Air pollutant exposure in workplace environments has been associated with health and cognitive outcomes ofworkers. While green building certification programs have been instrumental in promoting indoor air quality(IAQ), the present literature indicates inconsistent evidence. Recent emergence and proliferation of WELL certification program that prioritizes human health has evoked new questions about its effectiveness in relation toIAQ. To investigate the effectiveness of the WELL certification, we have quantitatively compared IAQ resultsbefore and after relocation to two WELL-certified office buildings using the same cohort of occupants.
Physicalmeasures included integrated samples of TVOC, individual VOC, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, NO2, SO2, O3and longitudinal records of CO2 and size-resolved particles. Complementary survey responses about satisfactionwith IAQ and thermal comfort were collected from ~250 employees. For the majority of air pollutants, there wasno significant concentration difference between non-WELL and WELL buildings, but not always. The WELL-certified buildings had substantially higher levels of TVOC and individual VOC associated with paints, especiallyshortly after the relocation. However, there was statistically significant improvement in IAQ satisfactionafter relocation into WELL buildings regardless of the air pollution levels, possibly confounded by thermalenvironment, awareness of the WELL certification or other non-measurable factors.
A2560