Free Practice Questions for WELL WELL-AP Exam

Incorporating revolving doors at the entrance of a building can effectively meet the WELL Building Standard's requirements for healthy entryways. Revolving doors act as an air lock, reducing the influx of pollutants and particulate matter from the outside environment into the building's interior. This design feature minimizes the entry of outdoor contaminants and helps in maintaining cleaner indoor air quality. The presence of grilles that measure the width of the entrance and extend 10 ft. (3 m) in the primary direction of travel further supports this by trapping dirt and water at the entrance, but the key mechanism for reducing airborne pollutants is the use of revolving doors, aligning with WELL's emphasis on air quality and health.

When a permanently installed air conditioner has been used during construction, it is necessary to replace the air filter prior to occupancy. Construction activities can generate a significant amount of dust and debris, which can clog the air filters and compromise the indoor air quality. Replacing the air filter ensures that the air conditioning system can provide clean air and function efficiently, which is essential for maintaining a healthy indoor environment for future occupants.

According to the WELL v2™ feature V04 Optimization Facilities for Active Occupants, the project must provide no-cost bike parking in the following quantities: Short-term bike parking (e.g., public bike rack) is located within a 100 ft walk distance of a functional building entrance and can accommodate at least 2.5% of peak visitors (minimum of four spaces per building). Long-term bike parking (e.g., bike room) is available within the project boundary and can accommodate at least 5% of regular occupants, excluding occupants under eight years old (minimum of four spaces per building)1. Therefore, option D is the correct answer, as it meets the requirement for short-term bike parking. Option A is incorrect, as the bike network must connect riders to at least 10 use types, not five1. Option B is incorrect, as long-term bike parking must accommodate at least 5% of regular occupants, not peak visitors1. Option C is incorrect, as the project’s address must achieve a minimum Bike Score® of 50, not 401.

References: = Standard | WELL V2 - Feature V04 Optimization Facilities for Active Occupants

Feature V10: Self-Monitoring, Part 1 of the WELL Building Standard focuses on providing tools for employees to monitor their health. To satisfy the requirements of this feature, self-monitoring tools must be subsidized by at least 50%. This significant subsidy is intended to make health-monitoring tools more accessible to employees, encouraging their use and supporting the ongoing health and wellness of the workforce. By reducing the financial barrier, the employer can foster a culture of health awareness and proactive management of well-being.

Feature S01: Sound Mapping directs projects to label the following acoustic zones for performance verification:

Loud zones: Areas for loud equipment or activities.

Quiet zones: Areas for concentration, rest, privacy.

Mixed zones: Areas for collaboration, learning, presentation.

Circulation zones: Occupiable areas not intended for regular occupancy.

References:

WELL v2, Sound Concept, Feature S01: Sound Mapping: Outlines the specific zones to be labeled and the requirements of the annotated document

For WELL Core Certification, which focuses on the base building elements of a project, a certain portion of the total building floor area must be designated for performance testing to ensure the building meets WELL's health and wellness criteria. The requirement of a minimum of 2,500 ft² (approximately 232 m²) for performance testing is established to ensure a representative sample of the building's overall environment and operational practices. This area must be readily accessible for testing and capable of demonstrating the building's compliance with WELL's standards. This requirement underscores the WELL Building Standard's commitment to evidence-based outcomes and verifiable performance, ensuring that the building's core and shell support the health and well-being of its future occupants.

To achieve an acceptable thermal environment for building occupants, the WELL AP should suggest designing mechanically conditioned regularly occupied spaces to maintain thermal comfort conditions with a Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) of +/- 0.5 for at least 90% of the occupied hours. This approach aligns with WELL's requirements for thermal comfort, focusing on creating indoor environments that are comfortable for the majority of occupants. By maintaining these conditions, the design supports occupant health, well-being, and productivity, while addressing one of the strongest contributing factors to overall satisfaction in the built environment​​.

References:

Standard | WELL V2

Your roadmap to the WELL AP exam

IWBI Resource Hub | WELL v2

What’s new in WELL v2: Thermal Comfort

Feature T01: Thermal Zoning

According to the WELL v2™ feature N01: Fruits and Vegetables, increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables can help prevent and manage chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers1. Fruits and vegetables provide dietary fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals that can lower blood glucose levels, improve insulin sensitivity, reduce inflammation, and modulate gut microbiota2. Low fruit and vegetable intake, on the other hand, can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes by impairing glucose metabolism and insulin function3.

References: = Standard | WELL V2 - Feature N01: Fruits and Vegetables The role of fruits, vegetables, and spices in diabetes - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Fruit and vegetable intake and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus: systematic review and meta-analysis - BMJ

Supporting Evidence: WELL features often require specific design elements or operational protocols to be met. Annotated plans, drawings, or specifications provide clear evidence demonstrating how the project meets these requirements.

Feature-Specific Requirements: Each feature has its own verification methods in the WELL Building Standard. Annotated documents are particularly important for features with visual or spatial requirements.

Clarity for Reviewers: Annotations highlight crucial details, making review more efficient for the WELL assessors. They demonstrate that the project team has carefully considered and implemented the specific requirements.

In the context of WELL Certification, Innovation points are awarded for exceptional achievements that go beyond the standard requirements. For a project that has already achieved LEED® and BREEAM® certifications, it demonstrates a commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. To achieve the full score under the Innovation category in WELL Certification, the project would typically need to earn additional points by demonstrating innovative strategies, practices, or features that address health and wellness in unique and impactful ways. If the standard requires additional points for full Innovation credit, two points might be a reasonable assumption for the number of additional points needed, considering the project's existing achievements in sustainability.