BOMA BEST Sustainable version 4.1 will introduce minor modifications to the assessment and benchmarking program for existing buildings as of Feb. 1, 2025. The update clarifies some requirements, separates a few of the questions in the extensive assessment questionnaire into two distinct components and reintroduces two questions from BOMA BEST 3.0, which was phased out in 2023.
Proponents in the midst of the building certification process will still be assessed under the expiring version 4.0 criteria if they complete and submit questionnaires by 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 31. Otherwise, they will have to apply anew with a completed questionnaire for version 4.1.
“No changes have been made to the BOMA BEST Baseline Practices. Much of the work that is done for BOMA BEST 4.0 will directly translate into BOMA BEST 4.1,” an advisory from the program administrators confirms. “BOMA BEST 4.1 was developed in response to feedback on the clarity of the language, requirements, and minor scoring in version 4.0. The update aims to improve comprehension across all asset classes.”
Newly retrieved questions from version 3.0 once again award possible points for building-wide smoking prohibitions and hardscape management programs. As well, version 4.1 references updated standards, in line with current industry best practices or recent regulatory advancements, for water flow/flush volumes in toilets, urinals and lavatory faucets and for ventilation in multifamily buildings.