APPLICATION GUIDE

BOMA BEST SUSTAINABLE

BUILDINGS 3.0

February 2018

The Voice of the Commercial Real Estate Industry in Canada

About this Guide
Welcome to the BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings 3.0 Application Guide.
This guide is specifically written for buildings wishing to achieve a BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings
certification.
It contains instructions for buildings in either the Single Building Stream or the Portfolio Stream.

Please send your feedback and/or questions to [email protected]

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Table of Contents
1. Step-by-Step Guide for Users of the BOMA BEST Online Portal ..........................................................3
2. Building Definitions.............................................................................................................................18
3. Defining a single building in BOMA BEST............................................................................................23
3.1. When can multiple buildings be considered a single building? ....................................................23
3.2. Benchmarking energy and water in the BOMA BEST buildings.....................................................24
4. Gross Floor Area to assess BOMA BEST Fees .....................................................................................26
5. BEST Practices .....................................................................................................................................29
5.1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................29
5.2. Office, Enclosed Shopping Centre, Light Industrial, Open Air Retail, Universal ............................30
5.3. MURB and Health Care Facilities ...................................................................................................71
6. BOMA BEST Verification Process ........................................................................................................94
7. Benchmarking methodology for energy and water .........................................................................103
7.1. Office, Enclosed Shopping Centre, Light Industrial, Open Air Retail, and Universal ...................103
7.2. MURB and Health Care Facilities .................................................................................................107
8. Scoring methodology ........................................................................................................................112
9. BOMA BEST Program Policies ...........................................................................................................116

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 1. Step-by-Step Guide for Users of the BOMA BEST Online
Portal
1.1. Process overview
The BOMA BEST process is very user friendly.

Username registration (online)

Login (online)

Building registration (online)

Payment (offline)

Complete assessment (online)

Request verification (online)

On-site third-party verification and documentation review (offline)

Annual certification (Portfolio Stream) or 3-year certification period

(Single Stream)

Ongoing access to online portal

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 1.2. From Registration to Certification
Step 1: Create a username
Note: Your V2 username and password will not work in the 3.0 Online Portal.
a. Visit: https://boma.credit360.com
b. Click on “Are you a new user?” to create your username

c. Complete the information requested regarding your company and contact information.

NOTE: For your company name, enter “Company Name-Your Name” (e.g. Management
Company A-Jane Smith)

d. You will receive an email with a link. Click on this link to finalize the registration process. The link
is valid for 60 minutes. Your username is your email address.
e. You can now log in.

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Step 2: Create a building
From the dashboard, click on the Services tab; select whether you would like to register a “Single”
building or a “Portfolio” of buildings.

Single Building Stream: Designed for those who prefer to pay a one-time fee for a three-year
certification. Upon expiry of the building, applicants must pay a new fee for recertification and be verified
again. Multiple buildings can be registered (one at a time) via this method.

Portfolio Stream: Designed for applicants who prefer to pay an annual fee for ongoing certification.
Certification never expires provided verification is successful and the annual fee is received. A different
sample of the portfolio is verified every year.

Depending on your selection, follow the instructions directed to your stream in the remainder of this
document.

1. Single Building Stream:

a. From the Services tab, click on “Register single”.
b. You will be redirected to the “Create new property” page.
c. Complete all required fields in the Summary section

NOTE: See the Tip box on the following page for details on how to complete your information.

a. Click “Save”. Multiple buildings can be created this way, one at a time.

NOTE: Fees for certification do not appear automatically in this step nor is it possible to create an invoice
using the Online Portal. Your Local Association will be in touch with your invoice. Fees are based on the
building size and asset type. Please visit the Fee section of the website for exact fees.

2. Portfolio Stream:
a. From the Services tab, click on “Register multiple”
b. You will be brought to the “Documents” folder where instructions are provided. You will
be asked to provide BOMA Canada with a list of your buildings in the specified template.

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 Tips on creating a new building
• Property Type: Refers to the Energy Star Property Type of your building. Pick the descriptor that
most closely resembles your building.
• Questionnaire Type: Refers to the BOMA BEST questionnaire you will be using to certify. Select
the one that most closely fits your building’s description. Building descriptions are available in
section 2 of this BOMA BEST Application Guide 3.0. Select Universal if your building does not
match any other asset class.
• “As of”: This question allows you to track when you make changes to your new building entry.
Select “Today” the first time through.
• Local BOMA Association where the building is located: Select the Local BOMA Association that
is responsible for the region where your building is located. They will be responsible for
payment and administration of your certification.
• BOMA Membership Status where building is located: If you are a BOMA member in another
region, you may not qualify as a member where your building is located. Contact the Local
BOMA Association where the building is located to confirm your membership status. This will
have an impact on the registration fees.
• Invoice Details: Provide the contact information of the person who should receive the
registration payment invoice.
• Energy Star Section: Return to this section later once you have reviewed the instructions in the
BOMA BEST questionnaire pertaining to entering energy and water consumption.
• People section: Cannot be modified. If you wish to grant permissions to others to see your
building, see section 1.3 of this Guide for instructions on how to proceed.

• Click on “Fill in more details” to enter more information about the building.
• Location section: Enter your building’s address here.

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Step 3: Completing information for an imported building
Some buildings have been imported to the Online Portal. Please proceed to Step 4 if this is not the case.
If your building already exists in the system you do not need to register it again, simply provide some of
the missing information:
a. Log in at https://boma.credit360.com
b. Click on the “Property”
c. Find the property in question (you can use the Search function)

d. Click the property’s name

e. You are now on the “Property Characteristics” page for this building. This is the building’s
homepage.
f. Click on “Change”

g. Complete the information that appears in this section. Ensure you have selected the correct
questionnaire type. See the Tip box on the previous page for details on how to complete your
information.
h. Click “Save”

NOTE: Fees for certification do not appear automatically in this step nor is it possible to create an invoice
using the Online Portal. Your Local Association will be in touch with your invoice. Fees are based on the
building size and asset type. Please visit the Fee section of the website for exact fees.

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Step 4: Payment
NOTE: Payment always occurs offline via your Local Association or BOMA Canada. The “Payment” tab is
for administrative purposes only (only BOMA Canada and the Local Association may add/remove entries).

Single Building Stream:

a. On the building’s Property Characteristics page, click on “Register building”.

b. Your Local BOMA Association will now receive a notification that you are registering your building
for certification. They will be in touch regarding payment. You may be contacted to confirm your
building’s details. You will be granted access to the BOMA BEST questionnaire for 60 days while
payment is still pending. If payment has not been received after this period, access to your BOMA
BEST questionnaire will be removed.
c. Submit payment to the Local BOMA Association.
d. Fees are available here and are invoiced every three years (per certification cycle).

Portfolio Stream:
a. Once you have submitted the list of buildings to BOMA Canada, you will be contacted directly
with information regarding fees for each building as well next steps.
b. Do not click on “Register building” (if you are able to see it).
c. Invoices will be sent based on your preferences (individual building invoicing or group invoicing).
Portfolios are invoiced annually.

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Step 5: Accessing and completing the BOMA BEST Questionnaire
a. From the building’s Property Characteristics page, click on the “Questionnaire” tab.
b. Click on the questionnaire for your building. A new tab will open.

c. Once inside the questionnaire, move through each tab, answering each question.
d. The “Welcome” tab contains some helpful tips for navigating through the questionnaire
e. The “BEST Practices” tab contains mandatory questions.
f. Even if you are not going to answer questions in each tab, click through each tab by clicking
“Next”. This will allow the system to register all scores so that you are correctly scored.

g. You may leave the questionnaire at any time and return to it by clicking “Save”.
h. To see your answers, click on the “Submit” button that appears once you are on the last tab. You
may do this as often as you like. Don’t worry, this does not mean you are ready for verification!

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Step 7: Completing the performance metrics portion of the questionnaire
In BOMA BEST 3.0 points are available for certain performance metrics (Energy Use Intensity, ENERGY
STAR Score (if applicable) and Water Use Intensity).
These metrics are calculated via ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. There are two ways to enter energy
and water consumption data to obtain these metrics.
1. Directly in the BOMA BEST Online Portal. For instructions, click here.
2. Linking your ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager account with your BOMA BEST account. For
instructions, click here.

In either case, once these steps have been completed correctly, performance values will be generated
automatically in the Summary grey box on your Property Characteristics page. Only the values that
appear in this summary box can be used in the BOMA BEST questionnaire. Be prepared to show the
verifier this online Summary box during the verification.

Transcribe these values into the appropriate fields in your BOMA BEST questionnaire.

For more details on exactly what data must be provided to obtain performance values, consult the
ENERGY STAR FAQ. In short, the following must be provided:
• 24 consecutive months of energy consumption data, at a minimum. Consumption must be
entered for each month (cannot be a bulk amount representing the complete 24-month
timeframe).
• 12 consecutive months of water consumption data. Can be entered as a single bulk value
representing the 12 months.

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Step 8: Requesting and preparing for Verification
Single Building Stream:
a. Check that you are ready for verification:
1. All BEST Practices have been answered with “Yes” or “BOMA-Accepted Equivalent”
2. Documentation demonstrating the BEST Practices has been uploaded for each BEST
Practice.
3. Performance metrics are visible in the Summary grey box on your Property Characteristics
page (only occurs if you have correctly synchronized your account with ENERGY STAR –
required for points).
4. You have clicked through each section of the questionnaire.
5. Your overall score has been calculated by clicking the “Submit” button (only appears when
you’ve arrived at the last section of the questionnaire).
b. From the Property Characteristics page click “Request Verification”.

c. If you clicked this by mistake, you may click “Cancel Verification”.

d. Until the Local BOMA Association has accepted your request you will not have access to your
BOMA BEST Questionnaire.
e. Once the Local BOMA Association has accepted your request you will be able to return to the
BOMA BEST Questionnaire and make modifications to your questionnaire. These will not affect
the copy that has been made for Verification.
f. You will be contacted by the Local BOMA Association to schedule the Verification.
g. A thorough description of the Verification process is available in section 6 of this BOMA BEST
Sustainable Buildings Application Guide 3.0.

Portfolio Stream:
a. Check that you are ready for verification:
1. All BEST Practices have been answered with “Yes” or “BOMA-Accepted Equivalent”
2. Documentation demonstrating the BEST Practices has been uploaded for each BEST
Practice.

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 3. Performance metrics are visible in the Summary grey box on your Property
Characteristics page (only occurs if you have correctly synchronized your account with
ENERGY STAR – required for points).
4. You have clicked through each section of the questionnaire.
5. Your overall score has been calculated by clicking the “Submit” button (only appears
when you’ve arrived at the last section of the questionnaire).
a. The “Request Verification” button does not appear for users in the Portfolio Stream. Instead
contact BOMA Canada to alert them that you are ready for verification.
b. BOMA Canada will work with you to organize a verification schedule for the buildings eligible for
verification.
c. A thorough description of the Verification process is available in section 6 of this Guide.

Step 9: Certified Buildings

a. Once your building has been successfully verified, the Local Association (or BOMA Canada for
Portfolio buildings) will update your certification records. A new entry will be entered in the
“Certifications” tab by an Administrator. Here you will see the certification date, expiry date,
level of certification achieved as well as your score.
b. Your certification record will also appear in the My Properties List.

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Step 10: Recertification
Single Building Stream:
a. Certifications are valid for three 3 years. During this time, you will have ongoing access to the
building’s data and BOMA BEST questionnaire. These can continue to be modified during this
three-year period.
b. You will receive two alerts – 12 months and 4 months from expiry – reminding you of your
building’s upcoming expiry. You can recertify at any time by clicking on “Renew certification”.
The process will begin anew starting at Step 4.

Portfolio Stream:
a. Certification is ongoing, unless a building cannot meet the verification requirements or if fees are
outstanding.
b. There is no need to indicate that you want to renew your certification. BOMA Canada will be in
touch regarding Verification at regular intervals.

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 1.3. Additional functionalities
1.3.1. Adding users to a building
The person who created a building is automatically granted permission to see and modify that building,
all its data and applicable BOMA BEST questionnaire.
Any number of users can be added to a particular building. These users will be granted full permission to
the building (i.e. can modify the questionnaire, the data entry forms, etc.). Users can be located across
the country; they do not need to be in the same region as the building.
If you wish to add another user to a building, email [email protected] with the following information:
• The username (these must already exist in the 3.0 Online Portal)
• The name of the building
Depending on the number of buildings and usernames, please allow 2-3 weeks for this to be completed.
Let us know in the email if any are more urgent then others.

1.3.2. Creating an overview of all buildings in your account:

It is possible to see all buildings, their status (Certified, Expired, New, etc.), Asset type, location, etc. in
one place.
a. Click on “Property”
b. Click on “My Properties”
c. From here, you will see a Table of all buildings in your account, or all buildings for which you have
permission (if you have been manually added to other buildings).
d. You can sort your buildings by clicking on “Add filter criteria”
e. You can export all the results to a PDF by clicking on “Export to Excel”

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 1.3.3. Understanding your “BOMA BEST” dashboard
When you first log in, click on “BOMA BEST” to see your dashboard.

This dashboard provides you with an overview of your buildings. It has been created as a template for all
users. Some of its features include:
• “Notes”: A place on which to write yourself reminders.
• “My Messages”: Shows all the messages and alerts sent to you via the system, for example in
regards to payment or verification.
• “Interactive Map”: Shows all the geographic location of all buildings in your account – provided
the location has been specified for each building.
• “Building Types”: This chart provides a summary of all the different buildings types that have
been entered in your account.
• “Property Status”: This chart provides a summary of the different status for each building in your
account. Through this table you can track which ones are overdue for payment, which ones are in
the process of being verified, which ones are certified, etc.
• “My Surveys”: Provides a direct link to all the surveys being completed by your buildings.

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 1.3.4. Understanding your building’ status
Your building’ status is visible in many places, on your dashboard. It is also a filter category in the “My
Properties” list.

Below is a description of what each status means:

• New: Your building has just been created. You must now click on “Register Building” in order to
finalize your registration for a BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings Certification.
• Pending: Single Building stream only. The Local BOMA Association has acknowledged your
building’s registration and is reviewing the details.
• Payment due: Single Building stream only. The Local BOMA Association has sent you an invoice
for your building’s registration. You have 60 days to submit payment. If payment is not received
in this time, you will no longer be able to make changes to your online questionnaire.
• Payment overdue: Single Building stream only. The Local BOMA Association has not yet received
your payment. You no longer have the ability to make changes to the online questionnaire.
• Full access: Single Building stream only. Payment has been accepted. Your building has full access
to the questionnaire. It is now possible to request verification.
• Ongoing: Portfolio Building stream only. Your building has full access to the questionnaire.
• Verification requested: Single Building stream only. You have clicked on “Request Verification”.
The Local BOMA Association has been automatically notified.
• Awaiting verification: Both streams. Your verification is being scheduled.
• Certified: Both streams. Your building’s verification was successful. The building is now certified
for three (3) years. You will continue to have access to the online questionnaire during this time.
• Not certified: Both streams. Your building’s verification was unsuccessful. You will have to
“Register Building” in order to restart the process. You will not lose the answers saved in your
questionnaire.
• Certified (+24 mos): Single Building stream only. Your building has been certified for over two
years and is 12 months away from expiry. You will receive an automatic notification to this effect.
You can begin the recertification process at any time; simply click on “Renew certification”.

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 • Certified (+32 mos): Single Building stream only. Your building has been certified for nearly three
years and is 4 months away from expiry. You will receive an automatic notification to this effect.
You can begin the recertification process at any time; simply click on “Renew certification”.
• Expired: Both streams. Your building’s certification is expired. You will no longer be able to make
any changes to your online questionnaire. If you wish to recertify your building, simply click on
“Renew certification”.

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 2. Building Definitions
2.1. Office
To be eligible for this module 75% of the building’s use must meet the Office Module definitions listed
below (25% can be dedicated to other usage). The building’s floor area must be greater than 5,000
square feet.
Office Building: A property providing environments conducive to the performance of management and
administrative activities, accounting, marketing, information processing, consulting, human resources
management, financial and insurance services, educational and medical services and other professional
services.
Financial Office: Buildings used for financial services such as bank headquarters and securities and
brokerage firms.
Buildings that meet the definition for the Office Module but not the minimum size requirement must use
the Universal Module. Veterinary Offices must use the Universal Module. Medical Offices must use the
Health Care Module.
Definitions sourced from NAIOP Terms & Definitions: North American Office & Industrial Market and
Energy Star Portfolio Manager.

2.2. Enclosed Shopping Centres

To be eligible for this module 75% of the building’s use must meet the Enclosed Shopping Centre Module
definition listed below (25% can be dedicated to other usage).
Enclosed Shopping Centre: Refers to a retail property that is planned, built, owned and managed as a
single entity, comprising commercial rental units (CRU) and common areas, with a minimum size of
10,000 square feet (GLA) and a minimum of three CRUs. On-site parking is also generally provided.
Enclosed Shopping Centre types include but are not limited to:
• Regional Mall: The GLA for this centre varies between 300,000 and 799,999 square feet. Its main
attraction is generally the combination of anchors. A regional centre is usually enclosed with an
inward orientation of the stores connected by common areas/walkways or "malls", flanked on
one or both sides by various entrances. It could be multi-leveled with escalators, stairs and
elevators between levels. Off-street paved parking surrounds the outside perimeter. It may be
surface or structured and there may be outparcels or pad store locations.
• Super-Regional Mall: Centre similar to a regional mall, but larger in size (GLA over 800,000 square
feet), and with a more extensive offering of anchors and/or destination retailers. Super-regional
malls are often situated on mass transit lines (e.g. subway, LRT, bus) and along major highway
corridors.
Definitions sourced from CANADIAN RETAIL REAL ESTATE STANDARD: A Framework for Shopping Centre
and Other Retail Format Definitions.

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 2.3. Open Air Retail
To be eligible for this module 75% of the building’s use must meet the Open Air Retail Module definition
listed below (25% can be dedicated to other usage).
Open-Air Retail: Refers to configurations where there is no indoor common space, and stores may be
unconnected or attached in a strip or row type of fashion. This type of property may also be called a Strip
Mall.
Open Air Retail types include but are not limited to:
• Community Centre (a.k.a. strip centre): These centres are basically a cluster of attached retail
units that can be open-air and/or enclosed with significant off-street paved parking surrounding
the building that can be accessed in most cases from two or more sides. They could be outdoor
developments with walkways or enclosed developments with connecting corridors.
• Convenience Centre: Usually between 10,000 and 39,999 square feet (Gross Leasable Area or
GLA) where tenants provide a narrow mix of goods and personal services to a very limited trade
area, including walk-in traffic. A typical anchor would be a convenience store such as 7-Eleven,
Mac's Convenience, Couche-Tard or other mini-mart. Open canopies may connect the store
fronts, but a convenience centre does not have enclosed walkways linking the stores.
• Neighbourhood Centre/Lifestyle Centre: Usually between 40,000 and 99,999 square feet (GLA)
and is designed to provide convenience shopping for the daily needs of consumers in the
immediate neighbourhood. It is typically anchored by a supermarket.
• Power Centre: Usually between 100,000 and 1,000,000 square feet (GLA) and often comprises
three or more large-format retailers ("big boxes" or "category-dominant anchors") that are
mostly freestanding (unconnected) or sometimes part of a number of scattered multi-tenant
one-level buildings on the same property to offer maximum visibility to most retail units. As with
other open-air centres, ample on-site paved parking is located in front of the stores and around
the site at the ground level. The large land element provides for an interior road network that
connects all the individual sites and allows the customers to drive from storefront to storefront.
Definitions sourced from CANADIAN RETAIL REAL ESTATE STANDARD: A Framework for Shopping Centre
and Other Retail Format Definitions.

2.4. Light Industrial (Workshops and Warehouses)

To be eligible for this module 75% of the building’s use must meet the Light Industrial Module definition
listed below (25% can be dedicated to other usage).
Industrial Building: A facility in which the space is used primarily for research, development, service,
production, storage or distribution of goods and which may also include some office space (no more than
25% of the space can be dedicated to office usage).
• Manufacturing/Industrial Plant: A facility used for the conversion, fabrication and/or
assembly of raw or partly wrought materials into products/goods.
• Warehouse (refrigerated or non-refrigerated): A facility primarily used for the storage and/or
distribution of materials, goods, and merchandise.
• Distribution Centre: Refers to unrefrigerated buildings that are used for the temporary
storage and redistribution of goods, manufactured products, merchandise or raw materials.

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Definitions sourced from NAIOP Terms & Definitions: North American Office & Industrial Market and
aligned with NAIOP Terms & Definitions: North American Office & Industrial Market.

2.5. Multi-Unit Residential Buildings (MURBs)

To be eligible for this module 75% of the building’s use must meet the Multi-Unit Residential Building
Module definition listed below (25% can be dedicated to other usage).
Multi-Unit Residential Building (MURB): A building comprised of a common entrance and separate units
that are also known as apartments constructed for dwelling purposes. Multi-Unit Residential Buildings
must have one primary exterior door access, with each of the apartments connected by an interior door.
All of the units must connect to each other (or a central corridor) by some interior door for purposes of a
blower door test.
Categories for MURBs include:
• Low Rise (2 to 3) – the building must comprise a minimum of two (2) floors above ground, and
four (4) apartment (dwelling) units.
• Mid Rise (4 to 9).
• High Rise (10 +).
This definition applies only to multifamily housing. Buildings that meet the definition for a Hotel,
Residence Hall/Dormitory Senior Care Community, Single Family Home, or other type of lodging or
residential facility must use the Universal Module (definitions from Energy Star Portfolio Manager).

2.6. Health Care Facilities

To be eligible for this module 50% of the building’s use must meet the Health Care Module definitions
listed below (50% can be dedicated to other usage).
Hospital: The Hospital designation applies to general medical and surgical hospitals, critical access
hospitals, and children’s hospitals. These facilities provide acute care services intended to treat patients
for short periods of time including emergency medical care, physicians’ office services, diagnostic care,
ambulatory care, surgical care, and limited specialty services such as rehabilitation and cancer care.
To qualify as a Hospital, the following requirements must be met:
• More than 50% of the gross floor area of all buildings must be used for general medical and
surgical services; AND
• More than 50% of the licensed beds must provide acute care services; AND
• These facilities must operate on a 24/7 basis.
Facilities that use more than 50% of the gross floor area for long-term care, skilled nursing, specialty care,
and/or ambulatory surgical centers OR that have less than 50% of their beds licensed for acute care
services are not considered eligible hospitals under this definition.
Medical Office Building: A Medical Office Building designation applies to buildings that meet the
following requirements:
• More than 50% of total facility space is used primarily to provide diagnosis and treatment
(no major surgery) for medical, dental, or psychiatric outpatient care;
• These facilities do not operate on a 24/7 basis.

