification - WELL v2 was launched. It covers a wider spectrum of categories than its first version. MARO offers a wide array of office furniture suitable for buildings pursuing WELL certification.
"WELL certification - interiors that support your well-being" - meeting with architects at MARO.
Up-to-date guidelines should be essential for anyone involved in space design. MARO Office Furniture Factory is well aware of this. On May 27, 2022 MARO held a special event at the company's showroom at 16 Kutrzeby in Poznań. At the meeting, the attendees learned what exactly the WELL certificate is. The speakers provided them with all the information and valuable tips. They also showed how to meet all the criteria already at the stage of the design process. Ewa Gertig, an expert on environmental certifications, hosted the meeting. The event was organized by three companies: Bejot, MARO and Gerflor Polska, which presented the solutions and materials to facilitate the certification process. This fruitful session with architects proved that the issue of boosting the quality of the use of buildings is becoming more and more relevant to the building sector.
Air, water, nourishment, light, movement
It is worth outlining briefly the categories according to which the certificates are granted. The first one is the air. We all know that air pollution is one of the major environmental threats - particularly in Poland. It is estimated that indoor air pollution can be up to 5 times higher than outdoors. For this reason, the WELL system strives to reduce the amount of air contaminants and promote solutions improving air quality. The second category is water - this refers to potable water and its quality as being hydrated benefits productivity. The third category - nourishment is about promoting healthy nutrition (diets abundant in fruit and vegetables). The fourth category - light concerns optimal access to daylight, which significantly affects efficiency. The fifth category is movement that is the incorporation of physical activity into our everyday life. Space users should have access to the areas that allow for the right amount of movement. This includes stairs, entranceways and passages, as well as incentive programs and professional fitness workouts.
Comfort, mind, sound, materials, community and innovation
The sixth category is thermal comfort, which aims to provide employees with the right temperature for work to boost their productivity. The "mind" category examines strategies and solutions to take care of employees' mental health. Plans and therapies to support well-being are at the core of this category. To ensure proper working conditions, the building should also be tailored to employees in terms of acoustics. The use of the right materials and accessories, such as the acoustic walls offered by MARO furniture producer, can keep the noise level in the office down, which will translate into higher employee productivity. The WELL certification also examines the materials used in the office so as to minimize the adverse effects of chemicals on the health of employees. Equal and easy access to health care and the provision of medical services to help employees in all sorts of life situations help to lay a good foundation for creating a diverse and healthy workplace community. In the innovation category, buildings and companies can receive points for custom solutions that have not previously been taken into account in other categories.
MARO office furniture and WELL certification
MARO Office Furniture Factory offers products that meet the requirements of the WELL certification. All of this brand's office furniture is ergonomic and functional and provides employees with suitable comfort. Electric desks with height adjustment allow their users to perform their duties in both sitting and standing positions, which is beneficial to their health. Acoustic walls, on the other hand, allow you to separate your workspace and reduce noise levels. They make open spaces pleasant to work in. MARO's portfolio also includes office furniture designed for meeting areas. Stylish tables can contribute to the well-being of employees, so that they do not feel secluded and are willing to share ideas with others.
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