What is the Fitwel Scale Certification (FSP) process?

All phases of the Fitwel Scale Certification (FSP) process from start to finish

Note: If you were looking for the Fitwel Star Certification process, please refer to the article here. 

The FSP process is composed of the following phases:

All phases are conducted through the Fitwel digital platform, which keeps a record of all information and documentation included by both the project team and the reviewing team throughout the certification process. 

1. Registration & Fee Payment 

The project team must register the entity or portfolio for FSP Certification by filling out the interest form here. A member of the Fitwel client team will follow up to help set up all assets on the Fitwel platform. The Fitwel team will then guide the project team through the following steps:

Define Entity

The project team provides information about the Entity, such as the total number and types of assets, reporting goals, fund type and structure, etc.

Set Goals

Under the FSP Certification, strategies are organized across six Targeted Outcomes, established through a year-long exploration of the evidence-based connections to both health and financial outcomes:

• Support High-Quality Environments
• Create Resilience
• Engaging with Occupants & Community Stakeholders
• Promote Equity
• Optimize Asset for Walking & Active Transportation
• Enhance Access to Biophilia

At this stage of the process, the project team sets Entity Goals, including the percentage of assets within the Entity pursuing FSP Certification, the selected Targeted Outcomes (minimum of two), and timeline needs based on their reporting purposes and asset types. 

Identify Assets

Based on the assets within the Entity pursuing FSP Certification, the project team determines the most appropriate Scorecard(s) based on project scope and typology, as well as the Certification Type/Pathway (Design or Built).

Register & Pay

Registration provides access to the interactive scorecard on the Fitwel digital platform, benchmarking capability, and performance data that summarizes a project's areas of strength and opportunity. 

FSP Certification is charged at a single flat fee per asset submitted as part of the entity, and a single invoice is issued based on the total number of assets identified within the portfolio. The FSP invoice must be paid upfront at the time of Registration.

For the Fitwel pricing table, please refer to our website here.

2. Documentation

All phases of the documentation and reviewing processes are conducted through the Fitwel digital platform, which keeps a record of all information and documentation included by both the project team and the reviewing team throughout the certification process. 

The project team checks the digital Fitwel Scorecards on the Fitwel platform, selects all strategies to be pursued within the pre-selected Targeted Outcomes, and attaches documentation that demonstrates compliance with all corresponding strategy requirements.

3. FSP Portfolio Submission

When all strategies are fully documented for all assets within the portfolio, project teams may submit for review by Fitwel.

4. FSP Reviewing Process

Fitwel maintains a rigorous third-party reviewing process, with project submissions evaluated by qualified consultants. After Submission is completed for all assets within the portfolio, the reviewing process officially starts and is composed of three main phases: Initial Review, Client Response, and Final Review. 

Initial Review

The Fitwel reviewing team conducts an initial assessment of the documentation submitted for review, confirming if it properly demonstrates compliance with the Fitwel requirements. Upon completion of the assessment, the reviewing team provides an Initial Review report with guidance to project teams on how to further clarify the documentation in order to achieve any outstanding strategy. 

Client Response

The project team has an opportunity to respond to the Initial Review comments, provide clarifying information, as well as submit supplementary compliance documentation to pursue additional strategies, if desired.

Note: Reviewing timelines are based on a typical Client Response phase of 4 weeks, which may be extended as needed upon request to the Fitwel Certification Team. Any extensions to the Client Response phase will push the subsequent Final Review phase, which may impact the expected date of completion of the reviewing process.

Final Review & Certification

The Final Review is the last phase of the certification process. The Fitwel Certification Team conducts the final assessment of the documentation provided, validating the asset's performance against the Fitwel Standard, identifying all strategies that meet the requirements criteria. If any strategy(ies) is not achieved, the Certification Team provides final comments with guidance to support project teams to achieve the strategy(ies) in the future (i.e., when recertifying the asset(s) in the following FSP cycle). Upon completion of the final assessment, the reviewing team provides a Final Review report that consolidates both the Initial and Final Review comments.

Asset-specific Certification Materials

Upon completion of the assessment, the reviewing team provides a Final Review report for each asset within the portfolio. In addition to the report, each asset receives a Fitwel Individual Fitwel Asset Certificate recognizing the completion of the FSP Certification process. These materials are generated immediately after the final assessment is completed.

Entity-wide Certification Materials

The Entity receives a Fitwel Entity Letter of Recognition highlighting their outstanding commitment in Building Health for All®. This material is generated immediately after the final assessment is completed.

5. FSP Annual Data Reports

All assets will be included as part of the peer data set, which will be incorporated into Fitwel's database for the current submission year. FSP Annual Reports are issued in June of the following year. Please refer to the timelines below.

FSP Review Timelines

The entire reviewing process for FSP submissions takes up to 12 weeks for all user types (General Users, Ambassadors, Champions, Champions+, and Premium).

• Initial Review (6 weeks), Client Response (4 weeks), Final Review (2 weeks).

FSP Submission Windows

Fitwel offers four quarterly opportunities throughout the year to submit for FSP Certification:

• Submission Window #1 - Submission at any time in Q1 (between January 1 through March 31): Initial Review begins in April.
• Submission Window #2 - Submission at any time in Q2 (between April 1 through June 30): Initial Review begins in July.
• Submission Window #3 - Submission at any time in Q3 (between July 1 through September 30): Initial Review begins in October.
• Submission Window #4 - Submission at any time in Q4 (October 1 through December 31): Initial Review begins in January of the following year.

For projects that wish to be certified within a specific calendar year, please keep in mind our Annual Submission Deadlines, which are also available for reference in our Help Center. Please refer to the article FSP Certification annual submission deadlines here.

FSP Certification Validation Period

FSP Certification follows a yearly cycle. To maintain its Fitwel Certified status without lapse, the assets within the portfolio must initiate Recertification at any point within one year from the initial FSP Certification award, before the expiration date. 

Incremental Enhancements

Every year, project teams may increase Entity coverage by submitting additional assets, selecting additional Targeted Outcomes for the portfolio, and/or pursuing additional strategies.

To get started, please download for free the Fitwel Scale Certification (FSP) Starter Kit Bundle on our website here.