(WASHINGTON, DC—September, 20, 2007) The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International announced today that it is beginning the process of renewing the designation of an American National Standard for its long-respected office floor measurement standard, “Standard Method of Measuring Floor Area in Office Buildings.” This industry-renowned standard has been produced by BOMA since 1915 and has been officially an accredited American National Standard of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) since the 1970s.
In regaining ANSI’s accreditation and as part of the process, BOMA is soliciting any persons with an interest in voting on whether the standard should be accredited by ANSI. The balloting will begin on October 5th and will conclude on November 19th.
BOMA’s Standard Methods of Floor Measurement Committee is not recommending any change in the procedures at this time. BOMA has, however, convened a task force to initiate a revision process for the next generation of floor measurement standard for commercial office buildings.
As well, BOMA is also soliciting any persons with an interest in voting on whether the Standard Methods for Measuring Floor Area in Industrial Buildings should be an ANSI accredited floor measurement standard. Like the office floor measurement standard the balloting will begin on October 5th and will conclude on November 19th.
“Obtaining the ANSI designation for both of these standards will reassure the real estate industry that BOMA’s standards have proceeded through a standards development process that is open, balanced, without being dominated by any interest group in the industry,” said Kent Gibson, chair of BOMA’s Standard Method of Floor Measurement Committee and vice president of Zions Securities Corporation in Salt Lake City, Utah.
This initiation of the process to renew ANSI designation for the office standard and to obtain the ANSI designation for the industrial standard marks the beginning of the development of seven new floor measurement standards by BOMA and its partners in the real estate industry, including those for retail, multi-residential, mixed-use, campus-style facilities, industrial, office, and gross measured building area.
Any person who has a sincere interest in participating in the voting process for either the Standard Method for Measuring Floor Area in Office or Industrial Buildings is requested to contact Dave Johnston, Director of Codes and Standards at BOMA International’s headquarters (202-326-6357 or djohnston@boma.org) to obtain an official ballot.
The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International is an international federation of more than 90 local associations and affiliated organizations. BOMA’s 16,500-plus members own or manage more than 9 billion square feet of commercial properties in North America and throughout the world. The mission of BOMA International is to enhance the human, intellectual and physical assets of the commercial real estate industry through advocacy, education, research, standards and information. Founded in 1907, BOMA International celebrates 100 years of commercial real estate in 2007. Learn more at www.boma.org.
Contact:
Director of Communications
BOMA International
(202) 326-6315 or lhorsley@boma.org