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Long term care facilities (include residential care and outpatient rehabilitation/physical therapy): Also
called “acute inpatient health care facilities”, these facilities are certified as acute care hospitals and
provide patients with acute care for extended inpatient stays of an average of 25 days or more.
A Long Term Care facility designation applies to buildings that meet the following requirements:
• More than 50% of the total facility space is used primarily for long term acute care, cancer
care, rehabilitation, and/or psychiatric care;
• These facilities operate on a 24/7 basis.
Facilities where more than 50% of the space is not dedicated to long term acute care, such as retirement
homes or assisted living facilities, are not considered eligible under this definition.
Facilities that meet the definition of Senior Care Community must use the Universal Module (definition
from Energy Star Portfolio Manager).

2.7. Universal
The Universal Building Module was developed to cover a range of facilities that fall under a variety of
building types. There are no use restrictions or size restrictions applicable to the selection of the
Universal Module.
A Universal Building may be any one (or a combination of) the following building types:
• Adult Education
• Aquarium
• Automobile Dealership
• Bank Branch
• Bar/Nightclub
• Barracks
• Bowling Alley
• Casino
• College/University
• Convenience Store with (or without) Gas Station
• Convention Center
• Courthouse
• Data Center
• Drinking Water Treatment & Distribution
• Energy/Power Station
• Fast Food Restaurant
• Fire Station
• Fitness Center/Health Club/Gym
• Food Sales
• Food Service
• Hotel
• Ice/Curling Rink
• Indoor Arena
• K-12 School
• Laboratory
• Library

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 • Lifestyle Center
• Mailing Center/Post Office
• Mixed Use Property
• Movie Theater
• Museum
• Other – Stadium
• Other – Education
• Other – Entertainment/Public Assembly
• Other – Lodging/Residential
• Other – Mall
• Other – Public Services
• Other – Recreation
• Other – Restaurant/Bar
• Other – Services
• Other – Technology/Science
• Other – Utility
• Parking
• Performing Arts
• Personal Services (Health/Beauty, Dry Cleaning, etc.)
• Police Station
• Pre-school/Daycare
• Prison/Incarceration
• Race Track
• Repair Services (Vehicle, Shoe, Locksmith, etc.)
• Residence Hall/Dormitory
• Restaurant
• Retail Store
• Roller Rink
• Self-Storage Facility
• Senior Care Community
• Single Family Home
• Social/Meeting Hall
• Stadium (Closed)
• Stadium (Open)
• Supermarket/Grocery Store
• Swimming Pool
• Transportation Terminal/Station
• Veterinary Office
• Vocational School
• Wastewater Treatment Plant
• Wholesale Club/Supercenter
• Worship Facility
• Zoo
Definitions sourced from Energy Star Portfolio Manager.

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 3. Defining a single building in BOMA BEST
The BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings program is dedicated to assisting facility managers and operators
improve their building’s environmental performance. To do this, buildings must be assessed individually.
Each building must complete its own assessment questionnaire and will receive its own score and
certificate.
A building is usually free-standing. A free-standing building is one that is not connected to other buildings
except only superficially (e.g. a walkway). It may or may not be part of a larger campus of buildings and
may share a common mechanical system with other buildings. Each free-standing building must complete
its own BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings questionnaire and will receive its own certification.
A building can also include multiple structures. In certain cases, multiple buildings can be considered a
single building and complete a single BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings assessment for these structures.

3.1. When can multiple buildings be considered a single

building?
For multiple buildings (or structures) to be considered a single building and complete only one BOMA
BEST Sustainable Buildings questionnaire, the following three requirements must be met:
1. The buildings must share an actual, physical connection that is complete and indivisible (i.e. a
shared functional space that cannot be divided such as underground parking, an atrium, or
conference space). Hallways or interior walking paths between buildings are not considered
functional, shared space, even if they are lighted and/or heated. This requirement is consistent
with the Energy Star Portfolio Manager (ESPM) definition of a “single structure”.
2. Buildings must have the same primary use type (75% or more of each building is dedicated to the
same use, such as “office”).
3. Buildings must be managed by the same management company and share policies.
Aspects that are not taken into consideration in the definition of a single building:
• Age of construction of each structure in the building.
• Whether utilities are shared.
• Whether consumption is sub-metered.
• Whether HVAC equipment or other technologies are shared.
Buildings composed of multiple structures that meet the requirement for a single building may be
assessed using a single BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings questionnaire, or may submit multiple BOMA
BEST Sustainable Buildings questionnaires to capture the specificities of each structure (e.g. building
tower). This decision is left to the applicant. Contact BOMA Canada if you are unsure about how to
proceed.
In the case where multiple structures fit the definition of a single building in BOMA BEST Sustainable
Buildings and the applicant wishes to continue using a single questionnaire, the applicant must assess all
areas in that building to obtain a certification. For example, in the case where four towers sit atop a
shared podium, the applicant must include all four towers as part of the single assessment/questionnaire.
The applicant cannot choose to only include part of the structure (e.g. two out of the four towers). If the

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applicant only wants to assess a part of the building (e.g. two out of the four towers), he/she must use
separate questionnaires for each tower.

3.2. Benchmarking energy and water in BOMA BEST buildings

Depending on how HVAC or utilities are organized, different approaches must be followed to determine
the Energy Star Score (ESS), Energy Use Intensity (EUI) or Water Use Intensity (WUI) associated with a
given BOMA BEST assessment.

In free-standing buildings
Separate meters: If the building has its own utilities and can account for consumption specific to it,
connect the building with an ESPM account and report the ESS, EUI and WUI calculated by ESPM in the
survey.
Shared meters: If the free-standing building shares utilities with another building (but together they do
not meet the definition for a single building in BOMA BEST), connect one of the building with an ESPM
account that represents the shared consumption. Do not enter estimates. Report the common ESS, EUI
and WUI associated with the shared consumption in the questionnaires for each building (same values in
each questionnaire). Since an ESPM account cannot be associated to more than one BOMA BEST account,
simply link 1 building with ESPM and show that building’s Property Characteristics page to the verifier for
the other buildings.
• E.g. Building A and Building B share utilities and are not sub-metered. They do not meet the
criteria for a single building. Both must complete their own BOMA BEST questionnaire. Link the
account for Building A with the ESPM account that represents the shared consumption for
Building A and B. Enter the ESS, EUI and WUI value that is generated in BOMA BEST in the
appropriate fields in questionnaires for both buildings (A and B). During the verification, explain
to the verifier that the values generated for Building A also represent the consumption for
Building B.
Shared HVAC: If the free-standing building shares HVAC equipment and systems with another building
(but together they do not meet the definition for a single building in BOMA BEST), questions about this
equipment should be answered as though they were in the building itself. This means that many
buildings might report on the same equipment – this is acceptable and necessary to understand the
efficiency of the equipment serving an individual building.

In buildings composed of multiple-structures using only one BOMA BEST questionnaire

There is no sub-metering of the structures: If there is no sub-metering of the structures within the
building, follow these steps:
1. Create an account in ESPM for the totality of the space, entering the total area and associated
consumption for all structures in the building.
2. Connect this account with the BOMA BEST assessment.
3. Enter the values for ESS, EUI and WUI in the appropriate place in the BOMA BEST survey.
Each structure is sub-metered: Even if each (or some) structure is sub-metered, only one value for EUI,
WUI and ESS can be entered in the single BOMA BEST questionnaire. This value cannot be estimated. It

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must be generated by the ESPM system. Follow the steps listed above, as though there was no sub-
metering in the building.
If individual accounts exist for each structure in ESPM already, and if the EUI, WUI or ESS specific to each
building is known, you will be invited to enter this extra detail in the BOMA BEST questionnaire. No
additional points are awarded.
Shared HVAC: If the structures within the building share HVAC equipment, report these in the BOMA
BEST survey as required.
Separate HVAC or efficient technologies: If the technologies and/or HVAC are not identical in each
structure of the building, report the average in the questionnaire.
• E.g., calculate the how many LEDs are present, on average, in the common areas of all structures.
This will be the number reported in the survey and must represent the entire building (all
structures).

A note regarding consistency with ESPM:

As much as possible, BOMA BEST strives to replicate the requirements from ESPM to avoid confusion.
One area where policies do not match is regarding using a common ESS, EUI or WUI for multiple buildings
that do not sub-meter yet are not considered a single structure. BOMA BEST allows users to calculate the
ESS, EUI and WUI based on the shared data and apply this value to both buildings. ESPM does not allow
this.

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4. Gross Floor Area to assess BOMA BEST Fees
4.1. Spaces to include and exclude
BOMA BEST collects two types of floor area information: (1) one to calculate fees, the other (2) to
calculate energy and water performance.
This section specifically addresses the areas that must be included or excluded for the purposes of
calculating BOMA BEST Application Fees. It is consistent BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings Program Policy
1 – Application Fees (available on the website).
For information on the Gross Floor Area required to calculate energy and water performance, see Section
7 of this Guide.
There are many different terms used to represent the floor area that encompasses the entire building:
gross floor area, gross measured area, internal gross area, etc. For the sake of simplicity, BOMA BEST will
always use the term Gross Floor Area (GFA) when referring to the spaces that must be included in the
BOMA BEST assessment.
The GFA used to calculate fees must be entered on the building registration page (“Create New” page)
here:

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The GFA used for calculating fees must include the following spaces (consistent with BOMA BEST
Program Policy 1 – Application Fees):
• Lobbies
• Tenant Areas
• Common Areas
• Meeting Rooms
• Break Rooms
• Atriums (ground floor only)
• Restrooms
• Elevator Shafts
• Stairwells
• Mechanical Equipment Areas
• Basements
• Storage Rooms
• Parking Area – Underground or closed indoor parking serviced by mechanical ventilation must
be included in the gross floor area of the building.
Areas that that must not be included in the floor area:
• Exterior spaces
• Balconies
• Patios
• Exterior Loading Docks
• Driveways
• Covered Walkways
• Outdoor Courts (Tennis, Basketball, etc.)
• The interstitial plenum space between floors (which house pipes and ventilation)
• Crawl Spaces
• Parking Area – Outdoor or open-air parkades must be excluded from the gross floor area of the
building.

4.2. Compatible measurement standards

Review the following compatibility notes regarding BOMA Measurement Standards. This ensures all
buildings are using the same standard and can be appropriately compared.
The following BOMA Measurement Standards are acceptable for Office and Universal buildings:
• BOMA 1996 Office Standard (“Gross Measured Area”) – This measurement includes major
vertical penetrations (i.e. "virtual floors"). These must be excluded from the values entered in
BOMA BEST.
• BOMA 2010 Office Standard (“Interior Gross Area”) – This measurement includes the indoor
parking areas.
• BOMA 2009 Gross Area Standard (“Exterior Gross Area”) – This measurement includes the indoor
parking areas.

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The following BOMA Measurement Standards are acceptable for Enclosed Shopping Centres and Open
Air Retail buildings:
• BOMA 2010 Retail Standard (“Exterior Gross Area”) – This measurement includes the indoor
parking areas.
• BOMA 2009 Gross Area Standard (“Exterior Gross Area”) – This measurement includes the indoor
parking areas.

The following BOMA Measurement Standards are acceptable for Light Industrial buildings:
• BOMA 2004, 2009 or 2012 Industrial Standard (Method A) (“Exterior Gross Area”) – This
measurement includes the indoor parking areas.
• BOMA 2009 Gross Area Standard (“Exterior Gross Area”) – This measurement includes the indoor
parking areas.

The following BOMA Measurement Standards are acceptable for Multi-Unit Residential Buildings:
• BOMA 2010 Multi-Unit Residential Standard (Method B) (“Exterior Gross Area”) – This
measurement includes the indoor parking areas.
• BOMA 2009 Gross Area Standard (“Exterior Gross Area”) – This measurement includes the indoor
parking areas.

The following BOMA Measurement Standards are acceptable for Health Care buildings:
• BOMA 1996 Office Standard (“Gross Measured Area”)
• BOMA 2010 Office Standard (“Interior Gross Area”) – This measurement includes the indoor
parking areas.
• BOMA 2009 Gross Area Standard (“Exterior Gross Area”) – This measurement includes the indoor
parking areas.

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 5. BEST Practices
5.1. Introduction
BEST Practices represent minimum threshold requirements for certification. All buildings must achieve
the BEST Practices appropriate to their asset class to achieve any level of certification.
All applicants using the new online portal are required to upload documentation to support the BEST
Practices prior to requesting verification.
Consult section 5.2 for BEST Practices for Office, Enclosed Shopping Centre, Light Industrial, Open Air
Retail, and Universal buildings.
Consult section 5.3 for BEST Practices for Multi-Unit Residential Buildings and Health Care buildings.

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 5.2. BEST Practices for Office, Enclosed Shopping Centre, Light
Industrial, Open Air Retail, Universal
BEST Practice 1: Preventative Maintenance Program
Applicable to Office, Enclosed Shopping Centre, Light Industrial, Open Air Retail, and Universal

Is a Preventative Maintenance Program in place at the building?

Explanation & Description: Preventative maintenance recognizes that certain systems and their
Evaluation components require scheduled periodic maintenance, as well as overhauling or
replacement after a certain age, at certain intervals, or due to specific causes. The
Preventative Maintenance Program is a systematic approach that outlines what
equipment under the landlord’s control must be reviewed, the corrective action
that must be taken and how frequently this must occur.
Requirements: The Preventative Maintenance Program must outline when
preventative and corrective maintenance is required to be performed on the
building’s equipment. Demonstration of implementation is required. The program
must have been updated in the last five (5) years.
Additional Information: Preventative maintenance involves inspecting and testing
units for operation and faults. Corrective maintenance involves repairing a unit to
bring it back to operability at its most efficient capability.

REQUIREMENT DETAILS: Preventative Maintenance Program

This question is a BEST Practice and is required for all levels of certification, for all building types.
It is necessary to undertake preventative maintenance to maintain optimal performance of the building’s
mechanical, electrical, and ventilation systems and their components. The building systems require
periodic maintenance throughout their life cycle in addition to the need for overhauling, modernization,
or replacement, at certain age or intervals, or due to specific issues or causes. These must be outlined
specifically in a Preventative Maintenance Program.
The Preventive Maintenance Program must include the methodology and record for all actions that are
necessary to maintain the optimal functioning of the building’s systems and their components. The
required maintenance procedures will be unique to each property and the systems within these facilities.
The Preventative Maintenance Program must contain the following:
1. An inventory of which system or component must be reviewed and the type of action that is
required (e.g., by room or by equipment type);
2. Guidelines on how frequently these actions must be taken (e.g., monthly, quarterly, yearly, etc.).
These guidelines should be based on standards such as manufacturer specifications, code
requirements and industry best practices;
3. Documentation that these actions have been taken (e.g., via signature and date);
4. Confirmation that follow-up action has been taken when warranted; and

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 5. Record updates as new equipment is added or removed.
In addition to manual recording of this information many buildings may have online tracking software
that outlines and tracks the Maintenance Program. These are acceptable if the software can monitor and
track items 1-5 listed above.
The program can be common to a portfolio or campus of buildings however implementation must be
building-specific.
The following is an example of a Preventative Maintenance Program. The items listed below constitute a
sample only.

Date
System Component Action Taken Signature Comments
Completed
Annually
Clear obstructions, bird
droppings, standing water,
Outdoor Air
HVAC proximity to cooling towers,
Intakes
trash compactors, exhausts and
other pollutant sources.
Minimum outdoor air damper
HVAC Ventilation
setting.
HVAC VAV Box Minimum VAV box settings.
Duct and terminal coil
HVAC Ventilation
cleanliness.
Duct
Check for cleanliness, adhesion,
HVAC insulation
and coating.
liner
Cooling Water treatment functioning as
HVAC
towers intended.
FIRE Fire Systems Open fire dampers.
Calibration of sensors
Measurement
HVAC/ (temperature, humidity,
Devices and
ELEC pressure, occupancy, photocell
Sensors
etc.).
Controls
Ensure the proper functioning of
ELEC. (digital,
all controls systems.
pneumatic)
Semi-annually
Building Floor and equipment drain traps
HVAC
Equipment – properly sealed.
HVAC HVAC Air quality measurements in

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 Date
System Component Action Taken Signature Comments
Completed
select occupied areas of the
building.
Quarterly
Controls
Operation of outdoor damper
ELEC (digital,
actuators.
pneumatic)
Ensure all emergency lighting is
ELEC Lighting
functioning properly.
Monthly
HVAC Ventilation Air filter loading.
ELEC. Lighting Change lamps as required.
ELEC. Generator Generator testing.

Additional references: ASHRAE 62.1-2010 “The Standards for Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality”.

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BEST Practice 2: Energy Assessment
Applicable to Office, Enclosed Shopping Centre, Light Industrial, Open Air Retail, and Universal

Has an ASHRAE Level 1 Energy Assessment been conducted in the last five (5) years?
Explanation & Description: An ASHRAE Level 1 assessment refers to a simple audit of the
Evaluation building’s configuration and energy systems. If focuses on the identification of the
potential for energy efficiency improvements.
Requirements: An ASHRAE Level 1 Energy Assessment must have been conducted
on the building in the last five (5) years.
The Energy Assessment report must contain the following elements:
• Analysis of energy consumption through monthly utility bill review and
benchmarking. For benchmarking purposes utility bills must cover a
minimum of 12 months of continuous data. If major renovations or
retrofits to the building systems have occurred, use data after the time of
major renovation, if possible. Major renovations include upgrades to
mechanical systems, upgrades to building envelope systems and electric
system upgrades including procurement of new lighting for more than
50% of the building’s lighting fixtures.
• List major energy-consuming equipment.
• Prioritized list of proposed low-cost and no cost energy conserving
measures (ECMs) to enable greater energy efficiency.
• Provision of estimates of financial savings the building owner will realize
as a result of investing in ECMs. At a minimum, savings and cost estimates
should be based on a generalized understanding of the systems.
Data used for this assessment must represent complete building data for all
building spaces and uses.
Additional Information: The BOMA-Accepted Equivalent is available for buildings
where 75% or more of the building’s energy is purchased directly by tenants or if
the building has been occupied for fewer than two (2) years.

REQUIREMENT DETAILS: ENERGY ASSESSMENT

This question is a BEST Practice and is required for all levels of certification, for all building types.
In order to meet this BEST Practice, the Energy Assessment must include the following information:
1. Owner/manager information;
2. Building name and address;
3. Building description;
4. Energy use analysis must include:
• Utility billing analysis including cost and consumption history compiled from utility bills.
• Energy intensity benchmarking observations including a calculation of annual energy use
divided by building area (to obtain building performance indices such as MJ/m²/yr or

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 kWh/ft²/yr for each energy source). Specify which floor area is being used (e.g. gross floor
area, net floor area, gross leasable area, etc.) to improve the validity of comparison.
• The utility bills must cover a minimum of 12 months of continuous data.
5. Summary of major equipment and type of lighting systems in the building;
6. Recommended Energy Conservation Measures:
• List of identified retrofit and operation and maintenance energy conservation measures.
• Explore sub-meter opportunities for large energy-using tenants.
7. Basic estimates of financial savings the building owner will realize because of investing in ECMs;
and
8. Date of the assessment and signature of the person responsible for conducting the work:
• The Energy Assessment must have been conducted within the last five (5) years from the
date of verification.

Important Notes
i. The Energy Assessment may be completed by “in-house” technical staff or by a third party
consultant (e.g. professional engineer or other knowledgeable energy consultant).
II. No major renovations to be performed after the date of the energy assessment. Major
renovations include upgrades to mechanical systems, upgrades to building envelope systems and
electric system upgrades including procurement of new lighting for more than 50% of the
building’s lighting fixtures.

BOMA-Accepted Equivalent A: Energy Study Report

Buildings that have been occupied for less than two (2) years may utilize an energy study report that was
prepared during the design of the building in lieu of a post-construction energy audit report. This report
must have shown simulated energy consumption for different design scenarios, and identify which
options were chosen for the actual construction. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that these
energy-reduction features were incorporated into the building.

BOMA-Accepted Equivalent B: Energy Communications Plan

Where 75% or more of the building’s energy is purchased directly by tenants (e.g. most industrial and
retail buildings) applicants may prepare an Energy Communication Plan in lieu of an Energy Assessment.
Evidence of implementation is required to meet this BEST Practice.
This communication plan must document means of encouraging energy conservation initiatives by
occupants. For example, the communication plan may include the following offerings by the landlord/
management company:
• Encouragements to share energy consumption information with landlord.
• Providing walk through energy audit or assessment services.
• Delivery of “energy conservation tips” brochures to occupants.
• Energy conservation seminars for tenants / occupants.
• Other communication tools: posters, “turn it off stickers”, etc.

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Evidence of implementation may include the following:
• Agendas and notes from tenant-building management meetings.
• Copies of marketing materials used to promote energy conservation within the building.
• Copies of communication to tenants/occupants regarding energy conservation.
• Copies of energy assessments or audits performed in tenant spaces.

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BEST Practice 3: Energy Management Plan
Applicable to Office, Enclosed Shopping Centre, Light Industrial, Open Air Retail, and Universal

Is an Energy Management Plan in place at the building?

Explanation & This question is a BEST Practice and is required for all levels of certification.
Evaluation Description: Energy management is the continuous process of managing behavioral,
organizational and technical change to improve the building’s energy performance.
Requirements: The Energy Management Plan must have been reviewed and updated
in the last three (3) years.
Create a plan that identifies Energy Conservation Measures (ECM) for the building
(such as those provided in the Energy Audit, as available). For each initiative, identify
the following:
• Whether a particular ECM will be pursued or not;
• The person responsible for the implementation of the ECM;
• The budget associated with the ECM; and
• A timeline for completion.
If a particular measure will not be followed-up for the building, indicate why this is
the case.
Although demonstration of implementation is preferable, it is not necessary. The plan
can be common to a portfolio or campus of buildings however building-specific
information is required.
Additional Information: In the case of Recertification, building managers are
expected to demonstrate which ECMs listed in the previous Reduction Management
Plan have been implemented since certification.
The BOMA-Accepted Equivalent is available for buildings that have been occupied for
fewer than two (2) years.

