WELL
Certification for building occupant health and well-being
ISO 30301
International standard for management systems for records
Quick Verdict
WELL certifies healthy buildings via performance testing for occupant well-being, while ISO 30301 establishes auditable records management systems for governance. Companies adopt WELL for ESG/tenant appeal; ISO 30301 for compliance, evidence, and risk mitigation.
WELL
WELL v2 Building Standard
ISO 30301
ISO 30301:2019 Management systems for records requirements
Key Features
- High-Level Structure for MSS integration
- Normative Annex A operational controls
- Explicit records requirements identification
- Risk-based planning and objectives
- Flexible conformity pathways options
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 through evidence-based strategies. Its people-first approach emphasizes measurable outcomes across indoor environmental quality and organizational policies, using preconditions (mandatory) and optimizations (points).
Key Components
- **10 core conceptsAir, Water, Nourishment, Light, Movement, Thermal Comfort, Sound, Materials, Mind, Community (plus Innovation).
- 24 Preconditions and 102 Optimizations for balanced scoring.
- Certification tiers: Bronze (40 points), Silver (50), Gold (60), Platinum (80) with concept minimums.
- Relies on on-site verification and continuous monitoring.
Why Organizations Use It
Drives occupant health, productivity, and ESG reporting; complements LEED. Reduces risks like poor IEQ; boosts rents, retention, reputation via verified metrics.
Implementation Overview
Phased: gap analysis, scorecard, documentation review, on-site testing, recertification every 3 years. Applies to new/existing buildings, all sizes/industries globally. Requires cross-functional teams, WELL APs, authorized testers.
ISO 30301 Details
What It Is
ISO 30301:2019 is the international standard specifying requirements for a Management System for Records (MSR). It provides a certifiable framework to establish, implement, maintain, and improve records management, ensuring authoritative evidence of business activities. Applicable to any organization, it uses a risk-based, PDCA management system approach aligned with the High-Level Structure (HLS).
Key Components
- **Clauses 4–10Governance via context, leadership, planning, support, operation, evaluation, improvement.
- **Clause 8 & Annex A (normative)Records lifecycle controls (creation, capture, access, retention, disposition).
- Built on ISO 15489 principles (authenticity, reliability, integrity, usability).
- **Three conformity pathwaysSelf-declaration, external confirmation, third-party certification.
Why Organizations Use It
- Enhances compliance, risk mitigation, and transparency.
- Supports legal defensibility, auditability, and business continuity.
- Drives efficiency in information retrieval and disposition.
- Builds stakeholder trust through certifiable governance.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: Gap analysis, policy design, operational controls, audits.
- Scalable for any size/sector; integrates with ISO 9001/27001.
- Involves training, system integration, internal audits; certification optional.
Key Differences
| Aspect | WELL | ISO 30301 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Occupant health/well-being in buildings (10 concepts) | Records management system governance and lifecycle |
| Industry | Real estate, offices, all building types globally | All organizations/sectors worldwide |
| Nature | Voluntary performance-based certification | Voluntary certifiable management system standard |
| Testing | On-site performance verification/testing required | Internal audits, management review, certification audits |
| 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 30301
WELL FAQ
ISO 30301 FAQ
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