WELL
Certification standard for occupant health in buildings
ISO 22301
International standard for business continuity management systems
Quick Verdict
WELL certifies buildings for occupant health via 10 concepts and on-site testing, while ISO 22301 builds BCMS resilience against disruptions through BIA and audits. Companies adopt WELL for wellness differentiation and ISO 22301 for operational continuity and risk mitigation.
WELL
WELL Building Standard v2
ISO 22301
ISO 22301:2019 Business continuity management systems
Key Features
- PDCA cycle for continual BCMS improvement
- Business Impact Analysis (BIA) for prioritization
- Risk assessment and recovery strategies
- Leadership commitment and policy mandates
- Operational testing and exercise requirements
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
WELL Details
What It Is
WELL Building Standard v2 is a performance-based certification framework administered by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). It focuses on designing, operating, and verifying buildings to advance human health and well-being. Scope covers new/existing buildings across types like offices, residential, hospitality. Key approach: evidence-based, blending preconditions (mandatory pass/fail) and optimizations (points for extras).
Key Components
- **10 core conceptsAir, Water, Nourishment, Light, Movement, Thermal Comfort, Sound, Materials, Mind, Community (plus Innovation).
- 24 Preconditions, 102 Optimizations totaling up to 110 points.
- Built on public health/building science research.
- Certification model: tiers (Bronze 40pts, Silver 50, Gold 60, Platinum 80) with concept minimums.
Why Organizations Use It
Drives occupant health, productivity, ESG reporting; complements LEED. Mitigates risks like sick building syndrome. Boosts rents (up to 7.7%), retention, reputation via verified outcomes.
Implementation Overview
Phased: gap analysis, scorecard, documentation, on-site verification, recertification every 3 years. Cross-functional teams; applies globally to all sizes. Requires third-party testing, continuous monitoring optional.
ISO 22301 Details
What It Is
ISO 22301:2019 is the international standard specifying requirements for a Business Continuity Management System (BCMS). It provides a flexible, high-level framework using the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle and risk-based approach to build organizational resilience against disruptions like cyberattacks, pandemics, and natural disasters.
Key Components
- 10 clauses (4-10 core): context of organization, leadership, planning (BIA, risk assessment), support, operation, performance evaluation, improvement.
- Built on Annex SL for integration with standards like ISO 27001.
- Certification: 3-year cycle with annual surveillance audits via accredited bodies.
Why Organizations Use It
- Minimizes downtime, financial losses, and reputational damage.
- Ensures compliance with regulations (e.g., NIS Directive).
- Enhances risk management and stakeholder trust.
- Delivers competitive edges like procurement advantages and lower insurance premiums.
Implementation Overview
- Phased approach: gap analysis, BIA, training, testing, audits.
- Suits all sizes/sectors globally; 60-day plans possible with tools.
- Two-stage certification (6-8 weeks readiness/effectiveness review).
Key Differences
| Aspect | WELL | ISO 22301 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Occupant health, 10 concepts (Air, Water, etc.) | Business continuity, BCMS against disruptions |
| Industry | All buildings, global, all sizes | All sectors, global, all sizes |
| Nature | Voluntary performance certification | Voluntary BCMS certification standard |
| Testing | On-site performance verification, annual reporting | Internal audits, exercises, 3-year certification |
| Penalties | Loss of certification, no legal penalties | Loss of certification, no legal penalties |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about WELL and ISO 22301
WELL FAQ
ISO 22301 FAQ
You Might also be Interested in These Articles...
The Tool Landscape for Reaching and Maintaining ISO 27701 Compliance
Discover the top tools for ISO 27701 compliance. Compare functionality, complexity, costs, and benefits to choose the best solution for your privacy program. Ac
SOC 2 for Fintech Startups: First 5 Steps to Compliance with Confidentiality Criterion Infographic
First 5 steps to SOC 2 compliance with Confidentiality for fintech SaaS. Infographic maps controls to risks like encryption & TPRM. Integrates GLBA/PCI DSS over
CMMC Sustainment Mastery: Continuous Monitoring, Annual Affirmations, and Subcontractor Flow-Down Playbook
Master CMMC sustainment beyond certification: continuous monitoring dashboards, SPRS/eMASS affirmations, enforceable subcontractor clauses. Get templates for ve
Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM
Transform your compliance journey with our AI-powered assessment platform
Assess your organization's maturity across multiple standards and regulations including ISO 27001, DORA, NIS2, NIST, GDPR, and hundreds more. Get actionable insights and track your progress with collaborative, AI-powered evaluations.
Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages
LGPD vs EN 1090
Compare LGPD vs EN 1090: Brazil's data privacy law meets EU steel standards. Unlock compliance gaps, risks, strategies & execution classes for global success. Dive in now!
LGPD vs FISMA
LGPD vs FISMA: Brazil's GDPR-like privacy powerhouse vs U.S. federal cybersecurity framework. Uncover key differences, compliance strategies & global insights now!
ISO 27001 vs EU AI Act
Compare ISO 27001 vs EU AI Act: Align info security standards with AI regs for compliance, resilience & risk mgmt. Expert guide to implementation & pitfalls.