REQUIREMENT DETAILS: Energy Management Plan

This question is a BEST Practice and is required for all levels of certification, for all building types.
Energy management is the continuous process of managing behavioural, organizational and technical
change to improve your organization’s energy performance.
The Energy Management Plan must identify and document building-specific measures to improve energy
efficiency and reduce demand. These measures should be based on a clearly identified performance
target (using quantifiable performance indicators), identified through the energy audit or the operational
staff.
The Energy Management Plan must have been reviewed and updated in the past three (3) years.
All actions must be evaluated for their technical feasibility and expected results (estimated energy
savings and pre-feasibility study) as well as financial feasibility (through an economic cost/benefit analysis
such as simple payback or ROI). These actions mush be integrated into a timeline.

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A documented plan for implementing energy conservation strategies is illustrated in the table below as
an example of minimum requirements. A more detailed table is strongly encouraged, especially one
which allows for continuous energy tracking.
Energy Management Plan – Sample Form

No. Proposed Measure Budget When Expected Return Responsible Person(s)

1 Day time cleaning $ --.00 2017 4 years Jean Paul Kim

2 Re-commissioning $ --.00 2018 18 months Alexa Moreno

feasibility study

Natural Resources Canada provides a comprehensive roadmap for developing and implementing an
Energy Management Plan titled Energy Management Best Practices Guide – For Commercial and
Institutional Buildings.
These practices are clearly stated as minimal best practices according to the 2011 ASHRAE Handbook
HVAC applications (chapter 36; chapter 41). If the energy reduction plan is done through an ESCO project,
energy savings should be measured according to EVO Standards (Efficiency Valuation Organization) and
ASHRAE guideline 14-2002 Measurement of energy and demand savings.
BOMA-Accepted Equivalent: Energy Commissioning Plan
Buildings that have been occupied for fewer than two (2) years can meet this BEST Practice by
demonstrating that an Energy Commissioning Plan has been put into place. The intent of this BOMA-
accepted equivalent is to ensure that the building’s major systems and equipment are being
optimized/fine-tuned for specific seasonal requirements, occupancy variability, etc.
The Energy Commissioning Plan must clearly demonstrate that the following actions have been
considered and implemented in the previous 12 months – as per 2011 ASHRAE Handbook HVAC
applications (chapter 36; chapter 41):
1. An energy measurement or assessment plan for major operating systems and equipment AND an
energy bill evaluation and follow up plan;
2. If a deficiency report has been generated (from the construction process) regarding building
systems, plans to address these deficiencies must be included in the Energy Commissioning
Report;
3. A person identified as responsible for the building energy performance;
4. Training for operations staff on performing the above.

Important Notes:
i. The Energy Commissioning Plan may be created and implemented by an “in-house” operational
staff or by a third-party consultant (e.g. professional engineer or other knowledgeable energy
consultant).

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 ii. The energy measurement or assessment plan for major systems and equipment must include all
operating systems and equipment that represent the greatest proportionate use of energy in the
building (e.g. heating system; cooling system, etc.).
iii. It is not always possible to assess the operations of major operating systems and equipment
through the ongoing review of energy bills. Other methods of assessment include: tenant
satisfaction surveys, control sequence reviews, etc.
iv. The Energy Commissioning Plan must specifically identify the individuals responsible for the
energy measurement of major operating systems and equipment, as well as those individuals
responsible for reviewing energy billings.
v. One person must be identified as being responsible for the overall energy commissioning plan.
vi. Although demonstration of implementation is preferable, it is not necessary.
vii. The plan can be common to a portfolio or campus of buildings however building specific
information is required.

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BEST Practice 4: Energy Reduction Target
Applicable to Office, Enclosed Shopping Centre, Light Industrial, Open Air Retail, and Universal

Is an energy reduction target in place at the building?

Explanation & Description: Clear, long-term outcome-oriented targets can help shape
Evaluation expectations and create the conditions in which all actors have the confidence to
develop solutions to common problems. By establishing targets and indicators,
progress can be assessed, and appropriate actions taken.
Requirements: An energy reduction target must be identified along with a
timeframe for completion.
Targets must be put into writing, signed by senior management and reviewed
annually, as well as be integrated into the Energy Management Plan.
Additional Information: The energy reduction target can be established to
encompass either all utilities as a whole or divided into each type (electricity, gas)
of utility under the property owner’s control.
In the case of Recertification, building managers are expected to demonstrate what
targets have been reached since certification.
The BOMA-Accepted Equivalent is available for buildings where 75% or more of the
building’s energy is purchased directly by tenants.

REQUIREMENT DETAILS: Energy Reduction Target

This question is a BEST Practice and is required for all levels of certification, for all building types.
Applicants will not be evaluated on whether or not they have reached the stated targets; rather the
intent of this BEST Practice is to encourage building owners and managers to review available historical
consumption data while also taking into consideration planned upgrades or improvements in order to set
realistic targets.
Targets must be written and signed by senior management. Targets must be reviewed annually and be
inserted into the Energy Management Plan.
Recertified buildings are expected to review previously set targets, demonstrate which ones were met, as
well as provide a brief explanation regarding targets that were not met.
BOMA-Accepted Equivalent: Energy Reduction Target Gap Analysis
Where 75% or more of the building’s energy is purchased directly by tenants (e.g. multi-tenant office,
industrial or retail buildings) applicants may prepare an Energy Reduction Target Gap Analysis.
An Energy Reduction Target Gap Analysis allows the building owner or manager to understand where
gaps exist in the available data. Once these gaps are filled, the building owner and manager will benefit
from a better understanding of exactly how much energy is consumed in the building, thereby allowing
for targets to be set.
This analysis must include information on the following:
1. Owner/manager information;
2. Building name and address;

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 3. Building description;
4. Base building annual energy usage summary; and
5. Tenant space analysis:
• Summary of all tenant spaces.
• Information on annual energy usage for all tenant spaces, where available.
• Summary of tenant spaces where energy usage information is not available.
• Documentation showing whether the missing energy data is being, or has been, sought after
(i.e. Green Button Share my Data request sent etc.).

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BEST Practice 5: Water Assessment
Applicable to Office, Enclosed Shopping Centre, Light Industrial, Open Air Retail, and Universal

Has a Water Assessment been conducted in the last five (5) years?
Explanation & Description: A water assessment refers to a simple audit of the building’s
Evaluation configuration and water systems. It focuses on the identification of potential water
conserving measures.
Requirements: A water assessment must have been conducted on the building in
the last five (5) years.
The water assessment report must contain the following elements:
• Analysis of water consumption through monthly utility bill analysis and
benchmarking. For benchmarking purposes utility bills must cover a
minimum of 12 months of continuous data.
• Assessment and list of current performance of water-consuming
equipment.
• Prioritized list of proposed water conserving measures (WCM's) to enable
greater water efficiency.
• Provision of estimates of financial savings the building owner will realize as
a result of investing in WCMs and the simple payback period.
Additional Information: The BOMA-Accepted Equivalent is available for buildings
where 75% or more of the building’s water is purchased directly by tenants or if the
building has been occupied for fewer than two (2) years.

REQUIREMENT DETAILS: Water Assessment

This question is a BEST Practice and is required for all levels of certification, for all building types.
To meet this BEST Practice, the Water Assessment must include the following information:
1. Building Information
2. Owner/manager information
3. Building name and address
4. Building description
5. Date of water assessment
6. Water use analysis must include:
• Water billing analysis including cost and consumption history compiled from utility bills.
• Water intensity benchmarking observations including a calculation of annual water use
divided by building area (to obtain a building performance index such as m3/m²/yr).
Specify which floor area is being used (e.g. gross floor area, net floor area, gross leasable
area, etc.) to improve the validity of comparison.
• The utility bills must cover a minimum of 12 months of continuous data.
7. Water-using equipment inventory, such as:
• Domestic water fixtures (faucets, toilets, urinals).

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 • Water using appliances (dishwasher, washing machine etc.).
• Cooling equipment including cooling towers, equipment “once-through” cooling and
customized tenant cooling equipment.
• Landscape irrigation equipment.
• Water use for humidification equipment.
• Water use from heating equipment (boiler blowdown, steam production and condensate
management).
• Any specialized equipment (including production use and process loads).
8. Recommended Water Conservation Measures (WCMs):
• List of identified retrofit and operation and maintenance water conservation measures.
• Explore sub-meter opportunities for large water-using tenants.
9. Basic estimates of financial savings the building owner will realize because of investing in WCMs.
10. Date and signature of the person responsible for conducting the work:
• The Water Assessment must have been conducted within the last five (5) years from the
date of verification.

Important Notes:
i. The Water Assessment may be completed by “in-house” technical staff or by a third party
consultant (e.g. a professional engineer or other knowledgeable water consultant).
ii. The Water Assessment report may be combined with the Energy Assessment report.

BOMA-Accepted Equivalent A: Water-using equipment inventory

Buildings that have been occupied for less than two (2) years OR have buildings with no water meter may
submit a Water-using Equipment Report which can be created with information contained in the
building’s Operation and Maintenance Manual, As Built Drawings and Commissioning Report.
The Water-using Equipment Report must include the following information:
1. Building Information;
2. Owner/manager information;
3. Building name and address;
4. Building description;
5. Water-using Equipment Information: An inventory/survey of all water consuming equipment
on facility premises and their locations throughout the building, such as:
• Domestic water fixtures (faucets, toilets, urinals).
• Water using appliances (dishwasher, washing machine etc.).
• Cooling equipment including cooling towers, equipment “once-thru” cooling and
customized tenant cooling equipment.
• Landscape irrigation equipment.
• Water use for humidification equipment.
• Water use from heating equipment (boiler blowdown, steam production and
condensate management).

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 • Any specialized equipment (including production use).
6. Baseline consumption of this equipment based on data from the building automation system
and water sub-meters OR based on equipment performance estimates informed by
manufacturer specifications PLUS an estimated calculation of the equipment’s annual
consumption, such as:
• Sinks and faucets: aerator output multiplied by estimation of annual use.
• Toilets and urinals: flush output multiplied by estimation of annual use.
• Showerhead: output of the showerhead multiplied by estimation of annual use.
• Cooling towers: estimate make-up water required to compensate for losses due to
evaporation, drift and splash-out, leaks and overflow, and bleed or blowdown.
• Evaporation: Directly related to heat transfer and operational management. Assume
approximately 1.8 GPH (centrifugal) or 3.7 GPH (absorption) per ton of cooling
multiplied by the load percentage.
• Bleed/blowdown: Losses represent a non-linear function of the concentration cycles
(purity of make-up water over the purity of the recirculating water). Higher cycles
mean fewer blowdowns are needed.
• Drift and splash-out: Losses are not significant for well-maintained towers under
normal conditions. Assume approximately 0.014 GPH per ton of cooling or about
0.008% of recirculating water.
• Leaks and overflows: These are difficult to measure or estimate and losses are not
significant in well-maintained towers. Visual inspection for leaks should be
performed.
• Irrigation system: output of the sprinklers multiplied by operating hours.
7. Recommended Water Conservation Measures:
• List of identified retrofit and operation and maintenance water conservation
measures.
• Estimated costs, savings and payback period of measures.
• Establish water reduction targets.
• Explore feasibility of installing a base building meter if not present.
• Explore sub-meter opportunities for the cooling tower make-up line and other major
water consuming equipment.
8. Date and signature of the person responsible for conducting the work.
• The Water-using equipment inventory must have been conducted within the last five
(5) years from the date of verification.

BOMA-Accepted Equivalent B: Water Communications Plan

Where 75% or more of the building’s water is purchased directly by tenants (e.g. most Light Industrial
and Open Air Retail buildings), applicants may prepare a Water Communication Plan in lieu of a Water
Assessment report. Evidence of implementation is required to meet this BEST Practice.

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This communication plan must document means of encouraging water conservation initiatives by
occupants. For example, the communication plan may include the following offerings by the landlord/
management company:
• Providing walk through water audit or assessment services of tenant spaces.
• Delivery of “water conservation tips” brochures to occupants.
• Water conservation seminars for tenants/occupants.
• Other communication tools: posters, “shut-it-off stickers”, etc.
Evidence of implementation may include the following:
• Agendas and notes from tenant-management team meetings.
• Copies of marketing materials used to promote water conservation measures.
• Copies of communication to tenants/occupants regarding water conservation tips/opportunities.
• Copies of water use assessments or audits done in tenant spaces.

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BEST Practice 6: Water Management Plan
Applicable to Office, Enclosed Shopping Centre, Light Industrial, Open Air Retail, and Universal

Is a Water Management Plan in place at the building?

Explanation & Description: Water management is the continuous process of managing
Evaluation behavioural, organizational and technical change to improve the building’s water
performance.
Requirements: The Water Management Plan must have been reviewed and
updated in the last three (3) years. Create a plan that identifies Water Conservation
Measures (WCM) for the building (such as those provided in the Water Assessment,
as available). For each initiative, identify whether a particular WCM will be pursued,
the person responsible for its implementation, the associated budget and a timeline
for completion. If a particular measure will not be followed-up for the building,
indicate why this is the case.
Although demonstration of implementation is preferable, it is not necessary. The
plan can be common to a portfolio or campus of buildings however building-specific
information is required.
Additional Information: In the case of Recertification, building managers are
expected to demonstrate which WCMs listed in the previous Water Management
Plan have been implemented since certification.
The BOMA-Accepted Equivalent is available for buildings that have been occupied
for fewer than two (2) years.

REQUIREMENT DETAILS: Water Management Plan

This question is a BEST Practice and is required for all levels of certification, for all building types.
The Water Management Plan should identify and document building-specific measures to improve water
efficiency and reduce demand. These measures should be based on a clearly identified performance
target (using quantifiable performance indicators), identified through the water assessment or the
operational staff.
The Water Management Plan must have been reviewed and updated in the past three (3) years.
All actions must be evaluated for their technical feasibility and expected results (estimated water savings
and pre-feasibility study) as well as financial feasibility (through an economic cost/benefit analysis such
as simple payback or ROI). These actions mush be integrated into a timeline.
A documented plan for implementing water conservation strategies is illustrated in the table below as an
example of minimum requirements. A more detailed table is strongly encouraged, especially one which
allows for continuous water tracking.

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Water Management Plan – Sample Form
No. Proposed Measure Budget When Expected Return Responsible Person(s)

1 Low-flow fixtures $ --.00 2017 4 years Jean Paul Kim

2 Non-potable irrigation $ --.00 2018 18 months Alexa Moreno

BOMA-Accepted Equivalent: Water Commissioning Plan

Buildings that have been occupied for less than two (2) years can meet this BEST Practice by
demonstrating that a Water Commissioning Plan has been put into place. The intent of this BOMA-
accepted equivalent is to ensure that the building’s major systems and equipment are being
optimized/fine-tuned for specific seasonal requirements, occupancy variability, etc.
The Water Commissioning Plan must clearly demonstrate that the following actions have been
considered and implemented in the previous 12 months:
1. A water measurement or assessment plan for major operating systems and equipment as well as
a water bill evaluation and follow up plan;
2. If a deficiency report has been generated (from the construction process) regarding building
systems, plans to address these deficiencies must be included in the Water Commissioning
Report;
3. A person identified as responsible for the building water performance;
4. Training for operations staff on performing the above.

Important Notes:
i. The Water Commissioning Plan may be created and implemented by an “in-house” operational
staff or by a third-party consultant (e.g. professional engineer or another appropriate consultant).
ii. The water measurement or assessment plan for major systems and equipment must include all
operating systems and equipment that represent the greatest proportion of water consumption
in the building (e.g. district hot water, cooling towers, etc.)
iii. It is not always possible to assess the operations of major operating systems and equipment
through the ongoing review of water bills. Other methods of assessment include: tenant
satisfaction surveys, control sequence review, etc.
iv. The Water Commissioning Plan must specifically identify the individuals responsible for the water
measurement of major operating systems and equipment, as well as those individuals
responsible for water bill review.
v. One person must be identified as being responsible for the overall water commissioning plan.
vi. Although demonstration of implementation is preferable, it is not necessary.
vii. The plan can be common to a portfolio or campus of buildings however building specific
information is required.

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BEST Practice 7: Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Plan
Applicable to Office, Enclosed Shopping Centre, Light Industrial, Open Air Retail, and Universal

Is an Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Plan in place at the building?

Explanation Description: Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is achieved through the selection of appropriate
& and achievable air quality goals, regular surveillance and testing to verify HVAC
Evaluation performance and hygiene, efficient and effective procedures for addressing occupant
IAQ concerns, and training for all property management and maintenance personnel.
Requirements: The Air Quality Monitoring Plan must contain the following elements:
• Determine and state the IAQ goals for the building including targets for air
quality parameters such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, temperature,
relative humidity, dust, volatile organic compounds and other known
contaminants of concern.
• Set a schedule for HVAC inspection and maintenance tasks to ensure good
hygiene (cleanliness, no standing water, etc.).
• Identify HVAC systems that will impact the IAQ goals listed above.
• Create a preventative maintenance schedule for these systems (may overlap
with the Preventative Maintenance Program BEST Practice). Equipment and
systems should be checked at least annually.
• Develop procedures for responding to occupant IAQ concerns, including
identifying key personnel and their responsibilities, contact information,
documentation, and follow-up plan (may overlap with Occupant Service
Request Program BEST Practice).
• Identify training requirements for property management and building
maintenance staff relating to IAQ.
• Review the plan annually and update as necessary.
Where ventilation systems are owned and maintained by the tenants, the building
owner/manager must provide an Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Plan for their use.
Although demonstration of implementation is preferable, it is not necessary. The plan
can be common to a portfolio or campus of buildings however building-specific
information is required.
Additional Information: The BOMA-Accepted Equivalent is available for buildings
where ventilation systems are owned and maintained exclusively by the tenants. In
these cases, the building owner or manager must provide tenants with an Indoor Air
Quality Monitoring Plan for their use.
Refer to the USEPA I-BEAM for more information on developing an IAQ Monitoring
Plan.

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REQUIREMENT DETAILS: Air Quality Monitoring Plan
This question is a BEST Practice and is required for all levels of certification, for all building types.
The Air Quality Monitoring Plan is a guidance document that will inform future action. Implementation is
not required as a part of this BEST Practice. Rather, this BEST Practice is focused on intent.
Below are suggestions to inform the components of the IAQ Monitoring Plan.
Suggested performance goals for IAQ include the following for frequently occupied indoor spaces:
• Carbon dioxide not exceeding 700 ppm above ambient (ASHRAE 62.1);

• Carbon monoxide not exceeding 9 ppm (ASHRAE 62.1);

• Total volatile organic compound concentrations do not exceed 1000 µg/m3 (440 ppb) (Health
Canada);
• PM10 does not exceed 50 µg/m3 (ASHRAE 62.1);
• Temperature in the range of 21 – 27 C°, taking into account seasonal variances, relative humidity
(ASHRAE 55);
• Relative humidity in the range of 30-60% (USEPA I-BEAM) or more than 20% (CSA);
• HVAC system interiors are in good general condition, clean, free of standing water and debris,
and have no visible suspect mould growth.
If other local regulations exist for the above performance criteria, the most stringent will apply.
Regarding the preventative maintenance schedule for HVAC systems and equipment that will impact IAQ,
include language regarding how environmental quality performance will be verified. At a minimum,
testing should be conducted over a typical work day, taking into account fluctuations in contaminant
levels that may occur. Testing should be conducted, at a minimum, in the morning and afternoon.
The US EPA provides a free sample Indoor Air Quality audit checklist.
BOMA-Accepted Equivalent: Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Plan for Tenants
In the case where all ventilation systems and equipment are owned and operated exclusively by the
tenants, the building owner or manager must provide tenants with suggested guidelines on how to
prepare an Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Plan based on the requirements listed above. Although
ensuring adherence by the tenants to this plan is highly encouraged, it is not required to meet this BEST
Practice.
Important Notes:
i. The person developing the Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Plan must be competent based on the
following criteria (aligned with the definition of various provincial Occupational Health and Safety
Acts):
• Adequate qualifications – the person has a good working knowledge and understanding of
the legislation surrounding indoor environmental quality (i.e. training certificates or
educational background in hygiene, occupational health and safety, environmental
engineering, building science or similar);

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 • Suitable training – the person must have training that is appropriate to implementing an
indoor environmental quality monitoring program and which comply with provincial
minimum safety training requirements; and
• Sufficient experience – the person must have enough experience to safely perform the work
without supervision or with only a minimal degree of supervision.
ii. Although demonstration of implementation is preferable, it is not necessary.
iii. The plan can be common to a portfolio or campus of buildings however building specific
information is required.

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BEST Practice 8: Occupant Service Request Program
Applicable to Office, Enclosed Shopping Centre, Light Industrial, Open Air Retail, and Universal

Is an Occupant Service Request Program in place?

Explanation & Description: Service request for maintenance are used to identify issues pertaining
Evaluation to the building. Having a formal process in place allows tracking of various Key
Performance Indicators such as critical equipment maintenance and critical
building maintenance.
Requirements:
Establish an Occupant Service Request Program for the building. The Program must
include the following components:
• A mechanism to ensure that all service requests are reviewed and acted
upon within 1-2 weeks, unless otherwise specified (e.g., critical area or
critical equipment).
• Information on the origins of the service request;
• Information on the status of the service request (e.g. in progress, resolved,
etc.); and
• Information on the corrective action taken.
Documentation must be kept on file for a minimum of three (3) months.
Demonstration of implementation is required. The program can be common to a
portfolio or campus of buildings however implementation must be building-
specific.
Additional Information: Service requests can be made by all building occupants,
including tenants, visitors and staff.

REQUIREMENT DETAILS: Occupant Service Request Program

This question is a BEST Practice and is required for all levels of certification, for all building types.
Building management must have in place a documented means for addressing occupant (tenant and
building staff) concerns regarding maintenance service requests. Visitors to the building may also log
service requests. Such service request logs can provide evidence of occupant dissatisfaction and its
causes. Trends in complaint rates over time may indicate occupant reactions to changes in building
operation.
The Occupant Service Request Program must have a mechanism in place for recording the following
information:
• Incident log number;
• Occupant name, company and department, location in building.
• Date complaint was received;
• Description of complaint;
• Suggested cause;
• Summary of problem;
• Actions completed;

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 • Date of occupant interview (if applicable);
• Remedial action report;
• Date of when occupant was advised about actions taken;
• Additional details (as required).

