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In 2010, BOMA released "Retail Buildings: Standard Methods of Measurement (ANSI/BOMA Z65.5-2010)." Although the BOMA 1980 and 1996 Office Standards included provisions for retail spaces (Store Area) within office buildings, the 2010 Retail Standard was the first BOMA Standard specifically dedicated to retail buildings, such as big box stores, shopping malls, strip plazas, and outparcel tenancies.
The BOMA 2010 Retail Standard does not include a proportionate allocation of common areas to the occupants (known as a gross-up or load factor). Instead, it primarily focuses on determining the occupant's Gross Leasable Area (GLA). The Standard provides detailed definitions for the extent of GLA, including the building perimeter, measure line, and lease line (among others). Generally, the Gross Area of an occupant is measured to the exterior face of most walls, except for demising walls, which are measured to the centerline. The Retail Standard also offers specific guidance for other retail building elements such as mezzanines, kiosks, food courts, and parking.
In 2020, BOMA International released a newer, more comprehensive version of the retail standard, titled "BOMA 2020 For Retail Properties: Standard Method of Measurement – ANSI/BOMA Z65.5-2020." This latest version follows the formatting, text, and illustrative style introduced in the BOMA 2017 Office Standard and the BOMA 2019 Industrial Standard.
The BOMA 2020 Retail Standard expands upon and clarifies many concepts from its predecessor, introducing several significant new features. Notably, it includes the ability to perform either a Partial Measurement or an Overall Measurement of a retail property. While measuring the entire retail building is recommended, this new flexibility allows for the individual measurement of one or more retail units, thereby reducing the workload associated with measuring the whole building.
This edition also introduces the concept of including Unenclosed Areas as part of the "Retail Experience." This allows the standard to accommodate outdoor shopping malls and helps landlords budget for outdoor amenities that many retail buildings offer.
One of the most notable new features in the BOMA 2020 Retail Standard is the ability to determine a proportionate allocation of Parking Areas, Major Vertical Penetrations, and Service and Public Areas (referred to as Gross Leasable Exclusions). This is done via Inter-Building Area calculations based on the occupant’s GLA. Importantly, these allocations are not "gross-ups" or "load factors" applied directly to the GLA but are standalone areas associated with individual occupants. They assist landlords in managing business-related activities and cost structures, such as taxes, CAM charges, and maintenance expenses.
Extreme Measures is the Editor and Illustrator of the BOMA 2020 Retail Standard.