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Building Owners and Managers Association

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Building Owners and Managers Association
AbbreviationBOMA
Formation1907; 118 years ago (1907)
HeadquartersWashington, DC
Fieldcommercial real estate
Membershipmore than 30,000 as of May 2024[1]

The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA International) is a trade organization founded in 1907 for commercial real estate professionals.[2] Its mission is to advance the performance of commercial real estate through advocacy, promoting professional competency, standards and research.[2]

Standards

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BOMA first published the Standard Method of Floor Measurement for Office Buildings in 1915 which became the BOMA Method for the Measurement of Buildings.[3] Since then, it has become an international standard for determining the dimensions of buildings.[4][5] The American National Standards Institute recognizes this standard as ANSI Z65.[3] The US Government recognizes this standard in 48 CFR 570.102 and 48 CFR 552.270-4 to define "the area where a tenant normally houses personnel, and/or furniture, for which a measurement is to be computed."[6][7] This standard is critical as it is used by architects to determine a commercial building's efficiency, specifically its rentable space vs. usable space vs. gross area.[8]

BOMA is a founding member of the International Property Measurement Standards Coalition.[9]

Sustainability

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In 2002, BOMA worked with Arizona State University and the Athena Institute to evolve the Green Globes sustainability assessment tool to be more widely adoptable by US and Canadian commercial properties as part of the Green Building Initiative.[10]

In 2008, BOMA published the BOMA Guide to promote the implementation of sustainable building practices in commercial properties.[11] It was designed to facilitate building owners and tenants entering into environmentally sustainable leases without the rigidity of the guidelines proscribed by the U.S. Green Building Council.[11]

Professional accreditation

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As of March 2022 BOMI offers the following professional certifications / credentials for commercial real estate professionals:

Name Post-nominal
Real Property Administrator[12][13][14] RPA
Facilities Management Administrator[12] FMA
Systems Maintenance Technician[12] SMT
Systems Maintenance Administrator[12] SMA

Functions and Responsibilities

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The primary function of BOMA International[15] is to protect the interests of its members.[16][17][18] The organization lobbies legislative and regulatory bodies, as well as monitors compliance with industry codes and standards, including capital gains taxation, telecommunications, indoor air quality, private property rights, and risk assessment. Recently, BOMA International has helped the industry achieve benefits in capital gains taxation, terrorism insurance,[19] and energy efficiency tax deductions.

The association specifically sets standards for measuring leased space. In this capacity, it has joined forces with approximately thirty other organizations worldwide to develop a new standard for measuring office space area, which came into effect in November 2014. This standard, called the International Property Measurement Standard (IPMS), will simplify the work of companies operating in multiple national markets. The IPMS coalition, established in Washington in May 2013,[20][21] will promote this standard.

BOMA publishes, among other things, The BOMA magazine and the Experience Exchange Report, which is a collection of data on the income and expenses of more than 100 million square meters of office buildings in North America.

The "Real Property Administrator" (RPA) qualification is awarded by the Building Owners and Managers Institute (BOMI)—an independent nonprofit institute for education in real estate and facilities management. The program covers all aspects of commercial real estate operations and maximizing net income while minimizing risks.

BOMA’s Role in Real Estate

  • Establishes BOMA standards—worldwide recognized guidelines for measuring building areas and calculating rentable space.
  • Provides education, research, and certification that promote the professional development of property managers and owners.
  • Advocates for commercial real estate by influencing government policy and promoting sustainable and efficient construction practices.
  • Offers networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities through its international and local chapters.[22]

Certification

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BOMA issues national certificates under the BOMA BESt environmental management program to enterprises demonstrating high performance in energy management and environmental protection.[23][24]

References

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  1. ^ "Membership Types". Building Owners and Managers Association. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b The Investigation of the World Trade Center Collapse: Findings, Recommendations, and Next Steps : Hearing Before the Committee on Science, House of Representatives, One Hundred Ninth Congress, First Session. Washington, D.C.: United States House of Representatives. 26 October 2005. p. 184. ISBN 978-0-16-076065-5. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b The ANSI Z65.1 Canvass Group (1996). An American National Standard ANSI/BOMA Z65.1-1996 Standard Method For Measuring Floor Area In Office Building. BOMA International. ISBN 0943130182.
  4. ^ Posner, Walter H. (2002). The Leasing Process: A Guide for the Commercial Tenant. Captus Press. pp. 51–56. ISBN 978-1553220367. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  5. ^ "BOMA Office Standards". Extreme Measures. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  6. ^ 48 CFR 570.102, Federal Register, United States Government Publishing Office. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  7. ^ 48 CFR 552.270-4, Federal Register, United States Government Publishing Office. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  8. ^ American Institute of Architects (2004). The Architect's Handbook of Professional Practice Update 2004. John Wiley & Sons. p. 128. ISBN 978-0471485940. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  9. ^ "International Property Measurement Standards (IPMS)". BOMA International. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  10. ^ Pollalis, Spiro; Georgoulias, Andreas; Ramos, Stephen; Schodek, Daniel (2013). Infrastructure Sustainability and Design. Routledge. p. 184. ISBN 9780203120316. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  11. ^ a b Howe, Cullen; Gerrard, Michael (2011). The Law of Green Buildings: Regulatory and Legal Issues in Design, Construction, Operations, and Financing. American Bar Association. pp. 28–29. ISBN 978-1616320140. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  12. ^ a b c d e "Designation Programs - BOMI International". BOMI International. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  13. ^ "RPA: Real Property Administrator". Find a Pro. Houston Association of Realtors. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  14. ^ Prandi, Melissa (2009). The Complete Idiot's Guide to Success as a Property Manager. Alpha Books. ISBN 9781101140628. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  15. ^ "BOMA International - BOMA Greater Los Angeles". bomagla.org. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
  16. ^ "Advocacy". www.bomaaustin.org. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
  17. ^ "About Us - Building Owners and Managers Association Orlando". www.bomaorlando.org. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
  18. ^ "Advocacy - BOMA International". boma.org. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
  19. ^ "Terrorism insurance tops 2002 legislative agenda at BOMA International". www.fmlink.com. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
  20. ^ "International Property Measurement Standards: Residential Buildings Consultation Document" (PDF). ipmsc.org. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
  21. ^ "IPMS – International Property Measurement Standards". 1toall.com. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
  22. ^ "BOMA in Real Estate - Standards, Measurement, and Role in CRE". leni.co. 17 September 2025. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
  23. ^ "BOMA Best". bomabest.org. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
  24. ^ "Affaires, Économie, finance, finances personelles, entreprises, PME, monde des affaires, technologies". lapresse.ca. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
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