Service requests must be reviewed and acted upon within 1-2 weeks, unless otherwise specified (e.g.,
critical area or critical equipment).
Documentation must be kept on file for a minimum of three (3) months. Demonstration of
implementation is required. The program can be common to a portfolio or campus of buildings however
implementation must be building-specific.

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BEST Practice 9: Hazardous Building Materials Management Program
Applicable to Office, Enclosed Shopping Centre, Light Industrial, Open Air Retail, and Universal

Is a Hazardous Building Materials Management Program in place at the building?

Explanation & Description: The presence and condition of hazardous building materials must be
Evaluation identified and managed for the safety of building occupants.
Requirements: The Hazardous Building Materials Management Program must
include:
• Inventory of all building materials known or presumed to contain asbestos,
lead, PCBs, silica and mercury (at a minimum);
• Inspection of known/presumed asbestos-containing materials within the
past 12 months, where present;
• Inspection of materials known/presumed to contain lead, mercury, PCBs or
other hazardous building materials or equipment within the last three (3)
years, where present;
• Corrective actions identified during the inspections completed;
• Management protocols for unexpected disturbance of asbestos;
• Pre-construction assessment of materials and equipment impacted by
renovation activities for the presence of hazardous building materials;
• A proactive plan for the abatement of accessible asbestos-containing
materials (including in the areas above acoustic tiles) and PCB-containing
equipment and ballasts;
• Awareness training for building maintenance staff on asbestos safety; and
• Review and updating as changes occur to the location of hazardous
materials in the building, at a minimum every three (3) years.
As with any management program, one should strive for continuous
improvement. Review of the management program must occur as changes to the
responsibilities, personnel, plans, quantity or condition of the materials occur.
Demonstration of implementation is required. The program can be common to a
portfolio or campus of buildings however implementation must be building-
specific.

REQUIREMENT DETAILS: Hazardous Building Materials Management Program

This question is a BEST Practice and is required for all levels of certification, for all building types.
To mitigate the risk of exposure to hazardous materials associated with building materials, equipment
and finishes, the building owner/manager must develop a plan to periodically inspect the condition of
these materials, conduct safe repair, assess disturbance or complete removal of these materials, and to
adequately train personnel in contact with hazardous materials.
The Hazardous Building Materials Management Program must include:
1. Inventory of all building materials known or presumed to contain asbestos, lead, PCBs, silica and
mercury (at a minimum).

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The survey for hazardous building materials are performed typically room by room, or by area. Samples
may be required to confirm presence of hazardous building materials. All building owners or tenants
must verify sampling requirements with the province specific regulation governing sampling
methodology for hazardous building materials.
All building materials should be presumed to contain asbestos and all paint should be presumed to
contain led until analysis is performed at an accredited laboratory (see Notes for the list of acceptable
accreditations). The presence of these substances must be identified prior to any renovation or
demolition.
Building materials containing asbestos must be identified. Local regulations prescribe the type of
materials to be sampled, the number of samples of each material to be analyzed and the minimum
quantity of asbestos fibres by dry weight for the material to be considered asbestos-containing. A
comprehensive survey must have the following information at a minimum for BOMA BEST verification
purposes:
• Type of hazardous materials present in the building;
• Location of the hazardous materials;
• The extent of the hazardous material within the building;
• The approximate quantity of hazardous material in each area.
ASTM E2356 - 14 “Standard Practice for Comprehensive Building Asbestos Surveys” provides guidelines
on completing an asbestos survey.
2. Inspection of known/presumed asbestos-containing materials within the past 12 months, where
present.
The condition or state of the asbestos-containing materials (e.g. poor, fair, good) must be reviewed.
3. Inspection of materials known/presumed to contain lead, mercury, PCBs or other hazardous
building materials or equipment within the last three (3) years, where present.
4. Corrective actions identified during the inspections completed.
The program must include a list of recommended actions to meet province specific regulatory
requirements with respect to maintenance, inspection, training and abatement.
5. Management protocols for unexpected disturbance of asbestos.
6. Pre-construction assessment for the presence of hazardous building materials and equipment
that may be directly impacted by renovation activities.
7. A proactive plan for the abatement of accessible asbestos-containing materials (including in the
areas above acoustic tiles) and PCB-containing equipment and ballasts.
8. Awareness training for building maintenance staff on asbestos safety.
9. Reviewing and updating as changes occur to the location of hazardous materials in the building
every three (3) years
Important Notes:
i. If the hazardous materials inventory was done at the time of acquisition and, if no other
hazardous building materials were brought into the building, or found, and, if no changes in
building materials have been implemented since the original survey, then a formal statement to
this effect will be sufficient for verification purposes. The statement must clearly reference the

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 previous hazardous materials survey and the policies that have been put in place to ensure that
no additional hazardous materials have been brought into the building and that existing building
materials have not been replaced.
ii. Buildings with multiple tenants must have a Hazardous Building Materials Survey that includes all
tenant spaces. Building owners are responsible for ensuring that the building in its entirety is
represented in the Hazardous Building Materials Survey.
iii. The laboratory performing the sample testing should be accredited by one of the following
organizations: the Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation (CALA), the National
Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP), the American Industrial Hygiene
Association (AIHA), or the Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail
(IRSST).
iv. The person completing the hazardous building materials inventory and inspection must be
competent based on the following criteria (aligned with the definition of various provincial
Occupational Health and Safety Acts):
• Adequate qualifications – the person has good working knowledge and understanding of
the legislation surrounding hazardous materials (i.e. training certificates or educational
background in hygiene, occupational health and safety, environmental engineering,
building science or similar);
• Suitable training – the person must have training that is appropriate to conducting
hazardous building materials inventories and which comply with provincial minimum
safety training requirements; and
• Sufficient experience – the person must have enough experience to safely perform the
work without supervision or with only a minimal degree of supervision.
v. Demonstration of implementation is required.
vi. The program can be common to a portfolio or campus of buildings however implementation
must be building-specific.

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BEST Practice 10(A): Hazardous Chemical Products Management
Program
Applicable ONLY to Office, Enclosed Shopping Centre and Universal

Is a Hazardous Chemical Products Management Program in place at the building?

Explanation & Description: Identification and management of chemical products in use or storage
Evaluation at the building is essential to manage health hazards and safety risks, as well as
potential environmental impacts.
Requirements: The Hazardous Chemical Products Management Program must
include:
• Periodic inventory of in-use, base-building hazardous chemical products (at
least annually, or as procurement is revised);
• Storage of chemical products in accordance with product Safety Data
Sheets;
• Safety Data Sheets available for all hazardous chemical products dated
within the past three (3) years;
• Chemical products labeled in accordance with WHMIS/GHS/HAZCOM
• Training of building maintenance staff (including safe handling and use of
chemicals pertaining to their work, symbol recognition, safety data sheets,
first aid and spill response, storage and disposal);
• Review and updating of the Plan as products are changed and at least
annually.
Demonstration of implementation is required. The program can be common to a
portfolio or campus of buildings however implementation must be building-specific.

REQUIREMENT DETAILS: Hazardous Chemical Products Management Program

This question is a BEST Practice and is required for all levels of certification, for Office, Enclosed Shopping
Centres and Universal buildings. This is not a BEST Practice requirement for Light Industrial or Open Air
Retail buildings.
Internationally, a globally harmonized system for safety related to the use of hazardous chemical
products has been developed by the United Nations. Similar systems such as the Workplace Hazardous
Materials Information System (WHMIS) in Canada and HAZCOM in the US are regulated approaches to
the management of hazardous chemical or use-related products.
A use-related product is defined as anything that is brought into the building and can include a hazardous
chemical. A hazardous chemical is defined as a dangerous good which could be a solid, liquid, or gas that
can harm people, other living organisms, property, or the environment.
The Hazardous Chemical Products Management Program must contain the following components:
1. Periodic inventory of in-use, base-building hazardous chemical products.
Every building that uses hazardous chemicals or use-related products shall keep and maintain a record of
the chemicals or use-related products in the work place that are used, handled, or stored in the building.

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Any Hazardous Chemicals or Use-Related Products brought into or used in the building should be
included in this Inventory:
• A list of chemicals or use-related products brought into the building for use, handling and
storage.
• The location where the chemical(s) or use-related products are used, handled and stored.
• Safety Data Sheets for each chemical or use-related product used, handled and stored.
• The approximate quantities of each chemical or use-related product stored on site.
• A live index of the chemicals or use-related products including the chemical name and page
reference for easy access to Safety Data Sheets and other relevant information related to each
chemical.
2. Storage of chemical products in accordance with product Safety Data Sheets.
Hazardous products should be stored in rooms with proper ventilation, controlled temperatures, drain
protection and adequate shelf space. Containers should be capped to avoid potential spills and fumes,
properly labelled and kept in securely locked areas.
3. Safety Data Sheets available for all hazardous chemical products dated within the last three (3)
years.
A Safety Data Sheet), as required by this BEST Practice, is a document that contains information on the
potential hazards (health, fire, reactivity and environmental) and how to work safely with the chemical
product. It is an essential starting point for the development of a complete health and safety program. It
also contains information on the use, storage, handling and emergency procedures related to the hazards
of the material.
4. Chemical products labeled in accordance with WHMIS/GHS/HAZCOM.
5. Training of building maintenance staff (including safe handling and use of chemicals pertaining to
their work, symbol recognition, safety data sheets, first aid and spill response, storage and
disposal).
Relevant building maintenance staff must be trained on safe handling and use of chemicals pertaining to
their work, symbol recognition, safety data sheets, first aid and spill response, storage and disposal.
6. Review and updating of the Program as products are changed and at least annually.
The Hazardous Chemicals Management Program should be modified as chemical products are
changed/added, and must be reviewed annually to make sure the safety data sheets are dated within the
last three (3) years, individuals working with the products have received the appropriate training, and
products are appropriately labelled, etc.
Important Notes:
i. Demonstration of implementation is required. The program can be common to a portfolio or
campus of buildings however implementation must be building-specific.
ii. Tenants, as well as building owners, are required to have an up-to-date Hazardous Chemical
or Use-Related Product Inventory. It is an industry best management practice for building
owners to keep an up-to-date record of all tenant Hazardous Chemical or Use-Related
Product Inventories.

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 iii. There are no specific competency requirements for compiling a Hazardous Chemical or Use-
Related Product Inventory, however the individual conducting the inventory must have good
working knowledge and understanding of the applicable regulatory requirements, including
at a minimum, WHMIS.

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BEST Practice 10(B): Tenant Hazardous Chemical Products
Management Program
Applicable ONLY to Light Industrial and Open Air Retail

Is a Tenant Hazardous Chemicals Monitoring Program in place?

Explanation & Description: Tenants, as well as building owners, are required to have an up-to-
Evaluation date Hazardous Chemical or Use-Related Product Inventory. Building owners must
keep an up-to-date record of all tenant Hazardous Chemical or Use-Related
Product Inventories.
Requirements: At a minimum, the Tenant Hazardous Chemicals Monitoring
Program must address the following:
• Periodic (at least annual) tenant inventory including location and
approximate quantities of hazardous chemicals in tenant areas. This
inventory can be conducted by the tenant or the property owner. In all
cases, the results of the inventory must be provided to the building
owner/manager.
• Provision of Safety Data Sheets on all hazardous chemicals in tenant areas.
• Periodic checks on the safe storage and use of the chemicals or use-related
products (at least annual).

REQUIREMENT DETAILS: Tenant Hazardous Chemicals Monitoring Program

This question is a BEST Practice and is required for all levels of certification, for Light Industrial or Open
Air Retail buildings only. This is not a BEST Practice requirement for Office, Enclosed Shopping Centres
and Universal buildings.
Tenants, as well as building owners, are required to have an up-to-date Hazardous Chemical or Use-
Related Product Inventory. It is an industry best management practice for building owners to keep an up-
to-date record of all tenant Hazardous Chemical or Use-Related Product Inventories.
A use-related product is defined as anything that is brought into the building and can include a hazardous
chemical. A hazardous chemical is defined as a dangerous good which could be a solid, liquid, or gas that
can harm people, other living organisms, property, or the environment.
At a minimum, the Tenant Hazardous Chemicals Monitoring Program must address the following:
1. Periodic (at least annual) tenant inventory including location and approximate quantities.
There are no specific competency requirements for compiling a Hazardous Chemical or Use-Related
Product Inventory however, the individual conducting the inventory must have good working knowledge
and understanding of the applicable regulatory requirements, including at a minimum, the Hazardous
Materials Information System (WHMIS).

2. Provision of Safety Data Sheets.

A Safety Data Sheet (SDS), as required by this BEST Practice, is a document that contains information on
the potential hazards (health, fire, reactivity and environmental) and how to work safely with the
chemical product. It is an essential starting point for the development of a complete health and safety

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program. It also contains information on the use, storage, handling and emergency procedures related to
the hazards of the material.
3. Periodic checks on the safe storage and use of the chemicals or use-related products.
Hazardous products should be stored in rooms with proper ventilation, controlled temperatures, drain
protection and adequate shelf space. Containers should be capped to avoid possible spills and fumes,
properly labelled and kept in securely locked areas.

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BEST Practice 11: Green Cleaning Program
Applicable to Office, Enclosed Shopping Centre, Light Industrial, Open Air Retail, and Universal

Is a Green Cleaning Program in place at the building?

Explanation & Description: A Green Cleaning Program emphasizes the use of environmentally
Evaluation preferred products, maintenance of cleaning equipment and effective cleaning
practices.
Requirements: Develop a Green Cleaning Program for the facility. It must include
the following components:
• Standard operating procedures (SOP) for cleaning activities.
• Cleaning products certified by a third party.
• Cleaning logs (describing the activities carried out, the times they were
carried out and by whom).
• Training for building cleaning staff.
• Annual review and updating.
Cleaning product must be certified by a third-party (EcoLogo or Green Seal) to
reduce both occupant and building cleaning staff exposure.
Where custodial services are contracted, communicate custodial goals and green
cleaning initiatives to the contracted company. The contracted company must
provide the building owner/manager with detailed maintenance SOPs. Confirm the
contracted company is meeting these objectives through detailed cleaning logs
supplied by the contractor.
Demonstration of implementation is required. The program can be common to a
portfolio or campus of buildings however implementation must be building-
specific.
Additional Information: The BOMA-Accepted Equivalent is available for buildings
where cleaning is performed exclusively by individual tenants. In these cases, the
building owner or manager must provide tenants with a guidance document
regarding developing a Green Cleaning Program for the building.

REQUIREMENT DETAILS: Green Cleaning Program

This question is a BEST Practice and is required for all levels of certification, and for all buildings types.

BOMA-Accepted Equivalent: Green Cleaning Program for Tenants

In the case where where cleaning is performed exclusively by individual tenants, the building owner or
manager must provide tenants with suggested guidelines with a guidance document regarding
developing a Green Cleaning Program for the building that meets the requirements listed above.
Although ensuring adherence by the tenants to this program is highly encouraged, it is not required to
meet this BEST Practice.

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BEST Practice 12(A): Source Separation Program
Applicable ONLY to Office, Enclosed Shopping Centre and Universal

Is a Source Separation Program in place at the building?

Explanation & Description: A Source Separation Program facilitates the separation of waste at the
Evaluation point of generation for recycling and waste destined for disposal.
Requirements: The source separation program must, at a minimum, include the
collection of paper, metal cans, glass, plastic containers and cardboard unless there
is no regional collection service for a specific material category (demonstrate that
this is the case) and the separate collection of waste destined for disposal.
The source separation program must consist of the following components:
• Facilities that are adequately sized for the collection, handling and storage
of source-separated wastes. The collection and storage of the various
materials destined for recycling may be co-mingled based on the
requirements of the local markets as long as they are always kept separate
from waste destined for disposal and as long as the separation is done at a
Materials Recycling Facility and not at a transfer station.
• The provision of information and guidance to users (e.g., signs), potential
users and custodial staff describing the expectations of the program and
encouraging effective source separation of waste to minimize
contamination and to ensure full use of the program.
• Measures to ensure that the source-separated collected wastes are
removed by a licensed service provider and taken to destination sites
designed for the proper processing and/or disposal of each material
category (reports from the service provider should transparently
demonstrate this).
• Reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the separated waste is reused
or recycled.
Demonstration of implementation is required. The program can be common to a
portfolio or campus of buildings however implementation must be building-specific.
Additional Information: The contamination of recyclable material does not disqualify
this requirement, though continued contamination should be addressed in the
Waste Reduction Work Plan.
Off-site sorting such as at a transfer station from a single common receptacle does
not qualify as source-separation in the context of the BOMA BEST application.
Buildings that have achieved a certification through the 3RCertified program can
answer “Yes” and show their certification to the Verifier. 3RCertified is a certification
program for buildings in the Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (IC&I) sectors
that reviews how organizations manage solid waste reduction and diversion
operations. It is available across Canada.

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REQUIREMENT DETAILS: Source Separation Program
This question is a BEST Practice and is required for all levels of certification, for Office, Enclosed Shopping
Centres and Universal buildings. This is not a BEST Practice requirement for Light Industrial or Open Air
Retail buildings.
BOMA-Accepted Equivalent: Alternative Source Separation Program
Alternative source separation programs are permitted in so far as the following have been met:
1. At a minimum, there must be two streams to minimize contamination;
2. The waste hauler must provide the building manager with evidence that they are compliant with
the province or territory’s legislation concerning waste collection and processing practices;
3. The waste hauler must provide the building manager with a letter confirming that their collection
and processing practices result in capture rates of at least 80% over the year.

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BEST Practice 12(B): Waste Reduction and Diversion Policy
Applicable ONLY to Light Industrial and Open Air Retail
Is a Waste Reduction and Diversion Policy in place at the building?
Explanation & Description: The Waste Reduction and Diversion Policy represents a commitment
Evaluation from the organization or building management to continuously improve
performance regarding the reduction and diversion of solid waste.
Requirements: The Policy must include a statement committing the organization
or building to continuous improvement in the reduction and diversion of waste.
Address the prevention, diversion, and management of solid waste generated as a
result of the following:
• Day to day activities from all waste producing areas, including food service and
retail; and
• Periodic events such as conferences, catered meetings and functions, training,
tenant relocation activities, construction, renovation and demolition projects,
fit-ups, etc.
The Policy (and any subsequent updates) must be dated and signed by Senior
Management (an individual with decision-making abilities on budget
expenditures).
Demonstration of implementation is not required, nor is building-specific
information. The policy can be common to a portfolio or campus of buildings.
Additional Information: Buildings that have achieved a certification through the
3RCertified program can answer “Yes” and show their certification to the Verifier.
3RCertified is a certification program for buildings in the Industrial, Commercial
and Institutional (IC&I) sectors that reviews how organizations manage solid waste
reduction and diversion operations. It is available across Canada.
This question is a BEST Practice and is required for all levels of certification, for Light Industrial or Open
Air Retail buildings. This is not a BEST Practice requirement for Office, Enclosed Shopping Centres and
Universal buildings.

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BEST Practice 13: Waste Audit
Applicable ONLY to Office, Enclosed Shopping Centre and Universal
Has a Waste Audit been completed for the building in the past three (3) years?
Explanation Requirements: Following the BOMA BEST Waste Auditing Requirements, the Waste
& Evaluation Audit must address:
• The time period and duration of the waste sampling.
• The sample size (representing at least 10% of the total building’s waste and
recycling materials).
• Details specific to each collected waste stream.
• How the waste data was categorized, evaluated and analyzed based on its
composition (the site must be equipped with a minimum number of work
tables, precise scales and mobile containers for weighing the waste).
The resulting Waste Audit Report must include:
• Summary of the sampling protocol and methodology used.
• Annualization of daily waste as well as other waste stream such as
construction, renovation and demolition (CRD) waste and hazardous
materials.
• Total of each waste stream and overall total.
• Diversion rate.
• Capture rate.
• Summary of recommendations for improving waste diversion.
The audit must be performed by a person with adequate qualifications as well as
suitable training and experience.
Additional Information: In the case of tenant-managed waste streams, these need
not be included in the waste audit however best practices recommend that tenants
provide annual generation and disposal weight reporting for all materials that they
collect independent of the building system to calculate current diversion. If tenant-
managed waste streams are included, both the divertible materials and disposal
material must be included. If tenant-managed waste streams are included in the
diversion rate, they must also be included in the audit. The Waste Audit must be
performed at the building and must not be based on generalized waste facility
averages.
Buildings that have achieved a certification through the 3RCertified program can
answer “Yes” and show their certification to the Verifier. 3RCertified is a certification
program for buildings in the Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (IC&I) sectors
that reviews how organizations manage solid waste reduction and diversion
operations. It is available across Canada.

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REQUIREMENT DETAILS: Waste Audit
This question is a BEST Practice and is required for all levels of certification, for Office, Enclosed Shopping
Centres and Universal buildings. This is not a BEST Practice requirement for Light Industrial or Open Air
Retail buildings.
A description of the requirements for completing an audit compliant with the BEST Practice is available in
the BOMA BEST Waste Auditing Requirements.
For a more comprehensive description of the details on the process, and for additional suggestions (not
required) on performing a valuable waste audit, download the Waste Auditing Guiding Principles.
Important Notes:
The person performing the Waste Audit must be competent based on the following criteria:
i. Adequate qualifications – the person has a good working knowledge and understanding of the
legislation surrounding waste;
ii. Suitable training – the person must have training that is appropriate to performing a waste audit
and which complies with provincial minimum safety training requirements; and
iii. Sufficient experience – the person must have enough experience to safely perform the work
without supervision or with only a minimal degree of supervision.

