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This help desk is a free resource intended for discussion purposes only. Neither BOMA, its chapters, affiliates, or Extreme Measures Inc.® are responsible for the information, comments or opinions expressed herein. For complete information, refer to the official publications of the standards themselves.

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Allocation of Service Areas to multiple buildings

Robin Schmidt
IBM
January 24, 2013

Can the BOMA 2010 method of measurement be applied to multiple office buildings that share Service Areas? Specifically, an office park includes seven buildings that are served by a central mechanical area that provides chilled water. This mechanical area is located on the basement level of one of the seven buildings (only one building contains a basement level.) The basement also includes a small amount of occupant storage, and has restrooms, stairs, and elevator access. Can the square footage of this central mechanical area be allocated to the seven buildings in determining their rentable square feet? If so, how specifically should this be done under BOMA 2010, and could either Method A or B be used? Lastly, would this answer apply to Amenity Areas that are shared among one or more of these seven office buildings? Thank you.

David Fingret
Extreme Measures Inc.
January 24, 2013

Hi Robin,

The BOMA 2010 standard (Method A and B) does allow you to proportionately share service and/or amenity areas that serve occupants in more than one building. The standard defines these areas as "Limited, Campus or Complex Service and Amenity Areas". There is a description on page 8 of the standard.

Basically, the standard suggests calculating in such a way that is consistent with rules applied in a typical building. The standard does not provide a calculation method or column in the global summary of areas, to avoid complicating the process for typical users.

We have extensive experience with these types of calculations so if you require outside help, please feel free to contact us.

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