** Incoming! v3 Revisions are on the way! **

In response to your feedback, we will be providing the following update: Percentage to reflect access in 51% of area overall instead of 51% of each room.

Please note, the below requirements and compliance documentation will be updated soon to reflect v3 changes. You can find more information on these revisions in a Change Log that will be available on the Help Center on December 10, 2024. ________________________________________________________________________

Provide access to natural daylight

Rationale: Implementing design strategies, such as high-visible light transmittance and optimal window-to-wall ratios, increases access to natural daylight, which supports circadian rhythm regulation — contributing to wide-ranging health benefits including improved sleep quality, a strengthened immune system, and lower stress levels.

For the most accurate strategy and documentation requirements, please refer to the digital scorecard made available on the Fitwel Platform.

Requirements

Demonstrate compliance with one of the options below:

Option 1 - Natural Daylight Window-to-Wall Ratio (Full Credit):

Provide access to natural daylight by meeting all of the following requirements:

1. Ensure that all windows within all dwelling units can exceed a Visible Light Transmittance (VLT) of 40%.
2. Provide a minimum window-to-wall ratio of 35% on each floor of the building with dwelling units.

Option 2 - Natural Daylight Simulation Score (Full Credit):

Provide access to natural daylight for each dwelling unit that meets the following:

1. Ensure an average sDA300,50% is achieved for a minimum of 60% of the floor area of each dwelling unit.

Option 3 - Natural Daylight Calculation (Full Credit):

Provide access to natural daylight by demonstrating compliance with the following:

1. Ensure that all windows within all dwelling units can exceed a Visible Light Transmittance (VLT) of 40%.

2. Ensure that 51% of each dwelling unit within the building includes access to natural daylight.

Qualifying Calculation:

To calculate the total percentage of access to daylight within each dwelling unit, follow the steps below and input the required values in the tables on the calculation tab to apply the following formula [((A + B) / C) x 100)]:

Step 1, determine C: establish the total area of the dwelling unit.

Step 2, determine A and B: establish the area with access to daylight, using the windows located in the dwelling unit identified for C in Step 1 by applying the following:

• (i) to determine A, identify each window with access to daylight for north and south façades and input the required values in the table for each identical window with access to daylight to apply the following formula: North and South façades Area with Access to Daylight = [(Window(s) Head Height x 1.5) x (Window(s) Width + 2 feet from the right side of the window(s) + 2 feet from the left side of the window(s))].
• (ii) to determine B, identify each window with access to daylight for east and west façades and input the required values in the table for each identical window with access to daylight to apply the following formula: East and West façades Area with Access to Daylight = [(Window(s) Head Height) x (Window(s) Width)].
• (iii) repeat steps (i) and (ii) on each unique window type within the space.
• (iv) determine A and B by adding the results calculated from Step (i) and (ii).

Step 3, determine the percentage: to determine the percentage of the dwelling unit with access natural daylight, apply the formula [((A + B) / C) x 100)].

Step 4, repeat steps 1 through 3 for each unique dwelling unit floorplan within the project.

Permanent furniture partitions or other permanent features that measure above 42 inches or 106 centimeters are considered obstructions of natural daylight. Areas behind these obstructions should not to be included in the daylit area. Window head height is the height of the window measured from the finished floor level to the top of the window frame.

If there are spaces behind walls and obstructions: Subtract those areas behind obstructions from the total area with access to daylight (A+B). These obstructed areas include spaces behind partitions 42 inches or higher as well as enclosed rooms. The final formula would appear like this: ((A+B) - area behind obstructions) / C

Compliance Documentation

Design Pathway 

Option 1: 

• Requirement 1

  • Checkbox to certify that all windows within all dwelling units can exceed a Visible Light Transmittance (VLT) of 40%

  • Upload an annotated plan showing all regularly occupied common spaces and the VLT of the windows within the spaces that will be included

• Requirement 2

  • Upload an annotated plan of each residential floor

  • Upload a calculation of the window-to-wall ratio for each residential floor

Option 2: 

• Upload annotated computer simulation calculations showing the sDA range of all dwelling units within the building.

Option 3: 

• Requirement 1

  • Checkbox to certify that all windows within all dwelling units can exceed a Visible Light Transmittance (VLT) of 40%

  • Upload an annotated plan showing all regularly occupied common spaces and the VLT of the windows within the spaces that will be included

• Requirement 2

  • Checkbox to certify that 51% of each dwelling unit within the building will include access to natural daylight

  • Upload a calculation detailing the planned percentage of daylit area within the project

  • Upload an annotated plan for each unique floorplan identifying the following within each unique dwelling unit:

    • areas that will have access to natural daylight

    • areas that will be behind obstructions

Built Pathway 

Option 1: 

• Requirement 1

  • Checkbox to certify that all windows within all dwelling units can exceed a Visible Light Transmittance (VLT) of 40%

  • Upload an annotated plan showing all regularly occupied common spaces and the VLT of the windows within the spaces

• Requirement 2

  • Upload an annotated plan of each residential floor

  • Upload a calculation of the window-to-wall ratio for each residential floor

Option 2: 

• Upload annotated computer simulation calculations showing the sDA range of all dwelling units within the building.

Option 3: 

• Requirement 1

  • Checkbox to certify that all windows within all dwelling units can exceed a Visible Light Transmittance (VLT) of 40%

  • Upload an annotated plan showing all regularly occupied common spaces and the VLT of the windows within the spaces

• Requirement 2

  • Select here to certify that 51% of each dwelling unit within the building includes access to natural daylight

  • Upload a calculation detailing the percentage of daylit area within the project

  • Upload an annotated plan for each unique floorplan identifying the following within each unique dwelling unit:

    • areas with access to natural daylight

    • areas behind obstructions