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BEST Practice 14: Waste Reduction Work Plan
Applicable ONLY to Office, Enclosed Shopping Centre and Universal
Is a Waste Reduction Work Plan in place at the building?
Explanation & Description: A waste reduction plan an action plan prepared in to reflect the updated waste
Evaluation audit.
Requirements: The Waste Reduction Work Plan must consist of the following components:
• The Waste Reduction Work Plan must be prepared in conjunction with the waste audit
(conducted in the past three (3) years). Its content should reflect the updated audit.
The waste reduction work plan must address all recycling streams in the building,
describing ways to increase recycling levels and reduce the waste generated.
• The Waste Reduction Work Plan must include, to the extent that is reasonable, plans to
address the 3R’s (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) hierarchy: Reduction first, followed by
Reuse and then Recycling. The waste reduction work plan may fit under a larger waste
management plan, but must be action oriented and include identification and planning
for the prevention, reduction and diversion of each identified waste stream.
• The Waste Reduction Work Plan sets out, for each initiative or action, those who will
implement that action or initiative, timelines for implementation and the expected
results. The results should be expressed as a specific diversion target, and can be an
overall target for all combined waste categories or a target per waste material
category.
• The Waste Reduction Work Plan must be available and communicated to all members
of management, the maintenance, custodial and contracted cleaning staff, and all
tenants or occupants including food service providers and other retail tenants (for
example via the building’s website or intranet service, posting in waste and recycling
depot, or in the tenant manual).
The Waste Reduction Work Plan must be reviewed every three (3) years to reflect changes
in the building strategy, challenges and achievement. In the case of a BOMA BEST
Recertification, previous Waste Reduction Work Plans must be reviewed to examine
whether previous goals and objectives have been met.
Although demonstration of implementation is preferable, it is not necessary. The plan can
be common to a portfolio or campus of buildings however building-specific information is
required.
Additional Information: The Waste Reduction Work Plan targets the collection programs for
which the building manager or owner is responsible.
Buildings that have achieved a certification through the 3RCertified program can answer
“Yes” and show their certification to the Verifier. 3RCertified is a certification program for
buildings in the Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (IC&I) sectors that reviews how
organizations manage solid waste reduction and diversion operations. It is available across
Canada.

This question is a BEST Practice and is required for all levels of certification, for Office, Enclosed Shopping
Centres and Universal buildings. This is not a BEST Practice requirement for Light Industrial or Open Air
Retail buildings.

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BEST Practice 15: Environmental Policy
Applicable to Office, Enclosed Shopping Centre, Light Industrial, Open Air Retail, and Universal

Is an overarching Environmental Policy guiding the building’s management?

Explanation & Description: An Environmental Policy or vision establishes the direction building
Evaluation management wishes to take on future improvements in the building’s
environmental performance. Such formal statements can guide decision making and
establish credible leadership to adequately address environmental issues that could
result in improved operations, reductions in operational expenses, and improved
management-tenant relationships.
Requirements: Create an overarching Environmental Policy (or vision) which
contains the following components:
• A specific objective or vision statement for each of the ten (10) categories in
the BOMA BEST assessment. In each case, provide a clear objective or vision
on what your organization (or building) hopes to achieve within a specified
timeline (e.g. achieve a 5% reduction in energy consumption in five years;
perform the building’s first air quality audit, etc.).
• Enter the vision statement for each assessment category in the space
provided in the online portal.
Additional Information: The statements provided for each category can pull directly
from objectives established in previous questions in this BOMA BEST assessment.
This BEST Practice seeks to bring them together into an overarching document.
Demonstration of implementation is not required, nor is building-specific
information. The policy can be common to a portfolio or campus of buildings.
This question is a BEST Practice and is required for all levels of certification, for all building types.

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BEST Practice 16: Occupant Environmental Communication Program
Applicable to Office, Enclosed Shopping Centre, Light Industrial, Open Air Retail, and Universal

Is an Occupant Environmental Communication Program in place at the building?

Explanation Description: Increasing building occupant awareness and engagement in
& Evaluation environmental and sustainable practices can have a significant positive or negative
impact on the performance of the building. Improving the environmental
performance of the building can lead to many positive outcomes for building
management, staff and tenants, including but not limited to lower operational costs,
lower utility bills, improved indoor air quality, improved management-tenant
relationships, etc.
Requirements: The Occupant Environmental Communication Program must address
the following components:
• Selecting the communication strategies that will be used;
• Selecting the activities that will be encouraged;
• Identifying responsible individuals among management for moving each aspect
of the plan forward; and
• Creating a timeline for implementation.
• Demonstrate that at least two (2) communication strategies have been
implemented in the past 12 months.
Demonstration of implementation is required. The program can be common to a
portfolio or campus of buildings however implementation must be building-specific.
Additional Information: Occupants are the permanent/regular occupants of the
building, such as tenants and staff. If the building is owner-occupied, surveys should
be directed to staff. Visitors to the building are not considered occupants.

REQUIREMENT DETAILS: Occupant Environmental Communication Program

This question is a BEST Practice and is required for all levels of certification, for all building types.
Building management must have in place an Occupant Environmental Communication Program for
communicating with tenants and building staff on environmental issues specific to the building.
Components of this Program must have been implemented within the past 12 months.
Occupants are the permanent/regular occupants of the building, such as tenants and staff. If the building
is owner-occupied, surveys should be directed to staff. Visitors to the building are not considered
occupants.
The key aspects of effective communication are: frequency, accuracy, comprehensiveness and
inclusiveness. To ensure that building occupants work together with building management to achieve
environmental goals, regular communication must be executed. As such, the Program must clearly
outline communication strategies, activities, responsibilities and timelines for implementation. The
following communication framework must be evident:
• Communication strategies: clearly describe the communication strategies that will be used with
tenants/occupants.

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 • Activities: clearly describe the activities/events that will be communicated to occupants (e.g.,
Earth Day event or energy awareness campaigns with “turn off your monitor” stickers).
• Responsibilities: clearly describe who will be responsible for each aspect of the Occupant
Sustainability Communications Program.
• Timeline for implementation: clearly describe the timeline for implementation of all activities,
events, and strategies put in place in the context of the Occupant Sustainability Communications
Program.
The communication program must also include specific initiatives to effectively engage tenants and
building staff around environmental/sustainability issues, and encourage them to work with building
management to drive performance improvements in the building. At least two (2) initiatives must have
been implemented in the last 12 months. The table below provides suggestions on possible
communication objectives and how they may be implemented (for guidance purposes only):

Objective Possible Communication and Implementation Ideas

• Create a Management/Tenant task force or Green Team with all major

stakeholders represented (e.g. tenant representatives, cleaners/janitors, and
building management) to develop, promote, and implement
environmental/sustainability initiatives.
• Designate one or more of the Management Team to be the property’s
To increase
Environmental Ambassador to lead the program.
engagement:
• Hold tenant meetings to educate them about the new environmental
program.
• Develop a calendar that highlights the year’s planned engagement
opportunities with tenants or building occupants. Send an announcement
letter to each tenant.
• Host environmental/sustainability related events or competitions for
occupants and tenants:
o Sustainable commuting challenges; battery/lightbulb/electronic
If you want to
recycling drives.
launch an event:
o BBQs (waste free if possible) or other functions to celebrate global
events such as Earth Week in April, Energy Conservation Week in May,
Waste Reduction Week in October.
• Establish incentive programs to promote participation in environmentally
preferable/sustainable practices and performance improvements:
o Rewards and recognition for individuals and/or tenant organizations
If you want to who are implementing sustainable best practices,
incentivize new o Discounts or financial incentives for tenants and building staff to
behaviour: encourage more sustainable choices/behaviours (such as discounted
transit passes, discounts to local businesses that provide
environmentally preferable products or services, or financial incentives
for building staff who bike to work).

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 • Post and/or distribute and/or e-mail notices of audit results, new
environmental programs and policies, performance summaries (for building
energy or water consumption).
• Create a building website highlighting the environmental performance of the
building.
• Regularly communicate environmental/sustainability goals (related to the
If you want to building’s sustainability policy/statement), achievements, and performance
relay improvement tips to tenants and building occupants through a variety of
management’s relevant communications channels:
activities and o Newsletters, eNewsletters, Memos.
results: o Lobby/Common Area Posters, Screens or central Communications
Board.
o Elevator Messaging (e.g. ENN).
o Website and Social Media (e.g. Twitter, Facebook).
o Tenant-Landlord Collaboration Opportunities (e.g. Natural Resource
Canada Sustainability Initiatives-metering reporting).

Important Note:
In the case where the applicant has developed an Energy, Water or Waste Communication Program to
comply with previous BEST Practices, these plans cannot be reused here. Additional communication
efforts will be required to meet these BEST Practices. The topic may be the same, but the scope or
objective must be broadened in order to qualify.

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 5.3. BEST Practices for MURB and Health Care Facilities
Energy
Applicable ONLY to MURB and Health Care Facilities

1.3.2.1 Has the building conducted an energy assessment within the past five (5) years?

Tip: This question is a BEST Practice and is required for all levels of certification.
Documentation demonstrating this BEST Practice must be uploaded.
A minimum of an ASHRAE Level 1 Walk-through audit or equivalency is required that
includes:
• Utility billing analysis with benchmarking observations
• Summary of major equipment and type of lighting systems in the buildings
• List of potential energy conservation opportunities, estimated savings, and
simple payback, based on walk-through audit of the facility
The assessment report must identify low-cost improvements and potential capital
improvements as well as issues for a future more-detailed audit.
The BOMA-Accepted Equivalent is available for buildings where 75% or more of the
building’s energy is purchased directly by tenants or if the building has been occupied for
fewer than two (2) years.

1.3.3.1 Is there a building-specific Energy Management (reduction) Plan to address issues raised
in the energy assessment?

Tip: This question is a BEST Practice and is required for all levels of certification.
Documentation demonstrating this BEST Practice must be uploaded.
The Energy Management Plan must document building-specific measures to improve
building energy efficiency and reduce demand based on the most recent energy
assessment and targets. These measures should be based on a clearly identified energy
performance target, identified through the energy assessment or by the operational
staff. The Plan must show allocated resources, estimated payback, and implementation
timelines for specific energy efficiency improvements.
The BOMA-Accepted Equivalent is available for buildings that have been occupied for
fewer than two (2) years.

1.3.8.14 Is there a preventive maintenance program for the HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air-
conditioning)?

Tip: This question is a BEST Practice and is required for all levels of certification.
Documentation demonstrating this BEST Practice must be uploaded.
Preventive maintenance recognizes that certain systems and their components require
scheduled periodic maintenance, as well as overhauling or replacement after a certain
age, at certain intervals, or due to specific causes. The Preventive Maintenance Program

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 is a systematic approach that outlines what equipment must be reviewed, the corrective
action that must be taken and how frequently this must occur.

1.3.2.1 Energy Assessment

An energy assessment report must be presented for on-site verification. Requirements are outlined in the
tip language and must include the following information:
1. Owner/manager information;
2. Building name and address;
3. Building description;
4. Energy assessment (walk-through, analysis);
5. Utility billing analysis with benchmarking observations (e.g. a comparison of building
performance indices such as MJ/m²/yr or kWh/ft²/yr for each energy source);
6. Summary of major equipment and type of lighting systems in the building; and
7. List of potential energy conservation opportunities, estimated savings, and simple payback based
on walk-through audit of the facility.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
I. The Energy Assessment may be completed by in-house technical staff or by a third party
consultant (e.g. professional engineer or other appropriate energy consultant).
II. Assessments are evaluated based on meeting the requirements outlined in the question tip
language. Energy assessments MUST BE DATED and SIGNED by the person responsible for
conducting the work.
• BOMA BEST verifiers will look for signature and date. An Energy Assessment must have
been conducted within the last five (5) years of the date the BOMA BEST verification
assessment was conducted.
BOMA-Accepted Equivalents
1. Energy Study Report
Buildings that have been occupied for fewer than two (2) years may utilize an energy study report that
was prepared during the design of the building in lieu of a post-construction energy audit report. This
report must have shown simulated energy consumption for different design scenarios, and identify which
options were chosen for the actual construction. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that these
energy-reduction features were incorporated in the building.
2. Energy Communications Plan
Where 75% or more of the building’s energy is purchased directly by tenants, applicants may prepare an
Energy Communication Plan in lieu of an Energy Study Report.
This communication plan must document means of encouraging energy conservation initiatives by
occupants. For example, the communication plan may include the following offerings by the landlord/
management company:
• Providing walk through energy audit or assessment services.

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 • Delivery of “energy conservation tips” brochures to occupants.
• Energy conservation seminars for tenants / occupants.
• Other communication tools: posters, “turn it off stickers”, etc.
Evidence of implementation may include the following:
• Agendas and notes from tenant-building management meetings.
• Copies of marketing materials used to promote energy conservation within the building.
• Copies of communication to tenants/occupants regarding energy conservation.
• Copies of energy assessments or audits performed in tenant spaces.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
I. Applicants must make available the communication plan and evidence of its implementation to
the verifier, as part of the on-site tour.

1.3.3.1 Energy Management Plan

The Energy Management Plan should identify and document building-specific measures to improve
energy efficiency and reduce demand. These measures should be based on a clearly identified
performance target (using quantifiable performance indicators), identified through the energy audit or
the operational staff.
All actions must be evaluated for their technical feasibility and expected results (estimated energy
savings and pre-feasibility study) as well as financial feasibility (through an economic cost/benefit analysis
such as simple payback or ROI). These actions mush be integrated into a timeline.
A documented plan for implementing energy conservation strategies is illustrated in the table below as
an example of minimum requirements. A more detailed table is strongly encouraged, especially one
which allows for continuous energy tracking.
Energy Management Plan – Sample Form

No. Proposed Measure Budget When Expected Return Responsible Person(s)

1 Day time cleaning $ --.00 2017 4 years Jean Paul Kim

2 Re-commissioning $ --.00 2018 18 months Alexa Moreno

feasibility study

Natural Resources Canada provides a comprehensive roadmap for developing and implementing an
Energy Management Plan titled Energy Management Best Practices Guide – For Commercial and
Institutional Buildings.
These practices are clearly stated as minimal best practices according to the 2011 ASHRAE Handbook
HVAC applications (chapter 36; chapter 41). If the energy reduction plan is done through an ESCO project,
energy savings should be measured according to EVO Standards (Efficiency Valuation Organization) and
ASHRAE guideline 14-2002 Measurement of energy and demand savings.

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BOMA-Accepted Equivalent
Buildings that have been occupied for fewer than two (2) years can meet this BEST Practice by
demonstrating that an Energy Commissioning Plan has been put into place. The intent of this BOMA-
accepted equivalent is to ensure that the building’s major systems and equipment are being
optimized/fine-tuned for specific seasonal requirements, occupancy variability, etc.
The Energy Commissioning Plan must clearly demonstrate that the following actions have been
considered and implemented in the previous twelve (12) months – as per 2011 ASHRAE Handbook HVAC
applications (chapter 36; chapter 41):
1. An energy measurement or assessment plan for major operating systems and equipment AND an
energy bill evaluation and follow up plan;
2. If a deficiency report has been generated (from the construction process) regarding building
systems, plans to addresses these deficiencies must be included in the Energy Commissioning
Report.
3. A person identified as responsible for the building energy performance;
4. Training for operations staff on performing the above.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
• The Energy Commissioning Plan may be created and implemented by an “in-house” operational
staff or by a third-party consultant (e.g. professional engineer or other appropriate energy
consultant).
• The energy measurement or assessment plan for major systems and equipment shall include all
operating systems and equipment that represent the greatest proportion of energy consumption
in the building (e.g. heating system; cooling system, etc.).
• It is not always possible to assess the operations of major operating systems and equipment
through the ongoing review of energy bills. Other methods of assessment include: tenant
satisfaction surveys, control sequence review, etc.
• The Energy Commissioning Plan must specifically identify the individuals responsible for the
energy measurement of major operating systems and equipment, as well as those individuals
responsible for energy bill review.
• One person must be identified as being responsible for the overall energy commissioning plan.

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1.3.8.14 Preventative Maintenance Program
It is necessary to undertake preventative maintenance to maintain optimal performance of the building’s
mechanical, electrical, and ventilation systems and their components. The building systems require
periodic maintenance throughout their life cycle in addition to the need for overhauling, or replacement,
at a certain age or interval, or due to specific issues or causes. These must be outlined specifically in a
Preventative Maintenance Program.
The Preventive Maintenance Program must include the methodology and record for all actions that are
necessary to maintain the optimal functioning of the building’ systems and their components. The
required maintenance procedures will be unique to each property and the systems within these facilities.
The Preventative Maintenance Program must contain the following:
1. An inventory of which system or component must be reviewed and the type of action that is
required (e.g. by room or by equipment type);
2. Guidelines on how frequently these actions must be taken (e.g. monthly, quarterly, yearly, etc.).
These guidelines should be based on standards such as manufacturer specifications, code
requirements and industry best practices;
3. Documentation that these actions have been taken (e.g. via signature and date);
4. Confirmation that follow-up action has been taken when warranted; and
5. Record updates as new equipment is added or removed.
In addition to manual recording of this information many buildings may have online tracking software
that outlines and tracks the Maintenance Program. These are acceptable if the software can monitor and
track items 1-5, listed above.
The following is an example of a Preventative Maintenance Program. The items listed below constituted a
sample only.

Date
System Component Action Taken Signature Comments
Completed
Annually
Clear obstructions, bird
droppings, standing water,
Outdoor Air
HVAC proximity to cooling towers,
Intakes
trash compactors, exhausts and
other pollutant sources.
Minimum outdoor air damper
HVAC Ventilation
setting.
HVAC VAV Box Minimum VAV box settings.
Duct and terminal coil
HVAC Ventilation
cleanliness.
Duct Check for cleanliness, adhesion,
HVAC
insulation and coating.

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 Date
System Component Action Taken Signature Comments
Completed
liner
Cooling Water treatment functioning as
HVAC
towers intended.
FIRE Fire Systems Open fire dampers.
Calibration of sensors
Measurement
HVAC/ (temperature, humidity,
Devices and
ELEC pressure, occupancy, photocell
Sensors
etc.).
Controls
Ensure the proper functioning of
ELEC. (digital,
all controls systems.
pneumatic)
Semi-annually
Building Floor and equipment drain traps
HVAC
Equipment – properly sealed.
Air quality measurements in
HVAC HVAC select occupied areas of the
building.
Quarterly
Controls
Operation of outdoor damper
ELEC (digital,
actuators.
pneumatic)
Ensure all emergency lighting is
ELEC Lighting
functioning properly.
Monthly
HVAC Ventilation Air filter loading.
ELEC. Lighting Change lamps as required.
ELEC. Generator Generator testing.

Additional references: ASHRAE 62.1-2010 “The Standards for Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality”.

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Water
Applicable ONLY to MURB and Health Care Facilities

2.3.1 Is there a written policy intended to minimize water use, and encourage water conservation?

Tip: This question is a BEST Practice and is required for all levels of certification. Documentation
demonstrating this BEST Practice must be uploaded.
A water conservation policy must express a commitment to reduce demand for water and to
establish goals and strategies to reduce water consumption.

2.3.4 Has the building conducted a water assessment within the past five (5) years?

Tip: This question is a BEST Practice and is required for all levels of certification. Documentation
demonstrating this BEST Practice must be uploaded.
The water assessment report must include:
• Water billing analysis including cost and consumption history;
• Water intensity benchmarks;
• Water-using equipment inventory and end-use analysis;
• List of potential water conservation measures including maintenance procedures and
retrofit measures;
• Estimated costs, savings and payback times for recommended measures.
The water assessment report may be incorporated into the energy assessment report.
The BOMA-Accepted Equivalent is available for buildings where 75% or more of the building’s
energy is purchased directly by tenants or if the building has been occupied for fewer than two
(2) years.

2.3.1 Water conservation Policy

A water conservation policy should express a commitment to reduce demand for water and to establish
goals and strategies to reduce water consumption.
The water conservation policy may be a national, corporate policy for all buildings managed by a single
company. However, to meet this BEST Practice, building management must demonstrate its awareness of
the policy, and is implementing specific measures in accordance with its strategic guidance.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
I. For on-site verification applicants must make available:
• A copy of the required policy;
• Examples of how the policy is being implemented on-site by property management; and
• Documents demonstrating the policy’s implementation must be dated.
II. Policy should be an official document on a company’s website (internal and/or external); and/or
printed on company’s letterhead with appropriate management signature.

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2.3.4 Water Assessment
A Water Assessment report must be reviewed by the verifier. Requirements are outlined in the tip
language (noted in the BEST Practice questions table) and must include the following information:
Building Information
• Owner/manager information;
• Building name and address;
• Building description;
• Date of water assessment
Water Use Analysis
• Water billing analysis including cost and consumption history compiled from utility bills;
• Water intensity benchmarking which includes a calculation of annual water use divided by
building area;
• Water-using equipment inventory and end-use analysis compared with consumption, such as:
o Domestic water fixtures (faucets, toilets, urinals);
o Water using appliances (dishwasher, washing machine etc.);
o Cooling equipment including cooling towers, equipment “once-through” cooling and
customized tenant cooling equipment;
o Landscape irrigation equipment;
o Water use for humidification equipment;
o Water use from heating equipment (boiler blowdown, steam production and condensate
management);
o Any specialized equipment (including production use).
• Recommended Measures:
o List of identified retrofit and operation and maintenance water conservation measures;
o Estimated costs, savings and payback period of measures;
o Explore sub-meter opportunities for large water-using tenants.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
I. The Water Assessment may be completed by in-house technical staff or by a third party
consultant (e.g. professional engineer or other appropriate water consultant).
II. Assessments are evaluated based on meeting the requirements outlined in the tip language and
by date. Water assessments MUST BE DATED and SIGNED by the person responsible for
conducting the work.
• BOMA BEST verifiers will look for signature and date. A Water Assessment must have
been conducted within the last five (5) years of the date the assessment was conducted.
III. The Water Assessment report may be combined with the Energy Assessment report.

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BOMA-Accepted Equivalents
1. Water-using equipment inventory
Buildings that have been occupied for fewer than two (2) years OR have buildings with no water meter
may submit a Water-using Equipment Report which can be created with information contained in the
building’s Operation and Maintenance Manual, As Built Drawings and Commissioning Report.
The Water-using Equipment Report must include the following information:
Building Information
• Owner/manager information;
• Building name and address;
• Building description;
• Date of equipment inventory.
Water-using Equipment Information
• Inventory/survey of all water consuming equipment on facility premises and their locations
throughout the building, such as:
o Domestic water fixtures (faucets, toilets, urinals);
o Water using appliances (dishwasher, washing machine etc.);
o Cooling equipment including cooling towers, equipment “once-thru” cooling and
customized tenant cooling equipment;
o Landscape irrigation equipment;
o Water use for humidification equipment;
o Water use from heating equipment (boiler blowdown, steam production and condensate
management);
o Any specialized equipment (including production use).
• Baseline consumption of this equipment based on data from the building automation system and
water sub-meters OR based on equipment performance estimates informed by manufacturer
specifications PLUS an estimated calculation of the equipment’s annual consumption, such as:
o Sinks and faucets: aerator output multiplied by estimation of annual use;
o Toilets and urinals: flush output multiplied by estimation of annual use;
o Showerhead: output of the showerhead multiplied by estimation of annual use;
o Cooling towers: estimate make-up water required to compensate for losses due to
evaporation, drift and splash-out, leaks and overflow, and bleed or blowdown.
▪ Evaporation: Directly related to heat transfer and operational management.
Assume approximately 1.8 GPH (centrifugal) or 3.7 GPH (absorption) per ton of
cooling multiplied by the load percentage.
▪ Bleed/blowdown: Losses represent a non-linear function of the concentration
cycles (purity of make-up water over the purity of the recirculating water). Higher
cycles mean fewer blowdowns are needed.

