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 concept-based approach organizes requirements into mandatory Preconditions and optional point-earning Optimizations.

Key Components

• **10 core conceptsAir, Water, Nourishment, Light, Movement, Thermal Comfort, Sound, Materials, Mind, Community (plus Innovation).
• 24 Preconditions and 102 Optimizations totaling up to 110 points.
• Built on public health research and building science.
• Tiered certification: Bronze (40 points), Silver (50), Gold (60), Platinum (80) with concept minimums at higher levels.

Why Organizations Use It

Enhances occupant health, productivity, and ESG reporting; differentiates portfolios with verified outcomes; supports talent retention and higher rents; complements LEED for holistic sustainability; builds stakeholder trust via rigorous verification.

Implementation Overview

Phased process: enrollment, scorecard development, documentation review, on-site performance verification, certification. Applies to new/existing buildings across sectors; requires cross-functional teams, pre-testing, continuous monitoring; recertifies every 3 years.

What It Is

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) is a U.S. federal regulation enacted to protect investors by enhancing the accuracy and reliability of corporate financial disclosures. Triggered by scandals like Enron and WorldCom, SOX establishes accountability through internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR) using a top-down, risk-based approach aligned with frameworks like COSO.

Key Components

• **Title ICreates PCAOB for public company audit oversight, inspections, and standards.
• **Title IIMandates auditor independence, partner rotation, and non-audit service restrictions.
• **Sections 302/404/906CEO/CFO certifications, ICFR assessments, and auditor attestations.
• **OtherWhistleblower protections (806), real-time disclosures (409), criminal penalties. No fixed control count; focuses on entity-level, process, and ITGC domains.

Why Organizations Use It

• Mandatory for U.S. public companies and listed foreign issuers.
• Reduces fraud, restatements, and reporting risks.
• Builds investor trust, lowers cost of capital.
• Drives governance maturity and operational efficiency via automation.

Implementation Overview

Phased risk-based program: scoping, documentation, testing, remediation, continuous monitoring. Targets public firms across sizes/industries; 404(b) audit for accelerated filers. Involves cross-functional teams, GRC tools, annual reporting.