In 2004, BOMA decided to appoint 1 professional measuring firm as its ‘Official and Exclusive Interpreter’ of the BOMA Floor Measurement Standards, of which there was really only 1 Standard at the time, the 1996 Office Standard. LASERTECH Floorplans was offered this role, which we accepted and filled from 2004 through 2009. We paid a fee of $10,000 per year to BOMA for this privilege, and in return agreed to field questions from the public on the Standard, and to offer a written opinion where required. Our voice was considered as the official voice for BOMA on all such questions received. The benefit for the public was that there was 1 source of interpretations of such Standards, resulting in consistent interpretations for all.
As part of our role, we developed our online KnowledgeBase of questions/answers, now available through our website. This was the first available source of such information online that we are aware of.
In 2004, the BOMA/SIOR Industrial Standard was released, and we quickly became familiar with that Standard as well.
It should be pointed out that in addition to offering opinions on the Standards, our core business was performing laser-accurate as-built surveys for architects and property managers. Part of this business often involved doing a BOMA anlaysis of a building, implementing the Standards currently in effect. With our state-of-the-art LTS survey system operational since 2001, we have been able to measure buildings more accurately and faster than any competitor, to 1/8″ accuracy. What sets us apart is the fact our software is both CAD based and survey-knowledgable. This enables us to deliver the most accurate existing-conditions drawings possible with technology of today, which is ultimately the first step in doing any BOMA analysis of a building. Without accurate measurements, the calculations become a moot point!
We have been implementing the BOMA Standards in our projects since 1995, with all of our surveys backed up and guaranteed by our $2 Million E&O insurance. We stand by our results!
The fact that we had technology no one else had developed, and that we had been doing BOMA surveys for 10 years certainly swayed BOMA in their decision to appoint us in 2004. $10,000 per year sealed the deal of course, which we did pay through 2009.
In the 2006-9 time period, BOMA and IFMA began moving towards common language in their Standards, and the wheels were put in motion to not only rewrite the current BOMA Standards, but also to develop additional standards, for example for Retail buildings, mixed use, residential buildings, and single-tenant buildings.
We chose not to get heavily involved in the creation of new standards here at Lasertech, instead believing that it would better serve the public for us to take an objective outside view of the Standards in their final format, the same as the public would receive and be trying to interpret. We offered opinions early on in the process, but it became apparent early that there were more than enough participants in the committees, and we instead focused on our role as interpreter and more importantly, implementation!
As well, BOMA then brought in a program to open up the Interpreter program, basically stating their desire to have every measuring firm signed up as ‘Official Interpreters’. Their stated goal was to collect $5000 per Interpreter PER STANDARD initially. Not surprisingly, there was no interest from any of the measuring firms out there!
Finally, by 2010, as the new Standards were making there way out to release, the program was modified so as Interpreters would pay $5000 per year for the right to offer Interpretations, and to be thereby recognized on the BOMA.org site. We, along with 3 other firms, served in this role through 2010.
Of course now the problem that we see is with so many Interpreters, and with so many new Standards, confusion abounds, not only amongst Interpreters, but more importantly the public.
Ultimately, as has always been stated by BOMA and all committee members, the Standards are a guideline, and subject to interpretation and application by measuring professionals. We at Lasertech recognize that our expertise continues to be in the accurate measurement and documentation of existing buildings, and of course where BOMA calculations are required we do have the expertise and knowledge of having worked with all versions of the Standards over the past 15 years to ensure that the proper Standard is implemented for our clients, and to ensure they are implemented in the full spirit of the Standards as intended by BOMA!
We have decided to opt out of the BOMA Interpreter program, as we feel those best qualified to offer interpretations on the new standards are those who wrote it. We ourselves will ask questions to other Interpreters where we feel there needs to be an interpretation of some perhaps vague or confusing wording in the manuals, or in their accompanying drawings.
The public should realize that those who write the Standards are not always best qualified to measure and document buildings, and implement the actual calculations as outlined in the Standards. And also to keep in mind that the Interpreters program is largely a marketing tool, by both BOMA and those Interpreters paying for the annual right to be so recognized.
We prefer to continue to grow our business through outstanding service, unparalleled accuracy, and a business model that allows us to continue to offer our service to architects and building owners on a truly international scale.
This in no way is intended as a knock against current Interpreters, or BOMA, but simply a clarification of our position and role at Lasertech Floorplans, as we move into 2011. The Standards in their current form, though not perfect, are a huge improvement from what we had back in the 90s. All committee members and BOMA are to be congratulated for providing the tools for all of us to work with , to ensure we can best serve our clients when it comes to lease area calculations. We look forward to continuing to do our best in the interpretation (unofficially) and application of all BOMA Floor Measurement Standards.