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 ▪ Drift and splash-out: Losses are not significant for well-maintained towers under
normal conditions. Assume approximately 0.014 GPH per ton of cooling or about
0.008% of recirculating water.
▪ Leaks and overflows: These are difficult to measure or estimate and losses are
not significant in well-maintained towers. Visual inspection for leaks should be
performed.
o Irrigation system: output of the sprinklers multiplied by operating hours.
• Recommended Measures:
o List of identified retrofit and operation and maintenance water conservation measures;
o Estimated costs, savings and payback period of measures;
o Establish water reduction target.
o Explore feasibility of installing base building meter if not present
o Explore sub-meter opportunities for the cooling tower make-up line.
2. Water Communications Plan
Where 75% or more of the building’s water is purchased directly by tenants, applicants may prepare a
Water Communication Plan in lieu of a Water Assessment report.
This communication plan must document means of encouraging water conservation initiatives by
occupants. For example, the communication plan may include the following offerings by the landlord/
management company:
• Providing walk through water audit or assessment services of tenant spaces.
• Delivery of “water conservation tips” brochures to occupants.
• Water conservation seminars for tenants/occupants.
• Other communication tools: posters, “shut-it-off stickers”, etc.
Evidence of implementation may include the following:
• Agendas and notes from tenant-management team meetings.
• Copies of marketing materials used to promote water conservation measures.
• Copies of communication to tenants/occupants regarding water conservation tips/opportunities.
• Copies of water use assessments or audits done in tenant spaces.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
I. Applicants must make available the communication plan and evidence of its implementation for
review to the verifier, as part of the on-site tour.

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Waste Reduction
Applicable ONLY to MURB and Health Care Facilities

3.1.1.1 Is there a waste diversion program that incorporates the recycling of materials such as: paper
and cardboard; bottles and cans; food waste; and plastics for occupants, visitors and operations
at the site, to the extent that local infrastructure is available to accommodate these materials?

Tip: This question is a BEST Practice and is required for all levels of certification. Documentation
demonstrating this BEST Practice must be uploaded.
The property must have an active recycling program. A BOMA-accepted equivalent may suffice in
particular situations.

3.1.2.13 Is there a written policy intended to minimize construction waste being sent to landfill?

Tip: This question is a BEST Practice and is required for all levels of certification. Documentation
demonstrating this BEST Practice must be uploaded.
Construction and demolition waste - which accounts for about 30% of Canada's landfill - can be
reduced by implementing a source separation and recycling program on-site. The program must
meet the minimal requirements of the jurisdiction (e.g. 3R Code of Practice). The waste
specifications should address recycling of corrugated cardboard, metals, concrete blocks, clean
dimensional wood, plastic, glass, gypsum board and carpet.

3.1.1.1 Waste Diversion Program

To meet this BEST Practice, applicants must implement a waste diversion program that aims to reduce
total volume of waste generated, and divert as much volume of materials from landfill as possible. Waste
minimization and diversion is done through a reuse and recycling program available on-site to all building
occupants.
Waste diversion programs should strive to achieve high diversion rates of standard fibre and container
streams, as well as hazardous materials such as toner cartridges, fluorescent lamps and electronic
equipment. Composting of organic material, either on site or through an off-site contractor, should also
be included in this program, where possible.
BOMA-Accepted Equivalents
1. Tenant Coordinated Waste Diversion
Where tenants are directly managing their own waste removal, the building applicant must confirm
tenant(s)’s waste diversion efforts.
In the absence of tenant material recycling/reuse, the applicant must demonstrate it has made an effort
to provide recycling facilities.
• For example, in retail plazas, each individual tenant (retail unit) may produce a small volume of
recyclables; the property manager may provide a common recycling area for tenants as a value-
added service (and to make recycling more cost-effective).

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2. Lack of Recycling Facilities
Where recycling facilities may not available, the applicant must provide a confirmation letter from the
local municipality, provincial government, or other appropriate body as evidence. Where recycling
facilities are available, but the local municipality does not collect recyclables, the applicant must
demonstrate that reasonable efforts to contract a commercial hauler were made.
3.1.2.13 Construction Waste Policy
The construction waste policy must clearly identify the applicant’s commitment to reducing construction
and demolition waste from being sent to landfill. The Policy should meet the minimal requirements of the
jurisdiction (e.g. 3R Code of Practice) by implementing a source separation and recycling program on-site.
The waste specifications should address recycling of corrugated cardboard, metals, concrete blocks, clean
dimensional wood, plastic, glass, gypsum board and carpet.
The Construction Waste Policy may be a national, corporate policy for all buildings managed by a single
company. However, to meet this BEST Practice, building management must demonstrate awareness of
the policy and show that it is implementing specific measures in accordance with its strategic guidance.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
I. For on-site verification, applicants must make available:
• A copy of the required policy;
• Sample specification must be made available for review and specification may include:
o Documentation of a recent renovation contract that specifies materials for reuse,
resale and diversion.
o Tenant design guidelines that specify materials for reuse, resale and diversion.
o Corporate or on-site program specifications for the diversion of demolition,
construction and renovation materials.
• Examples of how the Policy is being implemented on-site by property management; and
• Documents demonstrating the Policy’s implementation must be dated.
II. The Policy should be an official document on a company’s website (internal and/or external);
and/or printed on company’s letterhead with appropriate management.

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Emissions and Effluents
Applicable ONLY to MURB and Health Care Facilities

4.2.2 Is there a documented management plan for Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) that includes:

Tip: This question is a BEST Practice and is required for all levels of certification. Documentation
demonstrating this BEST Practice must be uploaded.
Maintenance of the refrigeration system can reduce operating costs by improving the chiller
performance, avoiding costly repairs, and reducing the need for refrigerant replacement. If
there are no ODS, mark "not applicable".

i) Inventory of refrigerants and records?

Tip: Inventory should show the present ODS and records should show the historical quantities of
ODS.

ii) Maintenance reports, loss reports, and leak test results?

iii) Operational staff training?

Tip: Environmental awareness courses should include course content on “Refrigerant Control” or
“CFC Handling” that has been developed by the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
Institute of Canada (HRAI) and Environment Canada. These courses are typically one day in
length. When the maintenance of the equipment is outsourced, the contractor should provide
evidence of meeting the staff training requirements.

iv) Periodic leak testing?

4.2.2.5 Is there a phase-out plan for ozone-depleting refrigerants?

Tip: This question is a BEST Practice and is required for all levels of certification. Documentation
demonstrating this BEST Practice must be uploaded.
Effective January 1, 2015, operating or allowing the operation of a chiller containing CFC will
be prohibited. If there are no ODSs, mark "Not Applicable".

4.4.1.1 Has a hazardous building materials survey and a use-related chemical inventory been
completed within the last three years?

Tip: This question is a BEST Practice and is required for all levels of certification. Documentation
demonstrating this BEST Practice must be uploaded.
A Hazardous Materials Survey should include only building-related hazardous materials and
must indicate, at a minimum, whether the following four hazardous building materials are
present in the building: Asbestos-containing materials (e.g., insulation coverings, putties and
caulking, older equipment); Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (e.g., old fluorescent lighting
ballasts, transformers); Lead (e.g., lead in paint); and Mercury (e.g., thermostats, lighting). The

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 survey must indicate the type of hazardous materials present in the building, its location, the
quantity, its condition, and a list of recommended actions to meet province-specific
regulatory requirements with respect to maintenance, inspection, training and abatement.
In addition, a Hazardous Chemicals or Use-Related Products Inventory must also be
conducted and include pesticides, at a minimum. This Inventory must include a list of
chemicals or use-related products brought into the building for use, handling and storage;
location, Safety Data Sheets for each chemical or use-related product; approximate
quantities; and a live index of the chemicals or use-related products including the chemical
name and page reference for easy access to Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and other relevant
information related to each chemical.

4.5.2.2 Is there a Hazardous Products (hazardous chemicals) Management Plan?

Tip: This question is a BEST Practice and is required for all levels of certification. Documentation
demonstrating this BEST Practice must be uploaded.
A hazardous products management plan should indicate how controlled products are
received at the facility, how they are to be used and safe disposal procedures. It should also
include the provision of WHMIS sheets for all products identified in the inventory. Chemicals
used in buildings that are classified as hazardous include oils, biocides, solvents, insecticides,
pesticides and herbicides. Biomedical waste (including cytotoxic waste) and pharmaceutical
waste must also be included. They should be stored in rooms with proper ventilation,
controlled temperatures, drain protection and adequate shelf space. Containers should be
capped to avoid possible spills and fumes, properly labelled and kept in securely locked areas.

4.2.2 Management Plan for Ozone Depleting Substances

Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) may be found in buildings and include CFCs, HCFCs, halons and other
substances used in refrigerants, fire extinguishing systems and chemicals (sterilizing agents and solvents).
Applicants must present a management plan for ODS that includes the following:
1. Inventory of refrigerants and records;
2. Maintenance reports, loss reports, and leak test results;
3. Operational staff training; and
4. Periodic leak testing.
Applicants may opt to implement the elements of their ODS management plan using either in-house staff
or using third-party contractors. Personnel (in-house or third-party) performing any ODS related work
must be appropriately trained to manage associated risks.

4.2.2.5 Phase-Out of Ozone Depleting Refrigerants

Applicants must be able to provide an implementation plan that demonstrates a phase-out of ozone
depleting refrigerants in accordance with Canada's Strategy to Accelerate the Phase-Out of CFC and
Halon Uses and to Dispose of the Surplus Stocks (Phase-Out Strategy).
Federal regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) – Ozone-depleting
Substances Regulations, 1998 (SOR/99-7) – specify a complete phase-out of CFCs in all refrigeration and

BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings 3.0 Application Guide (February 2018) Page | 84
chillers by 2020. Canada's Phase-Out Strategy is part of the on-going process to fulfill Canada's
commitment to protect the earth's ozone layer.
To learn more about the Phase-Out Strategy: download the official document at the following link:
http://www.ccme.ca/files/Resources/air/ods/phase_out_cfc_1316_e.pdf
IMPORTANT NOTES:
I. Applicants must refer to the Canadian federal regulation with regards to phasing out of all ODS
by 2020. For more information see Environment Canada’s Ozone Depleting Substances webpage:
http://www.ec.gc.ca/ozone/default.asp?lang=En&n=D57A0006-1.
II. A plan to use HCFCs such as refrigerant R-123 is acceptable as an interim solution, until a viable
substitute with zero ozone depletion potential becomes available.

4.4.1.1 Hazardous Building Materials Survey and Hazardous Chemicals or Use-Related Products
Inventory
1. Hazardous Materials Survey
A survey of hazardous building materials present at the facility should include only building-related
hazardous materials. As a minimum requirement for meeting this BEST Practice, the hazardous materials
survey must indicate whether the following are present:
• Asbestos-containing materials (e.g., insulation coverings, putties and caulking, older equipment);
• Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (e.g., old fluorescent lighting ballasts, transformers);
• Lead (e.g., lead in paint); or
• Mercury (e.g., thermostats, lighting).
Hazardous Materials Survey Requirement:
The survey for hazardous building materials are performed typically room by room, or by area. Samples
may be required to confirm presence of hazardous building materials. All building owners or tenants
must verify sampling requirements with the province specific regulation governing sampling
methodology for hazardous building materials. A comprehensive survey should have the following
information at a minimum for BOMA BEST verification purposes:
• Type of hazardous materials present in the building;
• Location of the hazardous materials;
• The extent of the hazardous material within the building;
• The approximate quantity of hazardous material in each area;
• The condition or state of the hazardous material (i.e. poor, fair, good); and
• A list of recommended actions to meet province specific regulatory requirements with respect to
maintenance, inspection, training and abatement.
The survey should be reviewed at least annually and updated as necessary.
IMPORTANTE NOTES:
I. If the hazardous materials survey was done at the time of acquisition and, if no other hazardous
building materials were brought into the building, or found, and, if no changes in building

BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings 3.0 Application Guide (February 2018) Page | 85
 materials have been implemented since the original survey, then a formal statement to this
effect will be sufficient for verification purposes. The statement must clearly reference the
previous hazardous materials survey and the policies that have been put in place to ensure that
no additional hazardous materials have been brought into the building and that existing
building materials have not been replaced.
II. Buildings with multiple tenants must have a Hazardous Building Materials Survey that includes
all tenant spaces. Building owners are responsible for ensuring that the building in its entirety is
represented in the Hazardous Building Materials Survey.
III. The following criteria applies to establish competency with respect to the person(s) or
organization (internal or external to the building), that has completed the Hazardous Building
Materials Survey:
• Has a good working knowledge and understanding of the legislation surrounding
hazardous materials (i.e. training certificates or educational background in hygiene,
occupational health and safety, environmental engineering, building science or similar);
• Has at least one year of work experience conducting hazardous building materials
surveys; and
• Has led the completion of at least five Hazardous Building Materials Surveys.
2. Hazardous Chemicals or Use-Related Products Inventory
Every building that uses hazardous chemicals or use-related products shall keep and maintain a record of
the chemicals or use-related products in the work place that are used, handled, or stored in the building.
A use-related product is defined as anything that is brought into the building and can include a hazardous
chemical. A hazardous chemical is defined as a dangerous good which could be a solid, liquid, or gas that
can harm people, other living organisms, property, or the environment.
As a minimum requirement for meeting this BEST Practice, the Hazardous Chemicals or Use-Related
Products Inventory must indicate whether the following is present:
• Pesticides
Hazardous Chemicals or Use-Related Products Inventory Requirement:
Although not required in this BEST Practice, best management practices dictate that all other Hazardous
Chemicals or Use-Related Products brought into or used in the building should also be included in this
Inventory.
The hazardous chemical or use-related product inventory must include at a minimum the following
information for BOMA BEST verification purposes:
• A list of chemicals or use-related products brought into the building for use, handling and
storage;
• The location where the chemical(s) or use-related products are used, handled and stored;
• Material Safety Data Sheets for each chemical or use-related product used, handled and stored;
• The approximate quantities of each chemical or use-related product stored on site; and

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 • A live index of the chemicals or use-related products including the chemical name and page
reference for easy access to Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and other relevant information
related to each chemical.
The inventory should be reviewed at least annually and updated as necessary.
IMPORTANTE NOTES:
I. A Safety Data Sheet (SDS), as required by this BEST Practice, is a document that contains
information on the potential hazards (health, fire, reactivity and environmental) and how to
work safely with the chemical product. It is an essential starting point for the development of a
complete health and safety program. It also contains information on the use, storage, handling
and emergency procedures related to the hazards of the material.
II. Tenants, as well as building owners, are required to have an up-to-date Hazardous Chemical or
Use-Related Product Inventory. It is the responsibility of every tenant to provide the Building
Owner with an up-to-date Use-Related Product Inventory records for Pesticides only (for the
purposes of this BEST Practice). It is the responsibility of every Building Owner to provide the
most up-to-date building operations Use-Related Product Inventory records for Pesticides only
to BOMA BEST verifiers. It is an industry best management practice for building owners to keep
an up-to-date record of all tenant Hazardous Chemical or Use-Related Product Inventories;
however, it is not necessary to meet this requirement.
III. There are no specific competency requirements for compiling a Hazardous Chemical or Use-
Related Product Inventory however, the individual conducting the inventory must have good
working knowledge and understanding of the applicable regulatory requirements, including at a
minimum, WHMIS.

4.5.2.2 Hazardous Products Management Plan

A Hazardous Products Management Plan should indicate how controlled products are received at the
facility, how they are to be used and safe disposal procedures. It should also include the provision of
Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) sheets for all products identified in the
inventory. Chemicals used in buildings that are classified as hazardous include oils, biocides, solvents,
insecticides, pesticides and herbicides.
Hazardous products should be stored in rooms with proper ventilation, controlled temperatures, drain
protection and adequate shelf space. Containers should be capped to avoid possible spills and fumes,
properly labelled and kept in securely locked areas.
Additional Information and Resources:
BOMA BEST is a leader in building management and has identified this technical requirement as a best
management practice. Its completion does not preclude users from understanding and meeting their
legal responsibilities regarding compliance with federal, provincial or municipal legislation.
The rights and responsibilities of workers, responsibilities of employers and supervisors are similar in all
jurisdictions across Canada. However, the details of the OH&S legislation and how the laws are enforced
vary from one jurisdiction to another. In addition, provisions in the regulations may be "mandatory",

BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings 3.0 Application Guide (February 2018) Page | 87
"discretionary" or "as directed by the Minister.” More information on where to find province specific
regulatory requirements and guidance documents can be found on province specific Occupational Health
and Safety websites or through the various Ministries of Labour. BOMA BEST encourages building
managers and owners to understand and apply province specific OH&S regulatory requirements as they
apply to hazardous materials and hazardous chemicals management.

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Indoor Environment
Applicable ONLY to MURB and Health Care Facilities

5.1.8.1 Does building management have in place a documented means for addressing
tenant/occupant concerns regarding indoor air quality (such as a complaint form and incident
log)?

Tip: This question is a BEST Practice and is required for all levels of certification. Documentation
demonstrating this BEST Practice must be uploaded.
Building management must have in place a documented means for addressing patient and
staff concerns regarding indoor air quality. Complaint logs can provide evidence of occupant
dissatisfaction and its causes. Trends in complaint rates over time may indicate occupant
reactions to changes in building operation.
The incident log must provide fields to capture the following information:
• Incident log number; Form completed by __; Date
• Occupant Name; Company & Department; Location in Building
• Date complaint was received; Description of Complaint; Suggested cause; Summary of
problem
• Actions completed; date of occupant interview
• CO2 measurements; ventilation rate assessment (if required); ventilation system
inspection; airborne contaminant sampling (if required)
• Remedial action report completed
Occupant advised of actions taken

5.1.8.1 Indoor Air Quality

1. To meet this BEST Practice, follow the specific tip instructions specifying what an incident log
for tenant/occupant indoor air quality concerns must capture.
2. Refer to occupational health and safety regulations that may be in effect in your jurisdiction.
3. It is suggested that the building manager develop standards and specifications for controlling
indoor air quality during construction activities. Remedial procedures for water damage are
also suggested to reduce the risk of molds.
4. It is recommended that an integrated approach to indoor air quality be implemented by
involving service technicians, building operators, consulting professionals and tenants.

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Environmental Management Systems
Applicable ONLY to MURB and Health Care Facilities

6.2.5 Does building management have a written policy for the selection of building materials that
attempts to reduce any potential negative impact on the environment?

Tip: This question is a BEST Practice and is required for all levels of certification. Documentation
demonstrating this BEST Practice must be uploaded.
The policy committing the organization to using low environmental impact building materials
and equipment in its facilities should be part of the tenant construction guidelines or in an
appendix to a lease where tenant improvement restrictions are mentioned. Examples of low
impact building materials include materials with high recycled content or low off-gassing
carpeting and furnishings. See section 5.6 Indoor Air Quality - Control of Pollutants at Source
in the questionnaire referring to the checklist of items to be discussed with architects etc.
Consider the following criteria:
• Avoiding materials that will result in excessive scrap material because of sizing needs;
• Salvaging reusable materials during demolition;
• Selecting materials that have recycled content;
• Selecting renewable materials; and
• Selecting materials with low embodied energy and low maintenance requirements.
Management should be able to demonstrate that the policy is actually implemented and put
into practice in projects.

6.4.1.1 Has a documented Communications Work Plan been developed and/or updated for
tenants/occupants regarding environmental initiatives and practices in the building within the
past 12 months?

Tip: This question is a BEST Practice and is required for all levels of certification. Documentation
demonstrating this BEST Practice must be uploaded.
Building management must have in place a building-specific Communications Work Plan,
which must include evidence of communication strategies, activities, responsibilities and
timelines for implementation. Tenants should be provided with information, and should have
a forum or hotline to discuss their environmental concerns and to coordinate their activities.
The key aspects of effective communication are frequency, accuracy, comprehensiveness and
inclusiveness. To ensure that building occupants work together with building owners to
achieve environmental goals, there must be frequent communication. Please see the
Application Guide (BEST Practices section) for details on the core components of a
Communications Work Plan required by this BEST Practice.

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6.2.5 Policy on Selection of Building Materials
The policy committing the organization to using low environmental impact building materials and
equipment in its facilities should be part of the tenant construction guidelines or in an appendix to a
lease where tenant improvement restrictions are mentioned.
Examples of low environmental impact building materials include materials with high recycled content
and/or low off-gassing carpeting and furnishings.
Consider the following criteria:
• Avoiding materials that will result in excessive scrap material because of sizing needs.
• Salvaging reusable materials during demolition.
• Selecting materials that have recycled content.
• Selecting renewable materials.
• Selecting materials with low embodied energy and low maintenance requirements.
Management should be able to demonstrate that the policy is being implemented and put into practice
in various projects.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
I. For on-site verification applicants must make available:
• A copy of the required policy;
• Examples of how the policy is being implemented on-site by property management; and
• Documents demonstrating policy’s implementation must be dated.
II. Policy should be an official document on a company’s website (internal and/or external); and/or
printed on company’s letterhead with appropriate management.

6.4.1.1 Tenant Communications

Building management must have in place a Communications Work Plan for communicating with
tenants/occupants on environmental issues specific to the building to comply with this BEST Practice.
The core components of this work plan include communication strategies, activities, responsibilities and
timelines for implementation. Evidence of each of these components must be clear in the
Communications Work Plan. The components of the Communications Work Plan must have been put into
place in the last 12 months and evidence of this implementation must be available.
The core components include the following:
1. Communication strategies: clearly describe the communication strategies that will be used with
tenants/occupants.
2. Activities: clearly describe the activities/events that will be communicated to tenants/occupants
(ex: Earth Day event or energy awareness campaigns with “turn off your monitor” stickers).
3. Responsibilities: clearly describe who will be responsible for each aspect of the Communications
Work Plan.
4. Timeline for implementation: clearly describe the timeline for implementation of all activities,
events, and strategies put in place in the context of the Communications Work Plan.

