So Many BOMA Standards! Building Type & Use Affect Your Choice
The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) has created measurement standards for every commercial real estate scenario and knowing how to apply those standards is a key part of ensuring accurate lease agreements, tenant satisfaction, and precise appraisals. While property type is an important factor when selecting a BOMA standard, how the space is actually used is just as critical. BOMA standards are incredibly useful tools when applied correctly. It is beneficial to owners, tenants, builders, and brokers to be aware of each standard and its proper application. When the wrong standard is used, it can create inaccurate rentable areas and inflated or deflated valuations. Those inaccuracies don’t stop at the drawings, they show up in leases and other legal documents. Misapplied standards can lead to lost revenue, tenant confusion and can even cause disputes. What are the different standards and when should you choose one over another?
BOMA Office Standard
This standard is used for buildings functioning primarily as office space, regardless of whether they are single-tenant or multi-tenant. Even if a property includes nontraditional office layouts or retail space on the lower levels, the Office Standard is appropriate when the majority use reflects office occupancy and leasing. Note that a single tenant office building may use the Gross Standard if both parties agree.
BOMA Retail Standard
Use this standard for properties where space is utilized for the sale of goods or services directly to consumers. This includes shopping centers, strip malls, and stand-alone retail buildings. Where retail exists within a larger Mixed-Use building, only the retail portions should be measured with this standard.
BOMA Industrial Standard
The Industrial Standard applies to properties used primarily for storage, manufacturing, logistics, or distribution. Buildings with expansive warehouse areas, loading docks, or production floors should use this standard, even if they contain supporting office or retail areas. In these cases, the overall function of the property drives the measurement approach, not the presence of secondary office space.
BOMA Mixed-Use Standard
For properties that serve multiple distinct purposes, such as office, retail, residential, or hospitality, the Mixed-Use Standard allows each portion of the building to be measured according to its specific use. This ensures accuracy and fairness by applying the correct standard to each component. This is not a stand-alone Standard and used the other Standards in the final calculations of each area.
BOMA Gross Standard
This standard is applied when seeking to determine a building’s total overall area, which is typically needed for single tenant buildings, sales, or financing. It provides measurements for the entire building envelope or construction footprint. The Gross Standard can be used for all property types to find the total building size and cost.
BOMA Multi-Unit Residential Standard
This standard is used for buildings primarily occupied as residential units, such as apartments or residential communities. It focuses on unit areas and shared residential spaces and should be applied based on how occupants live and use the space, not simply how the building was originally designed.
Dimensions Floorplans is happy to assist with all your BOMA questions and needs! Our team stays up to date on all things BOMA. As a sitting member of the BOMA International Floor Measurement Standards Committee our President stays active in the creation, education and updates to all 6 standards.
