How is Fitwel different from other building certification standards?

Like other healthy building certification systems on the market, including WELL and BREEAM, Fitwel grades projects on a point scale, awarding more points to those projects that demonstrate the highest levels of attainment. In Fitwel, this translates to points awarded by strength of the evidence and impacts across seven Health Impact Categories (HICs). Unlike other systems, the evidence base for Fitwel’s strategies is in the most rigorous public health research available. Below are some features that show how Fitwel differs from other healthy building systems: 

• Its simplicity makes it approachable and accessible for first-time users and does not require any advanced knowledge or skill set to begin.
• With only a $500 registration fee per project, compared to competitors, Fitwel offers an affordable entry point for companies seeking to take the first steps towards certification. See our pricing structure at https://www.fitwel.org/certification.
• Additionally, Fitwel offers discounts for companies to register and certify at scale. Find out more about registering and certifying at scale by visiting https://www.fitwel.org/champions/. 

Regarding Fitwel vs. WELL specifically: Fitwel and WELL similarly offer certification services to assess how an asset or site may support health and well-being. The Fitwel standard is backed by 100+ years of public health research, and every strategy within the Fitwel standard is substantiated by peer-reviewed evidence. Fitwel may be applied to practically any asset types, whether in the design stage or built and occupied, and leverages an online platform to submit and evaluate all documentation, avoiding the need for on-site assessment and performance testing. To learn more, please visit fitwel.org.