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The key aspects of effective communication are: frequency, accuracy, comprehensiveness and
inclusiveness. To ensure that building occupants work together with building management to achieve
environmental goals, regular communication must be executed.
Applicants must be able to provide copies of the environmental Communications Work Plan and samples
of the material provided to tenants/occupants as part of the plan. If materials are provided by corporate
head-office and are generic to be used nationally, the on-site building management is expected to
demonstrate how the environmental communications plan and generic materials, if any, are specifically
targeted to building tenants/occupants and integrated to address building-specific environmental issues.
A well-understood system for communicating with tenants/occupants on environmental issues specific to
the building can include a combination of the following techniques (the table below should be used for
guidance purposes only):

Possible Communications
Possible Implementation Ideas
Techniques
• Create a Management-Tenant task force or Green Team.
• Designate one or more of the Management Team to be the property’s
Initial Environmental
Environmental Ambassador to lead the program.
Program Development
• Develop a calendar that highlights the year’s planned engagement
opportunities with tenants or building occupants.
• Send an announcement letter to each tenant.
• Hold tenant meetings to educate them about the new environmental
program.
• Establish an awareness program explaining the benefits of green
operation for the occupants and the environment.
• Create new events or coincide events with existing environmental
Initial Program Launch
celebrations. Examples include:
o Sweater Day in February
o Earth Hour in March
o Earth Day and Earth Week in April
o Energy Conservation Week in May
o Waste Reduction Week in October
• Post and/or distribute and/or e-mail notices of audit results, new
environmental programs and policies, performance summaries (for
building energy or water consumption).
• Create a building website highlighting the environmental performance of
Relaying Management's the building.
Activities and Results • Consider active and passive communications, as available, and discern
their frequency. Examples include:
o Newsletters, eNewsletters, Memos
o Green Team Meetings
o Lobby/Common Area Posters, Screens or central Communications

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 Board
o Elevator Messaging (e.g. ENN)
o Website and Social Media (e.g. Twitter, Facebook)
o Tenant-Landlord Collaboration Opportunities (e.g. Natural Resource
Canada Sustainability Initiatives-metering reporting)
• Modify lease agreements to include green lease considerations.
• Provide continuing education in environmental awareness.
• Create a tenant handbook/manual which highlights environmental
New Tenants/Occupants
awareness.
• Modify Tenant Fit Up Manual/Design Criteria to include green building
considerations (e.g., low VOC paint, ENERGY STAR appliances, etc.)

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 6. BOMA BEST Verification Process
6.1. Overview of the Verification process
Download the handy checklist to ensure you are ready for the verification process.

Buildings in Single Stream

Applicants must upload documentation demonstrating each BEST Practice to the questionnaire. Once this
has been done, and when the questionnaire is complete, notify the Local Association that you are ready
for verification by clicking “Request Verification”.

The Local BOMA Association will be automatically notified. The Local BOMA Association program
administrator, or its appointed third-party verifier, will contact the Applicant to set up an on-site visit of
the building.
BOMA BEST buildings are verified by a third-party assessor, retained by Local BOMA Associations for
verification in their region. The purpose of on-site verification is to confirm not only the information
submitted via the online survey, but also to ensure the assessment is an accurate reflection of the
building’s environmental management practices and performance.
The on-site visit includes a building tour and a documentation review.
The duration of this on-site visit is approximately two to four (2-4) hours, though this can vary by building
size and/or number of buildings (e.g. in the case of Complexes and/or Parks).

Buildings in Portfolio Stream

Buildings in the portfolio Stream do not have a “Request Verification” button. Contact your company’s
building portfolio manager to let them know that your building is ready for a verification. They will then
notify BOMA Canada. Based on the verification schedule established by BOMA Canada, the applicant will
be notified which buildings in the portfolio will be undergoing a verification.
BOMA BEST buildings are verified by a third-party assessor, retained by BOMA Canada. The purpose of
on-site verification is to confirm not only the information submitted via the online survey, but also to
ensure the assessment is an accurate reflection of the building’s environmental management practices
and performance.
The on-site visit includes a building tour and a documentation review.
Prior to the on-site visit, the Applicant must upload documentation demonstrating compliance with all
BEST Practices.
More information about the Verification process for buildings in the Portfolio Stream is available in the
Portfolio Program Guide.

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 6.2. About the Verifier
A Verifier is a third-party, contracted by the Local BOMA Association, expected to perform an on-site
verification to confirm that the BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings requirements have been met and
assess the level of BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings certification achieved. Verifiers are not hired to act
as consultants to the building manager, nor are they to provide their expert advice. Rather a Verifier’s job
is to confirm the validity of information submitted.

6.3. Scheduling the On-Site Visit

Applicants will be contacted by either the BOMA Canada (Portfolio Program buildings), the Local BOMA
Association (Single Buildings) or the Verifier to schedule the on-site visit. The site visit will typically be
scheduled within 30 days of an assessment being locked.
Scheduling must involve a property contact person who is authorized to access the BOMA BEST
Sustainable Buildings assessment for that property.
If buildings are part of a complex, and are located close to one another, it is expected that the Verifier
will schedule the verification for all buildings on the same day. In these situations, applicants should
expect a lengthier verification visit.
For verification of buildings in locations outside the metropolitan area of the Local BOMA Association
office, the applicant will be notified of estimated additional travel costs (as directed in BOMA BEST
Sustainable Buildings Program Policy 6 – On-Site Verification: Additional Verification Costs).

6.4. Security Clearance

If some manner of security clearance is required for the Verifier to perform the site visit, the applicant
must inform BOMA Canada, the Local BOMA Association or the Verifier (whoever is the primary contact
for the verification) as early into the assessment process as possible so that appropriate steps can be
taken to gain clearance. The Verification cannot proceed if the Verifier is not able to access critical areas
of the building (namely, the mechanical room, storage tanks, a typical tenant space, waste disposal
facilities, etc.).

6.5. Required Supporting Documentation Prior to On-Site Visit

Documentation supporting and demonstrating compliance with the BEST Practices must be uploaded for
each BEST Practice prior to notifying the Local Association that you are ready for verification. If
documentation demonstrating compliance with the BEST Practices is considered inadequate, Applicants
will be informed of this oversight to ensure that the missing pieces are provided prior to the on-site visit.
Until the documentation is provided, the visit cannot proceed.
Documentation demonstrating compliance with every question marked “Yes” or “N/A” must be available
(either in hard copy or digitally) during the on-site visit. Only the BEST Practices documentation must be
uploaded.
A thorough description of the documentation required to meet all BEST Practices is described in section 5
of this guide.

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Office, Enclosed Shopping Centre and Universal

BEST Practice Documentation Required Prior to Verification

Office, Enclosed Shopping Centre and Universal
Energy
BEST Practice 1 Preventative Maintenance Program
BEST Practice 2 Energy Assessment
BEST Practice 3 Energy Management Plan
BEST Practice 4 Energy Reduction Targets
Water
BEST Practice 5 Water Assessment
BEST Practice 6 Water Management Plan
Air
BEST Practice 7 IAQ Monitoring Plan
Comfort
BEST Practice 8 Occupant Service Request Program
Health and Wellness
BEST Practice 9 Hazardous Building Materials Management Program
BEST Practice 10 (A) Hazardous Chemical Products Management Program
Custodial
BEST Practice 11 Green Cleaning Program
Waste
BEST Practice 12 (A) Source Separation Program
BEST Practice 13 Waste Audit
BEST Practice 14 Waste Reduction Work Plan
Stakeholder Engagement
BEST Practice 15 Environmental Policy
BEST Practice 16 Occupant Sustainability Communication Program

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Light Industrial and Open Air Retail

BEST Practice Documentation Required Prior to Verification

Light Industrial, Open Air Retail
Energy
BEST Practice 1 Preventative Maintenance Program
BEST Practice 2 Energy Assessment
BEST Practice 3 Energy Management Plan
BEST Practice 4 Energy Reduction Targets
Water
BEST Practice 5 Water Assessment
BEST Practice 6 Water Management Plan
Air
BEST Practice 7 IAQ Monitoring Plan
Comfort
BEST Practice 8 Occupant Service Request Program
Health and Wellness
BEST Practice 9 Hazardous Building Materials Management Program
BEST Practice 10 (B) Tenant Hazardous Chemicals Monitoring Program
Custodial
BEST Practice 11 Green Cleaning Program
Waste
BEST Practice 12 (B) Waste Reduction and Diversion Policy
Stakeholder Engagement
BEST Practice 15 Environmental Policy
BEST Practice 16 Occupant Sustainability Communication Program

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MURB and Health Care Facilities

BEST Practice Documentation Required Prior to Verification

MURB and Health Care
Energy Management – Energy Assessment
1.3.2.1 Energy Assessment (no older than 3 years at verification)
Energy Management – Monitoring and Targeting
1.3.3.1 Energy Management Reduction Plan
1.3.8.14 Preventive Maintenance Program
Water
2.3.1 Water Conservation Policy
2.3.4 Water Assessment (no older than 3 years at verification)
Waste Reduction and Site
3.1.1.1 Waste Diversion Program
3.1.2.13 Renovation/Construction Waste Reduction Policy
Emissions and Effluents
4.2.2 Ozone Depleting Substances Management Plan
4.2.2.5 Phase-out plan for Ozone-Depleting Refrigerants
4.4.1.1 Hazardous Building Materials Survey and Use-Related Chemical Inventory (may be 1 or 2
documents)
4.5.2.2 Hazardous Products Management Plan
Indoor Environment
5.1.8.1 Documented Complaints Policy for Indoor Air Quality
Environmental Management Systems
6.2.5 Environmental Selection Policy for Building Materials
6.4.1.1 Communications Work Plan

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 6.6. On-Site Verification Attendees (Required)
To assist with the verification, the following team members must be present (or available) during the
visit:
• An individual familiar with the BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings questionnaire; AND
• An individual responsible for the building’s on-site management practices; AND
• An individual responsible for the building’s operations.
The verification will typically begin with a walking tour of the building, followed by a return to the
meeting room to review the supporting documentation.

6.7. Building tour

Below are some examples of specific areas which the Verifier will be expected to review during the on-
site visit. The following areas/features must be accessible (if applicable) during the site visit.
• Typical tenant space
• Heating plant
• Cooling plant
• Generator rooms
• Building envelope, elevator shafts, windows, awnings etc.
• Lighting fixtures
• Plumbing fixtures
• Irrigation
• Facility for storage and handling waste
• Composting facility for organic waste
• Floor and roof drains
• Storage tanks
• Hazardous materials storage site
• Air inlets and cooling towers
• Filtration systems
• Housekeeping (MSDS sheets)
• Building Automation System (BAS)
• Emergency response equipment site (e.g. spill control kits etc.)
• Environmentally significant areas

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 6.8. Reviewing energy and water data
In the case where points have been awarded in the Energy Assessment or Water Assessment section of
the questionnaire, the Applicant must show the Verifier the building’s online Property Characteristics
page so that the Verifier may review the performance values as well as energy and water data. As such, a
computer with internet connection should be available during the meeting.
There are two ways to enter energy (and water) consumption data to obtain points
1. Click here for instructions if entering data directly into the BOMA BEST Online Portal.
2. Click here for instructions if using an existing ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager account.

6.9. Documentation review

Documentation is required on-site to support all questions marked “Yes” or “N/A”.
Documentation must be organized in a comprehensive and cohesive manner, which mimics the
organization and layout of the questionnaire. For example, if done electronically, the files can be
arranged in sub-sections, with each section representing the key areas of assessment (energy, water,
etc.), and with subsequent documentation arranged in order of the questions.
The information provided to the Verifier must be representative of the practices and operations of the
entire building (not just leasable space, or partial tenant information). BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings
requires complete building information to assess the building’s performance.

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 6.10. Meeting Technical Clarification Requests requirements
Once or twice a year, the questionnaire will be updated in response to completed Technical Clarification
Requests (TCRs). These are announced via the BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings Newsletter or through
the Local BOMA Association. They can also be found under the “Completed TCRs” section of the website.
Once the TCRs are in effect, all buildings verified after that time are expected to comply with the
modifications including those in the process of completing an assessment.

6.11. Missing documentation

Should additional documentation be required before the assessment can be considered complete,
Applicants can submit the missing documentation as per BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings 3.0 Program
Policy 5 – On-Site Verification: Missing Documentation.
a) An Applicant shall have up to thirty (30) days to provide the requested documentation and/or
information and resubmit to the designated Local BOMA Association and/or the BOMA BEST
Verifier as agreed upon; and
b) The Verifier may help the applicant understand what is missing and whether newly provided
documentation meets the requirement. However, to be respectful of the Verifier’s time, there
can be no more than two interactions focused on clarifying a question’s intent following the on-
site verification. Applicants are instructed to carefully review all BOMA BEST Sustainable
Buildings explanation language and the information found in the Application Guide to understand
what is required. Additional document review beyond the two interactions will incur an
additional verification cost.
c) Should the Verifier require a second on-site visit, the applicant will be required to pay all
applicable Verifier costs.
Notwithstanding the above clause 1; the relevant Local BOMA Association, upon consultation with the
Verifier, may, at its sole discretion, grant an Applicant an extension of thirty (30) days to provide missing
documentation and/or information.

6.12. Additional Verification Costs

The Applicant is expected to have diligently completed the questionnaire and supporting documentation
prior to the verification.
It is possible (and indeed expected) that the Verifier will uncover some questions that were incorrectly
answered in the questionnaire in light of the walk through or documentation review. It is the Verifier’s
responsibility to take note of these errors and correct them in the online questionnaire following the
Verification. The Verifier will notify the Applicant that these changes are being made.
A Verifier may amend up to twelve (12) answers within the questionnaire. If more questions require
modifications this will incur an additional verification cost. For more information on these and other
possible additional costs, please see BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings 3.0 Program Policy 6 – On-Site
Verification: Additional Verification Costs.

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 6.13. Communicating the Certification Status
Following the on-site visit, the Applicant’s online assessment will be amended by the Verifier, BOMA
Canada or the Local BOMA Association as needed to reflect the changes discussed during the verification
visit. Scoring may be adjusted higher or lower depending on the verification tour and whether the
appropriate back-up information is provided.
Following this amendment, the Verifier will upload a Final Report to the building’s account on the BOMA
BEST Online Portal summarizing the changes that have been made to the online assessment, the final
overall score and certification Level achieved by the Applicant. BOMA Canada or the Local BOMA
Association will notify the Applicant of the building’s certification status and Level achieved within a
reasonable delay.

6.14. Confidentiality
All information viewed received by the Verifier is confidential to the building. The Verifier shall retain
only his or her notes from the building site visit, and shall destroy any records or information belonging
to the building.

Download the handy checklist to ensure you are ready for the verification process.

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7. Benchmarking methodology for energy and water
Any new building assessed using the new online portal will be assessed for energy and water
consumption using the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager (ESPM) benchmarking methodology. There are
three performance metrics in the BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings 3.0 assessment. None is required to
obtain a certification although additional points may be earned for participating.
Applicants must link up existing ESPM accounts with the online portal – this eliminates the need to re-
enter data and ensures that data is verifiable. Instructions are provided here.
Applicants that do not have an ESPM account can use the online portal to capture their consumption
data. Instructions are provided here.
An ESPM FAQ has been prepared to assist applicants who have additional questions regarding energy
and water benchmarking.

7.1. Office, Enclosed Shopping Centre, Light Industrial, Open Air

Retail, and Universal
7.1.1. Gross Floor Area
BOMA BEST performance metrics are dependent on an accurate gross floor area (GFA). For the purposes
of benchmarking performances, BOMA BEST is aligned with the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager
definition of the Gross Floor Area. This definition is different from the area required to calculate the
BOMA BEST application fees (see Section 4 of this Guide for more details on this).
a) For Office and Universal (ENERGY STAR Score eligible) buildings
The GFA that used for the purposes of calculating the energy and water performance must be entered
here on the building registration page (“Create New” page - under “Fill in more details”):

The GFA used for calculating energy or water performance must include the following spaces:
• Lobbies
• Tenant Areas
• Common Areas
• Meeting Rooms
• Break Rooms

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 • Atriums (ground floor only)
• Restrooms
• Elevator Shafts
• Stairwells
• Mechanical Equipment Areas
• Basements
• Storage Rooms
• Indoor/underground parking (depends on whether it is sub-metered – see notes below for
more details)
Areas that that must not be included in the floor area:
• Exterior spaces
• Balconies
• Patios
• Exterior Loading Docks
• Driveways
• Covered Walkways
• Outdoor Courts (Tennis, Basketball, etc.)
• The interstitial plenum space between floors (which house pipes and ventilation)
• Crawl Spaces
• Exterior parking/Parkades
Indoor and Underground Parking: The above list is identical to the areas required to calculate BOMA BEST
Fees except for parking areas. Indoor and underground parking areas must be included in the GFA to
calculate fees. However, the decision to include this area in the GFA used to benchmark performance
depends on whether the space is sub-metered.
• If energy for the parking area is sub-metered, the floor area should not be included in the GFA. In
such cases, energy consumption from the indoor parking area must also be excluded from the
energy consumption data entered.
• If the parking area is not sub-metered, the floor area must be included in the GFA for
benchmarking purposes. It follows that the energy consumption associated with this area will
already be included in the total energy consumption data entered for the building.

b) Enclosed Shopping Centres, Open Air Retail, Light Industrial, Universal (non-ENERGY STAR
Score eligible) buildings
As much as possible, respect the rules listed above for Office etc. However, if the surface areas of all the
spaces listed above are not known, include whatever is known in the ENERGY STAR GFA field.
Please note that in the future, these buildings will be required to provide a GFA based on the rules
outlined in 7.1.1 a).

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 7.1.2. ENERGY STAR Score
Energy performance for Office buildings and eligible Universal buildings is assessed using the ENERGY
STAR Score – a score from 1 to 100.
Buildings that earn a score between 1 and 100 are compared to other buildings nationwide that have the
same primary use. In addition to this, the ENERGY STAR Score also normalizes for building characteristics
such as weather, occupancy hours, and number of full-time workers.
ENERGY STAR Score Benchmarking Scale for Office and eligible Universal buildings

ENERGY STAR Score Benchmarking Matrix –

Office and eligible Universal buildings
ENERGY STAR Score Points
Unknown 0
0-49 0
50 10
51-100 2 points are earned for every ENERGY STAR Score above 50, up to 90 points.
E.g. ENERGY STAR Score of 73 = 56 points

7.1.3. Energy Use Intensity (EUI)

In all asset classes, applicants are requested to provide their Energy Use Intensity. This metric is not
scored specifically though points may be earned (depending on the asset class) for being able to calculate
a valid EUI. The intent is to encourage participants to benchmark energy consumption over time.
To obtain a weather-normalized site EUI, applicants must provide energy consumption data representing
all required spaces in the building for a period of 24 consecutive months. See sub-section 7.1.1 for
instructions on how to proceed if there is indoor parking.

7.1.4. Water Use Intensity (WUI)

In all asset classes, applicants are requested to provide their Water Use Intensity. For Office buildings,
depending on the performance, applicants will obtain points. In the remaining asset classes, simply
providing a valid WUI (regardless of the value) may be sufficient for obtaining points. The intent is to
encourage participants to benchmark energy consumption over time.
This metric is not scored specifically though points may be earned (depending on the asset class) for
being able to calculate a valid WUI.
To obtain a WUI, applicants must provide water consumption data representing all spaces in the building
(exceptions can be made depending on the asset class) for a period of 12 consecutive months.
Water used for irrigation must be included.

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Water Use Intensity Benchmarking Scale (Office Only)

Water Benchmarking Matrix – Office

Water Use Intensity Points
Unknown / Unable to obtain 0
1.0 m3/m2/year and above 0
Between 0.8 and 0.99 m3/m2/year 4
Between 0.65 and 0.79 m3/m2/year 6
Between 0.50 and 0.64 m3/m2/year 8
Between 0.33 and 0.49 m3/m2/year 10
Between 0.2 and 0.32 m3/m2/year 12
Less than 0.2 m3/m2/year 15

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 7.2. MURB and Health Care Facilities
Similarly to the other asset classes, when applicants assess their buildings using the MURB or Health Care
questionnaires on the new portal they will be accessing the ENERGY STAR Methodology. However,
performance is rewarded slightly differently.

7.2.1. Gross Floor Area

BOMA BEST performance metrics are dependent on an accurate gross floor area (GFA). For the purposes
of benchmarking performances, BOMA BEST is aligned with the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager
definition of the Gross Floor Area. This definition is different from the area required to calculate the
BOMA BEST application fees (see Section 4 of this Guide for more details on this).
The GFA that used for the purposes of calculating the energy and water performance must be entered
here on the building registration page (“Create New” page - under “Fill in more details”):

The GFA used for calculating energy or water performance must include the following spaces:
• Lobbies
• Tenant Areas
• Common Areas
• Meeting Rooms
• Break Rooms
• Atriums (ground floor only)
• Restrooms
• Elevator Shafts
• Stairwells
• Mechanical Equipment Areas
• Basements
• Storage Rooms
• Indoor/underground parking (depends on whether it is sub-metered – see notes below for
more details)
Areas that that must not be included in the floor area:
• Exterior spaces
• Balconies

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 • Patios
• Exterior Loading Docks
• Driveways
• Covered Walkways
• Outdoor Courts (Tennis, Basketball, etc.)
• The interstitial plenum space between floors (which house pipes and ventilation)
• Crawl Spaces
• Exterior parking/Parkades
Indoor and Underground Parking: The above list is identical to the areas required to calculate BOMA BEST
Fees except for parking areas. Indoor and underground parking areas must be included in the GFA to
calculate fees. However, the decision to include this area in the GFA used to benchmark performance
depends on whether the space is sub-metered.
• If energy for the parking area is sub-metered, the floor area should not be included in the GFA. In
such cases, energy consumption from the indoor parking area must also be excluded from the
energy consumption data entered.
• If the parking area is not sub-metered, the floor area must be included in the GFA for
benchmarking purposes. It follows that the energy consumption associated with this area will
already be included in the total energy consumption data entered for the building.

