WELL v2 has the strictest PM2.5 limit of the four (15 µg/m³ as a precondition), RESET Air sets daily averages for continuously monitored PM2.5, CO₂ and TVOC, and Al Sa’fat requires indoor air quality testing before occupancy and in existing buildings. One well-planned continuous monitoring system can serve WELL, RESET and Dubai’s EIAQI together.
Which standard has the strictest PM2.5 limit?
| Parameter | WELL v2 | RESET Air | Al Sa’fat | Dubai Municipality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 | ≤ 15 µg/m³ (A01) | < 35 µg/m³; high performance < 12 | — | 35 µg/m³ (24 h) |
| PM10 | ≤ 50 µg/m³ (A01) | — | < 150 µg/m³ | 150 µg/m³ (24 h) |
| CO₂ | < 900 or < 750 ppm (A06 option) | < 1,000; high performance < 600 ppm | < 800 ppm; alarm > 1,000 | 800 ppm (8 h) |
| TVOC | ≤ 500 µg/m³ (monitoring option) | < 500; high performance < 400 µg/m³ | < 300 µg/m³ | 0.6 mg/m³ (8 h) |
| Formaldehyde | ≤ 50 µg/m³ | — | < 0.08 ppm | 0.01 ppm (8 h) |
Which standards need continuous monitoring?
RESET Air is built on continuous monitoring of PM2.5, CO₂, TVOC, temperature and humidity, with certification after three consecutive months within limits (v2.0). WELL uses performance testing plus optional monitoring features such as A08. LEED v5, the only version open to new registrations from 1 July 2027, offers a continuous monitoring option for CO₂, PM2.5, TVOC, temperature and humidity. Dubai’s EIAQI expects continuous IoT monitoring. Al Sa’fat is based on periodic testing.
What does Al Sa’fat require for indoor air quality testing?
For new buildings, clause 401.06 points to the Dubai Building Code, whose clause H.4.10.3 requires an indoor air quality test before occupancy in buildings other than villas. Clause 401.07 covers existing hotels, malls, educational, government and healthcare facilities, mosques and other places of worship, theatres, cinemas and any other buildings Dubai Municipality designates, and says re-testing should be within 5 years of the last compliant test. Testing is by specialised companies or laboratories with calibrated equipment.
Can one monitoring system serve several standards?
Yes, if it is planned for the strictest requirement: monitors that log PM2.5, PM10, CO₂, TVOC, temperature and humidity (plus formaldehyde where needed), with the density WELL asks for, RESET-recognised hardware, and data retention that meets the EIAQI.
What about Abu Dhabi and Qatar?
Abu Dhabi projects use the Estidama Pearl Rating System: one Pearl is mandatory for private projects and two for government-funded projects, and its CO₂ monitoring credit is optional. Qatar projects use GSAS, whose Operations scheme sets limits for ten indoor pollutants. Dubai Municipality limits do not apply in either; check the current documents for exact thresholds before design. Our guide to indoor air quality requirements in the UAE and Saudi Arabia sets out what applies where.
Frequently asked questions
How long does RESET certification take?
RESET Air v2.0 requires three consecutive months of data within its limits.
Is WELL stricter than Dubai Municipality on PM2.5?
Yes. WELL’s precondition is 15 µg/m³, compared with Dubai Municipality’s 35 µg/m³ 24-hour limit.
Does HawaQ certify buildings?
No. We provide the monitoring, testing data and documentation support that certification consultants and assessors use.
Sources
- International WELL Building Institute, WELL Building Standard v2 (Q2 2025): A01, A06, A08; WELL Performance Verification Guidebook, version 2025-03. LEED v5 rating systems (USGBC, 2025). Estidama Pearl Building Rating System v1.0. GSAS Operations Assessment Guidelines (GORD, 2025).
- RESET Air Standard for Commercial Interiors v2.0, and v2.1 draft (2023).
- Al Sa’fat – Dubai Green Building System, 2nd edition (January 2023): 401.06, 401.07, 502.02. Dubai Building Code (2021): H.4.10.3.
- Dubai Municipality, Technical Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality for Healthy Life (DM-HSD-GU119-IAQ, Version 4, December 2024): Table 2.
- Dubai Municipality, Environmental Indoor Air Quality Index (EIAQI), DM-HSD-GU141-IAQI2, Version 1 (14 February 2025).
This guide explains public standards in plain language. It is not legal advice; check the current version of each document for compliance decisions.