A More Robust Standard: Fitwel v3 Integrates a Broadened Evidence Base

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Jun 6

Insights from the Center for Active Design Experts

A More Robust Standard: Fitwel v3 Integrates a Broadened Evidence Base

Fitwel v3 is here! In honor of this release, we want to share how we got here and highlight new strategies and themes to look out for in this updated version. In the years since Fitwel’s last comprehensive update, the Center for Active Design (CfAD) has focused on expanding its research library to address several new themes represented in the ever-growing evidence base. From optimal lighting and acoustics to occupant safety and wayfinding, this update reflects a broadened standard that integrates the most current research. Two of the most prominent areas addressed in the updated standard include climate adaptation and equity — core areas of focus for both developers and communities.

Centering Equity to Diminish Health Disparities

As a measure to capture a project’s impact on the surrounding community, equity has emerged in recent years as a priority for stakeholders across the real estate sector. Equity is defined by the CDC as “the state in which everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health.” Centering equity in the design and operations of our built environment can have a profound impact on diminishing health disparities and increasing access to health-promoting spaces and places. For this reason, equity is one of seven Health Impact Categories in the Fitwel Standard, capturing strategies that support equitable spaces by creating environments that are accessible, welcoming, and health-promoting for all populations and respond to occupant needs. The v3 Standard expands Fitwel’s focus on equity through the following updates:

Addressing the connection between internet access and health. Research demonstrates that increasing access to free, high speed internet in both public and private spaces can have a significant impact on our communities. This connection is tied to a number of factors, including the fact that the internet is a valuable resource for health information and also can increase access to healthcare services through telehealth appointments. Internet access is now considered a "super determinant" of health, with evidence indicating that increasing access to the internet is significantly associated with lower rates of diabetes.
Expanding applicability of strategies focused on increasing access to economically diverse housing. As one of the most well-researched social determinants of health, we know that health and housing are intrinsically linked. Access to affordable housing is associated with reduced hospital visits, and research has shown that developing a diverse housing mix consisting of below-market rate rental and owned units at rates affordable to those of mixed income levels supports access to resources such as employment opportunities, safety from violence, and family support services.
Integrating a broadened set of strategies focused on universal accessibility. This expansion recognizes the many ways that accessibility can impact the utilization of spaces and services. This includes not only physical accessibility, but financial accessibility, gender accessibility, and more. Whether ensuring circulation routes are navigable by those with disabilities or integrating gender inclusive restrooms, these strategies are essential. Beyond feelings of inclusion, increasing accessibility of spaces has been shown to increase economic productivity and physical activity.

Accounting for greater understanding of noise management best practices. Our strategies to implement acoustic and noise control measures are not new to the Standard, but we have updated them with new compliance requirements and expanded their applicability across scorecards to reflect new findings in the literature. The WHO identified noise as one of the top environmental risks to public health, with an estimated one million healthy years of life lost every year from environmental noise effects. Chronic noise exposure is linked to heart disease and disrupted sleep, and occupational noise-related costs have been estimated to range in the hundreds of billions of dollars per year. These strategies are especially relevant for neurodivergent populations. For example, noise can have a disproportionate mental effect on those on the Autism spectrum with acoustic hyperawareness, resulting in feelings of social exclusion and discrimination. These strategies in the v3 standard incentivize buildings and projects to increase acoustic comfort across a variety of spaces, supporting inclusivity and other health benefits in turn.

Mitigating and Adapting to Climate Change Realities

A second central theme to this update is addressing climate change adaptation and mitigation. Climate change is arguably one of the greatest challenges our global community faces, not only for environmental health, but also for infectious disease transmission, heat and stress-related illnesses, respiratory diseases, nutrition, and more. The new Fitwel Standard has expanded upon strategies that work to both adapt to this challenge and mitigate its effects. Real estate and urban development have a powerful role to play in addressing climate change, as the sector drives 40% of global emissions. Many of the strategies aimed at addressing the connection between health and climate change are entirely new, while others are expanded in terms of both compliance and application. These strategies not only apply to physical climate risk but also provide pathways to support protection against climate change in the surrounding community, through efforts to foster local flora and fauna and lower local temperatures. The updates outlined below will help projects both address physical climate risk as well as community climate concerns:

Integrating new strategies to address physical climate risk. Wildfires and flooding are two of the most pressing threats to human health brought on by climate change, which is why we have expanded the applicability of strategies aimed at managing these risks. One article published in Nature Climate Change estimates that up to 13.1 million coastal residents in the US will be displaced by the sea level rise expected to occur by 2100. Wildfires, which can also cause significant displacement, are associated with other risks, including long-term respiratory disease.
Introducing a new strategy to address biodiversity. Integrating native plants and creating vibrant ecosystems can not only cool nearby temperatures, but also enhance carbon absorption, addressing both climate change adaptation as well as mitigation. Biodiversity, or the vast variety of organisms, is also being threatened by climate change and provides significant benefits to the human immune system and helps protect our physical spaces, making this strategy a natural fit for the Fitwel Standard (for more on biodiversity, we recommend reading our April blog post).
Expanding best practices to increase climate preparedness and manage risk at the community level. Strategies focused on heat island mitigation and stormwater management not only impact the asset but also benefit the surrounding community. A recent study published in the journal Nature estimates that climate change will increase the number of people who suffer from excessive heat from ~600 million to ~2 billion by 2030 and 3.7 billion by 2090. The consequences of flooding, from contaminated drinking water to issues of mold and the exacerbation of respiratory illnesses, similarly impacts billions of people worldwide.

Creating a more comprehensive construction safety strategy. The expanded application of a construction safety strategy ensures workers receive the necessary protections in cases of work that involve extreme heat and weather. According to a recent analysis by the company nPlan, projects involving physical work (such as construction) are taking 36% longer to complete during extreme heat events, due to heat exhaustion, decreased productivity, and increased risk of accidents. This strategy strives to address the human health concerns associated with working amidst the already rising temperatures.

Leveraging Fitwel to Mitigate Today’s Most Pressing Challenges

This update reflects the significant growth in research released and insights shared over the past five years. Projects can leverage the updated Standard to manage risks created by both health disparities as well as climate change, and ultimately boost value across their portfolios. For more detailed information about this update, be sure to check out the Help Center, and we look forward to continuing the conversation and garnering feedback for the v3 standard.

Article contributed by the Center for Active Design team of research experts, including Skyler Chin, Dillon Alwan, Sara Karerat, and Grace Dickinson.

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A More Robust Standard: Fitwel v3 Integrates a Broadened Evidence Base

Insights from the Center for Active Design Experts

A More Robust Standard: Fitwel v3 Integrates a Broadened Evidence Base

Centering Equity to Diminish Health Disparities

Mitigating and Adapting to Climate Change Realities

Leveraging Fitwel to Mitigate Today’s Most Pressing Challenges

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