SMArT Work: Stand More AT Work is a comprehensive behaviour-change intervention developed to encourage more frequent standing and less sitting at work.  An evidence-based toolkit has been designed as a result of this research intervention including resources for the individual, manager and workplace champions. 

This report is summarised in the Practitioner Research section above.  It also provides a simple, high level framework for measuring organisational outcomes and relating those back to the physical features of buildings and employee perceptions.  Starts on p53.

The appendices include some other useful information including:

• Industry survey tools …p80
• List of questions to raise with the landlord’s letting or sales agent…p86

The Checklist of Health Promotion Environments at Worksites (CHEW) was designed as an observation instrument to assess characteristics of worksite environments that are known to influence health-related behaviours.  It is a 112-item checklist of workplace environmental features which have been associated with physical activity, healthy eating, alcohol consumption, and smoking. The three environmental domains assessed are (1) physical characteristics of the worksite, (2) features of the information environment, and (3) characteristics of the immediate neighbourhood around the workplace.  The tool has been shown to provide reliable and valid data, and is thus deemed to be a promising observational measure that has the potential to assess environmental influences on health behaviours.

This study is summarised in the Academic Research section above.  It also provides a useful and comprehensive list of questions (starting on p238) that could be used by organisations that are due to relocate as a framework for planning, developing strategy and evaluating.

The WELL Building Standard is a global rating system that was launched in 2014 and aims to advance human health and wellbeing in the built environment.  The standard can be applied to commercial, institutional, and residential developments including new construction, core and shell, and tenant improvements. It is a system for measuring, certifying, and monitoring the performance of building features that impact health and wellbeing.  

Organisations pay a fee to go through the certification process, and their building will be assessed against the 11 key standards: Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Thermal Comfort, Sound, Materials, Movement, Mind, Community and Innovation.

BREEAM is a well-established global sustainability assessment method for planning infrastructure and buildings.  Using standards developed by BRE (Building Research Establishment), organisations can gain certification through third party assessment of their building’s environmental, social and economic sustainability performance. BREEAM claims that developments that meet these standards are more sustainable environments that enhance the well-being of the people who live and work in them and help protect natural resources. 

The LEED certification programme is a well-know ‘Green Building’ certification programme.   Development began by the non-profit US Green Building Council in 1993.   The LEED includes a set of rating systems for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of green buildings, homes, and neighborhoods.  The standards aim to help building owners and operators be environmentally responsible and use resources efficiently.  US-centric website found only.

FitWel is a US based organisation operating a certification standard for health in the built environment, via a tailored scorecard approach.  The Standard lists seven ‘Health Impact’ categories:  Impacts surrounding Community health; Reduces morbidity and absenteeism; Supports social equity for vulnerable populations; Instills feelings of wellbeing; Enhances access to healthy food; Promotes occupant safety; and Increases physical activity.

FitWel has global reach, running projects in over 35 countries, and provides training and advice to businesses who register (minimum registration is $500).  They also train FitWel Ambassadors to use the Standard in their own organisations.  The website also offers some free ‘Building Health’ resources and toolkits.

SKA rating tool is led and owned by RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors).  It allows property and construction professionals to design, rate and certify fit-out projects for environmental impact.    The tool comprises more than a hundred 'good practice' measures covering energy and CO2 emissions, waste, water, materials, pollution, wellbeing and transport. Use of the tool is free and open to all. Projects can be certified by qualified assessors for an additional fee

Bus Methodology is a survey tool that organisations can use to assess building occupant satisfaction before and after an intervention e.g. office relocation.  It is delivered via a network of licensed industry partners.  The results are compared to a benchmark database and feedback from the tool can help organisations improve their building design.  It is an industry recognised tool and can be used in the process of gaining various industry certifications e.g. BREEAM, LEED, WELL Standard.