7.2.2. Energy for MURB

To obtain a weather-normalized site Energy Use Intensity (EUI), applicants must provide energy
consumption data representing all required spaces in the building for a period of 24 consecutive months.
See sub-section 7.2.1 for instructions on how to proceed if there is indoor parking.
Based on the EUI generated on the new online portal, applicants will receive points based on the
following benchmarking scale:
Energy Benchmarking Matrix – Multi-Unit Residential Buildings
Energy Use Intensity Points
Unknown / Unable to obtain 0
0.890 GJ/m²/yr and above 0
Between 0.850 and 0.889 GJ/m²/yr 8
Between 0.810 and 0.849 GJ/m²/yr 16
Between 0.770 and 0.809 GJ/m²/yr 24
Between 0.740 and 0.769 GJ/m²/yr 32
Between 0.700 and 0.739 GJ/m²/yr 40
Between 0.660 and 0.699 GJ/m²/yr 48
Between 0.620 and 0.659 GJ/m²/yr 56
Between 0.580 and 0.619 GJ/m²/yr 64
Between 0.540 and 0.579 GJ/m²/yr 72
Less than 0.540 GJ/m²/yr 80

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 7.2.3. Water for MURB
To obtain a Water Use Intensity (WUI), applicants must provide water consumption data representing all
required spaces in the building for a period of 12 consecutive months. Water used for irrigation must be
included.
Based on WUI generated on the new online portal, applicants will receive points based on the following
benchmarking scale:

Water Benchmarking Matrix – Multi-Unit Residential Buildings

Water Use Intensity Points
Unknown / Unable to obtain 0
3 2
8.03 m /m /yr and more 0
Between 6.205 and 8.029 m3/m2/yr 18
Between 5.475 and 6.204 m3/m2/yr 24
3 2
Less than 5.475 m /m /yr 30

7.2.4. Energy for Health Care

To obtain a weather-normalized site Energy Use Intensity (EUI), applicants must provide energy
consumption data representing all required spaces in the building for a period of 24 consecutive months.
See sub-section 7.2.1 for instructions on how to proceed if there is indoor parking.
Based on the EUI generated on the new online portal, applicants will receive points based on the
following benchmarking scale:
Energy Benchmarking Matrix – Hospitals
Energy Use Intensity Points
Unknown / Unable to obtain 0
3.100 GJ/m²/yr and above 0
Between 2.940 and 3.099 GJ/m²/yr 7
Between 2.790 and 2.939 GJ/m²/yr 14
Between 2.630 and 2.789 GJ/m²/yr 21
Between 2.480 and 2.629 GJ/m²/yr 28
Between 2.320 and 2.479 GJ/m²/yr 35
Between 2.170 and 2.319 GJ/m²/yr 42
Between 2.010 and 2.169 GJ/m²/yr 49
Between 1.860 and 2.009 GJ/m²/yr 56
Between 1.700 and 1.859 GJ/m²/yr 63
Less than 1.700 GJ/m²/yr 70

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 Energy Benchmarking Matrix – Medical Offices
Energy Use Intensity Points
Unknown / Unable to obtain 0
1.320 GJ/m²/yr and above 0
Between 1.240 and 1.319 GJ/m²/yr 7
Between 1.160 and 1.239 GJ/m²/yr 14
Between 1.050 and 1.159 GJ/m²/yr 21
Between 0.930 and 1.049 GJ/m²/yr 28
Between 0.810 and 0.929 GJ/m²/yr 35
Between 0.700 and 0.809 GJ/m²/yr 42
Between 0.580 and 1.699 GJ/m²/yr 49
Between 0.460 and 0.579 GJ/m²/yr 56
Between 0.350 and 0.459 GJ/m²/yr 63
Less than 0.350 GJ/m²/yr 70

Energy Benchmarking Matrix – Long Term Care

Energy Use Intensity Points
Unknown / Unable to obtain 0
2.290 GJ/m²/yr and above 0
Between 2.090 and 2.289 GJ/m²/yr 7
Between 1.980 and 2.089 GJ/m²/yr 14
Between 1.860 and 1.979 GJ/m²/yr 21
Between 1.740 and 1.859 GJ/m²/yr 28
Between 1.630 and 1.739 GJ/m²/yr 35
Between 1.510 and 1.629 GJ/m²/yr 42
Between 1.390 and 1.509 GJ/m²/yr 49
Between 1.280 and 1.389 GJ/m²/yr 56
Between 1.160 and 1.279 GJ/m²/yr 63
Less than 1.160 GJ/m²/yr 70

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 7.2.5. Water for Health Care
To obtain a Water Use Intensity (WUI), applicants must provide water consumption data representing all
required spaces in the building for a period of 12 consecutive months. Water used for irrigation must be
included.
Based on WUI generated on the new online portal, applicants will receive points based on the following
benchmarking scale:

Water Use Intensity – Health Care

Hospitals Medical Offices Long Term Care Points
Unknown / Unable to obtain Unknown / Unable to obtain Unknown / Unable to obtain 0
3.0 m³/m²/yr and above 1.60 m³/m²/yr and above 1.90 m³/m²/yr and above 0
Between 2.60 and 2.99 m³/m²/yr Between 1.40 and 1.59 m³/m²/yr Between 1.70 and 1.89 m³/m²/yr 5
Between 2.20 and 2.59 m³/m²/yr Between 1.20 and 1.39 m³/m²/yr Between 1.30 and 1.69 m³/m²/yr 10
Between 1.70 and 2.19 m³/m²/yr Between 1.0 and 1.19 m³/m²/yr Between 1.10 and 1.29 m³/m²/yr 15
Between 1.30 and 1.69 m³/m²/yr Between 0.80 and 0.99 m³/m²/yr Between 0.90 and 1.09 m³/m²/yr 20
Between 0.90 and 1.29 m³/m²/yr Between 0.50 and 0.79 m³/m²/yr Between 0.60 and 0.89 m³/m²/yr 25
Less than 0.9 m³/m²/yr Less than 0.5 m³/m²/yr Less than 0.6 m³/m²/yr 30

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 8. Scoring methodology
8.1. Program Objectives
The vision for BOMA BEST 3.0 was to set a standard for building management and performance – to
facilitate sound building management and guide building performance improvement. The goals for the
program are:
➢ Be accessible, inclusive and aspirational;
➢ Be educational and provide actionable outcomes;
➢ Lead to improved environmental performance.
BOMA BEST 3.0 assesses performance through questions that were developed with these goals in mind.
They cover a wide range of building management and performance aspects and in totality they
encompass the BOMA BEST definition of a sustainable building. The questions are grouped into 10
different categories: Energy, Water, Air, Comfort, Health & Wellness, Purchasing, Custodial, Waste, Site,
and Stakeholders.

8.2. Scoring Approach

Each question describes an environmental measure that impacts building management or performance,
some being more important than others. Points are attributed to each question, except for BEST
Practices which are minimum requirements. The number of points available per question is calculated as
a factor of the impact and importance of the measure/initiative:
• The perceived sustainability impact of each measure was scored on a scale of 1 to 5 (with 5
representing the most benefit and 1 the least). The value was attributed according to each
measure’s respective economic, social and environmental benefit.
• The Energy category represents the most important measures and therefore capture about 30%
of the total points available. The remaining 70% of points were deemed of equal importance and
spread evenly across the other 9 categories.
The outcome is a points system that awards more points for taking action where it matters, actions that
lead to better understanding of building systems and improved operational performance. It mandates
the implementation of industry best practices as first steps and leads the way to a path of improvement
over time, rewarding actions that carry greater import and impact with more points.

8.3. Total Points for Different Asset Classes

The scoring approach described above calculates the relative weight of each question in the Office asset
class in relation to each other question, adding up to the 1,000 total. Similarly, point totals were then
determined for the remaining asset classes (Universal, Enclosed Shopping Centres and Light
Industrial/Open Air Retail) by awarding the same number of points across the respective questions (as
was awarded in the Office questionnaire) whilst also referencing their pre-determined weight to ensure a
question’s relative weighting is maintained.

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Points are distributed across each asset class in the following way:

Office

Energy
10% Energy Star
23% Water
9%
Air
Comfort
10% Health & Wellness
10% Purchasing
5% Custodial
7% Waste
3% 9% Site
12%
Stakeholders
2%

Enclosed Shopping Centre

Energy
10%
Water
28% Air
11%
Comfort
Health & Wellness

12% Purchasing
Custodial
9%
5% Waste
Site
12%
2% 9% Stakeholders
2%

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Light Industrial & Open Air Retail

12% Energy
Water
29%
Air
11%
Comfort
Health & Wellness
Custodial
16%
Waste
11%
Site

8% Stakeholders
2% 9%

2%

Universal

Energy
10% Energy Star

25% Water
10%
Air
Comfort
10% Health & Wellness
9% Purchasing
4% Custodial
8% Waste
3% 8% Site
12%
Stakeholders
1%

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 8.4. Performance Thresholds
BOMA BEST 3.0 also considers the minimum performance expected by a property to achieve a specific
certification threshold. Aside from completing BEST Practices to achieve a Certified level, BOMA BEST 3.0
does not restrict what properties can do to achieve a particular certification level (Bronze and up). In
deciding the performance thresholds, measures that might be considered entry-level tasks were grouped
together to determine the most likely certification level that could be expected for entry-level effort. This
informed the 20% scoring threshold introduced to achieve Bronze. The intent of this strategy is to
encourage more buildings to enter the program, achieve Certified level which can set them on a course to
pursue higher levels of certification over time.
Performance thresholds in BOMA BEST 3.0 are as follows:
• Certified: BEST Practices and a score under 19%
• Bronze: BEST Practices and a score between 20 – 49%
• Silver: BEST Practices and a score between 50 – 79%
• Gold: BEST Practices and a score between 80 –89%
• Platinum: BEST Practices and a score between 90 – 100%

8.5. “Not Applicable” answer options

Total points may vary within each asset class because of “Not Applicable” (or N/A) answer options. These
are provided throughout the questionnaire to accommodate situations where the question is not
applicable to buildings in certain scenarios. When a N/A option is selected, the question’s total point
value is removed from both the final score’s numerator and denominator (the question’s score becomes
0/0). The result is neutral on the final score; it is as though the question (and its score) were never part of
the questionnaire.
In all cases where the N/A option appears, specific instructions are provided to help the applicant
understand whether that answer option is appropriate for them.

8.6. Innovation questions

The tables provided in section 8.3 do not include the points awarded to innovation questions. Innovation
questions are present in many questions. These questions represent initiatives that are above and
beyond typical best industry practices. It is possible to gain points via the innovation questions however it
is impossible to lose points (since the answer options are either “Yes” or “N/A”). Answering innovation
questions may increase applicants’ score to the degree that they may gain one (1) certification level (e.g.
from Silver to Gold). To reiterate, applicants’ score will not be hurt if they are unable to answer “Yes”.
Note: The above statement pertaining to Innovation questions does not apply to the MURB and Health
Care questionnaires. In these questionnaires, when answering “No” to these questions, the applicant will
lose the points.

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 9. BOMA BEST Program Policies
9.1. Introduction
The following BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings 3.0 Program Policies are applicable to all participants of
the new BOMA BEST Online Portal.
BOMA Canada reserves the right to make changes to all BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings 3.0 Program
Policies without notice. BOMA Canada will endeavour to the best of its ability to communicate new
and/or revised policies to applicants and the public.
These Program Policies apply to participants of the BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings 3.0 program, be
they in the Single Stream or the Portfolio Stream.

9.2. BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings 3.0 Program Policies

BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings 3.0 Program Policy 1 – Application Fees
BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings 3.0 application fees are listed here. Where application fees are based
on size of building by square footage, the following conditions must be met:
1. Total size of building shall be determined as the total Gross Floor Area (GFA).
The GFA must include the following areas:
• Lobbies
• Tenant Areas
• Common Areas
• Meeting Rooms
• Break Rooms
• Atriums (ground floor only)
• Restrooms
• Elevator Shafts
• Stairwells
• Mechanical Equipment Areas
• Basements
• Storage Rooms
• Parking Area – Underground or closed indoor parking serviced by mechanical ventilation
must be included in the gross floor area of the building.
The GFA must exclude the following areas:
• Exterior spaces
• Balconies
• Patios
• Exterior Loading Docks
• Driveways
• Covered Walkways
• Outdoor Courts (Tennis, Basketball, etc.)

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 • The interstitial plenum space between floors (which house pipes and ventilation)
• Crawl Spaces
• Parking Area – Outdoor or open-air parkades must be excluded from the gross floor area of
the building.
This definition is consistent with ANSI/BOMA Standard Z65.3-2009.
The GFA used to calculate fees must be entered on the building registration page (“Create New” page)
here:

Note: This definition is not necessarily consistent with the definition used to determine GFA for the
purposes of benchmarking energy and water using ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. Consult section 4 in
this Guide for more information on this subject.
2. Where applicants register a building using the incorrect questionnaire type, the Local BOMA
Association reserves the right to deny an applicant’s building registration; or, if accepted, notify
the applicant of building size category change as deemed appropriate.
BOMA Canada reserves the right to change the Application Fees from time to time. BOMA Canada and its
Local BOMA Associations shall endeavour to communicate to BOMA Members and other BOMA BEST
stakeholders prior to application fee change but cannot guarantee a specific time period for such notice.

BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings 3.0 Program Policy 2 – Application Fee Refund
Applicants may obtain a refund for an application fee within the first thirty (30) days of the building’s
registration provided verification has not been completed for the building.
Beyond the thirty (30) day period, no refunds will be provided. In the event where a building is sold to
another company, the application fee remains with the building itself, not the management or owner

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company that originally registered it. The new management or owner companies may continue the
building’s certification process at no additional costs provided the online application period is compliant
with BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings 3.0 Program Policy 4 – Online Application Period. An application
fee cannot be transferred to another building.
In all cases, no refund for an application fee shall be granted for the purpose of compensation where
BOMA BEST certification was not achieved or where the desired level was not achieved after pursuing a
Score Upgrade.

BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings 3.0 Program Policy 3 – Eligibility Criteria

Buildings shall be deemed eligible to participate in the BOMA BEST certification program if all the
following conditions are met at the time of application:
1. The building must be at least one (1) year old.
2. The building must have a minimum of 70% average occupancy for a period of one (1) year
representing 12 consecutive months, at a minimum*.
3. The applicant must select the questionnaire type that matches the definition of that building’s
asset class (as per section 2 of this Guide).
* Buildings certifying under the Portfolio Program stream may be eligible to certify without meeting the
occupancy requirements. In such case, the building may only achieve a Certified level of certification.
Contact BOMA Canada to find out more.
In addition to the above, buildings in the Portfolio Program must meet the following requirement:
1. All buildings in the Portfolio must operate under a common management company, using
common management policies;
2. Buildings in a single Portfolio Program registration may be located across the country. They
do not need to be within the same geographical space, nor be represented by the same Local
BOMA Association.

BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings 3.0 Program Policy 4 – Online Application Period
Applicants will have a period of up to six (6) months to complete the BOMA BEST online assessment
survey beginning on the date access has been granted to the online questionnaire.
If the building is not ready for verification after the six (6) month period, the Applicant can contact BOMA
Canada (Portfolio Program stream) or the designated Local BOMA Association (Single Building stream) for
an application period extension. Up to six (6) months can be given as an extension. If no extension is
requested, BOMA Canada or the designated Local BOMA Association reserves the right to render the file
inactive based on its best judgement but not before attempts are made to communicate with the
Applicant.
Should an application become inactive due to an elapsed period of six (6) to twelve (12) months, the
Applicant must contact BOMA Canada (Portfolio Program stream) or the designated Local BOMA
Association (Single Building stream) to discuss reactivation.
In all cases, after twelve (12) months have elapsed from the date access was granted to the online
assessment the file will be rendered permanently inactive. BOMA Canada or the Local BOMA Association
may do so without prior contact with the Applicant. Applicants wishing to continue pursuing a BOMA
BEST certification after the twelve (12) month period has elapsed on their original application will be

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required to pay a new BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings Application Fee. The Applicant may be required
to use the most recent version of the BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings questionnaire.
Refunds for incomplete assessments cannot be issued, as per BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings 3.0
Program Policy 2 – Application Fee Refund.

BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings 3.0 Program Policy 5 – On-Site Verification: Missing
Documentation
Where a building application has been reviewed as part of an on-site verification tour and is not
recommended for certification due to missing documentation and / or information; and whereby the
Verifier conducting the on-site verification provides recommendations to meet the certification, then:
1. An applicant shall have up to thirty (30) days to provide the requested documentation and/or
information and resubmit to the Verifier as agreed upon; and
2. Should the Verifier require a second on-site visit, the applicant shall be required to pay all
applicable Verifier costs for such visit (see BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings 3.0 Program Policy
6).
Notwithstanding the above clause 1; BOMA Canada (Portfolio Program stream) or the designated Local
BOMA Association (Single Building stream), upon consultation with the Verifier, may, at its sole
discretion, grant an applicant an extended period to gather required documentation and/or information
by another thirty (30) days, if required, for a total of sixty (60) days following the on-site verification.

BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings 3.0 Program Policy 6 – On-Site Verification: Additional
Verification Costs
Travel Costs
Where, for the purposes of an on-site verification tour, an applicant’s building(s) is located at a
considerable distance from BOMA Canada or the designated Local BOMA Association office, the applicant
will be responsible for the payment of all applicable Verifier travel costs. The definition of “considerable
distance” shall be determined by BOMA Canada or the designated Local BOMA Association.
Travel costs may include: flight, gas, car rental fees, accommodation and meals where applicable. Please
consult with BOMA Canada (Portfolio Program stream) or the designated Local BOMA Association (Single
Building stream) office prior to registering a building if there is concern that a building may be located at
a “considerable distance” from a BOMA office.
Questionnaire revision
It is expected that the Verifier will have to amend some answers prior to finalizing the certification score
because of the on-site visit and documentation review. A Verifier may amend up to twelve (12) answers
within the questionnaire. If more than twelve questions require modification, this will incur an additional
verification cost.
Additional Review
Following the verification, the Verifier can assist the Applicant in understanding what documentation is
still required to achieve certification. However, there can be no more than two (2) interactions with the
Verifier focused on clarifying a question’s intent. Additional document review beyond the two (2)
interactions will incur an additional verification cost.

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Second on-site visit
In the event where a second on-site verification visit is required, this will incur an additional verification
cost.
For more information on additional verification costs, contact BOMA Canada (Portfolio Program stream)
or the designated Local BOMA Association (Single Building stream).

BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings 3.0 Program Policy 7 – Verification Methodology for eligible
Open Air Retail or Light Industrial Buildings in the Portfolio Program.
Each building within the Portfolio will be assessed with its own questionnaire. Verification will be based
on sampling, as per ISO 17021:2006. In the case where a building does not meet the Level identified
during registration, the Verifier will select a wider sampling of buildings to verify, as per ISO 17021:2006.
All additional verification costs will be billed at an hourly rate plus disbursements, such as travel costs.

BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings 3.0 Program Policy 8 – Appeals Process

Following the BOMA BEST verification, Applicants may launch a formal appeals process to contest a
decision made by the Verifier regarding the Applicant’s questionnaire.
To launch the appeals process, the Applicant must file a formal complaint or appeal with BOMA Canada
(Portfolio Program stream) or the designated Local BOMA Association (Single Building stream) via email.
The issue will be reviewed and resolved locally at the discretion of BOMA Canada or the Local BOMA
Association. It is possible that the issue is submitted as a Technical Clarification Request. If necessary, the
Applicant will be granted an extension to the thirty day verification period deadline (See BOMA BEST
Sustainable Buildings 3.0 Program Policy 5 – On-Site Verification: Missing Documentation).
The decision will be communicated directly to the Applicant. All decisions are final.

BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings 3.0 Program Policy 9 – Certification Period for Single
Buildings
The building will remain in the “Certified” status for a period of three (3) years from the date on which
the Verification was deemed successful. The exact date of the certification will be available to applicants
via the “Certifications” tab in the BOMA BEST Online Portal.
As a certification nears expiry, three reminders will be sent automatically by the Online Portal reminding
applicants to begin the recertification process. Should the building become “Expired” access to the Online
Portal becomes “read only” until such a time as the recertification is requested.

BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings 3.0 Program Policy 10 – Certification Period for Portfolio
Program
Buildings in the Portfolio Program are moved to the “Certified” status (not the same as achieving a
Certified certification Level) once the portfolio’s verifications are deemed successful. The exact date of
the certification will be available to applicants via the “Certifications” tab in the BOMA BEST Online
Portal.
Buildings will remain in this “Certified” status continuously (never moving to “Expired”) provided the
following two conditions are met:

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 1. All verifications conducted on the sample are deemed successful. Each building will be verified on
a three-year cycle (similar to the Single Building stream).
2. Payment of the annual fee is received.
Access to the BOMA BEST Online Portal remains available while the buildings are in the “Certified” state.
Certification will be applied to the Portfolio as a whole and to the individual properties. In the case where
fees are not submitted within 60 days of the registration anniversary, BOMA Canada reserves the right to
render all buildings within the Portfolio inactive. These buildings may be returned to “Certified” status
once the fee has been collected.

BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings 3.0 Program Policy 11 – Certification Credentials

BOMA BEST certification is registered by building (property) not by its owner and/or Management
Company (i.e. by Applicant). If the ownership and/or management of a BOMA BEST certified building
changes, it is the responsibility of the existing or new owner and/or management companies to advise
BOMA Canada or the designated Local BOMA Association of such a change.

BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings 3.0 Program Policy 12 – Recertification

For buildings in the Single Building stream, buildings may choose to recertify at any time. The building
does not need to be in the “Expired” state to begin the process.
An applicant may recertify a building in accordance with the following terms:
1. Recertification fees shall be in accordance with the current BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings
3.0 Application Fees.
2. On-site verification is required for recertification (included in the recertification fee).

BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings 3.0 Program Policy 13 – Purpose of BOMA BEST Certification
The BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings program is a voluntary energy and environmental assessment and
certification program, and therefore does not constitute a guarantee of a building’s performance and
value for insurance, or valuation purposes. BOMA Canada does not take responsibility for any undue
representation of a building’s performance and/or asset value made on the basis of its achieved BOMA
BEST certification.

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Disclaimer: This BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings 3.0 Application Guide is for informational purposes
only and is subject to change from time to time without notice. This BOMA BEST Sustainable Buildings
3.0 Application Guide is protected by copyright pursuant to copyright laws and international
conventions. Any reproduction, modification, creation of derivative works from or redistribution or
reproducing of the policies or any portion thereof is prohibited without the express written consent of
Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Canada.
© 2016 by BOMA Canada. All rights reserved.