Flooring

Mohawk Group Achieves WELL Health-Safety Rating

• By Matt Jones
• 02/23/21

Mohawk Group, a producer and distributor of commercial flooring, announced in a press release that all of its design studios and commercial showrooms will receive a WELL Health-Safety Rating, as determined by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). Mohawk is among the first flooring manufacturers to meet this standard.

The rating is meant to indicate a facility’s impact on community health. IWBI developed the WELL standard to focus on health and wellness inside buildings, considering factors like interior water and air quality, health-service resources, sanitizing and cleaning procedures, innovation, operational and maintenance policies, emergency plans, and stakeholder engagement.

“The rating is a third-party stamp of approval saying that our showrooms and spaces are clean and safe,” said Mohawk’s vice president of marketing and product development, Jackie Dettmar. “A WELL seal outside means people can feel safer inside.”

IWBI developed and modified the WELL Health-Safety Rating over a few years, most notably during the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. In line with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), global disease control and prevention centers, and academic and research institutions, the rating is evidence-based and third-party verified. The institute announced this month that its projects have hit the 1.5 billion SF mark in more than 80 countries, up from 500 million SF in less than 60 countries less than a year ago.

According to IWBI senior manager of sustainability Ramie Vagal, “The WELL seal instills confidence and trust throughout the community as it ensures integrity, consistency and results. We believe our ranking communicates our commitment to the health and well-being of anyone who visits or works within our spaces.”

Mohawk Group will get access to a wider variety of health and safety maintenance strategies, as well as more specific methods to lessen the chance of disease transmission. Its WELL rating suggests an above-and-beyond level of commitment to public health and wellness, particularly against the background of the coronavirus pandemic.