Summary
Details
- Canada
BOMA BEST is not legally mandatory.
It can become practically required where:
A landlord or owner commits to certification.
A tenant requires certified building performance.
A lender or investor references BOMA BEST.
A public procurement process includes it.
A portfolio ESG strategy requires it.
A sustainability-linked finance agreement references it.
In most cases, BOMA BEST is voluntary and used to demonstrate building operational sustainability and environmental performance.
Deep dive
- What’s Required
- 1. Assessment of existing building performance
- 2. Sustainable Buildings and Smart Buildings pathways
- 3. Documentation and operational evidence
- 4. Certification and recertification
- 5. Limitations of certification claims
- Important Deadlines
- Current Status
- Penalties for Non-Compliance
- 1. Certification refusal
- 2. Lower certification outcome
- 3. Loss of contractual benefits
- 4. Reputational risk
- 5. Operational risk
- Examples of Known Violations / Failure Modes
- Resources
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What’s Required
1. Assessment of existing building performance
BOMA BEST is mainly used for existing buildings and operational performance. The program provides tools for building owners, managers and operators to optimize performance, enhance efficiency and improve building health, intelligence and resilience.
Projects generally need to assess:
Energy performance.
Water use.
Waste management.
Indoor environmental quality.
Environmental management.
Building operations.
Tenant engagement.
Health and resilience.
Building systems and operational controls.
2. Sustainable Buildings and Smart Buildings pathways
BOMA International notes that two certification paths are currently available: BOMA BEST Sustainable and BOMA BEST Smart. These provide different approaches to building efficiency, operations and performance.
3. Documentation and operational evidence
Building teams should prepare evidence showing how the asset is managed and operated.
This may include:
Energy data.
Water data.
Waste data.
Environmental policies.
Maintenance practices.
Tenant communications.
Building management procedures.
Indoor environment practices.
Sustainability plans.
Operational performance records.
4. Certification and recertification
BOMA BEST is used for certification and recertification. Since the program is focused on operational performance, buildings may need to update data and evidence over time to maintain credibility and current recognition.
5. Limitations of certification claims
BOMA BEST 3.0 guidance states that the Sustainable Buildings program is voluntary and does not constitute a guarantee of a building’s performance or value for insurance or valuation purposes.
This is important because certification supports evidence-based recognition, but it should not be overstated as a guarantee of asset value or future performance.
Important Deadlines
BOMA BEST is voluntary, so there is no universal legal deadline.
Important timing points:
Certification timing depends on registration, assessment, documentation review and certification decision.
Recertification timing depends on the program rules applicable to the building and certification pathway.
BOMA BEST was launched in 2005 and remains active.
Building teams should confirm the current version and applicable pathway before submitting.
Current Status
BOMA BEST is active. BOMA Canada describes it as Canada’s largest environmental assessment and certification program for existing buildings. BOMA International also recognizes the BOMA BEST Building Certification Program as part of its building recognition programs.
Current status:
Active certification system.
Strongest in Canada.
Used internationally through BOMA networks.
Focused on existing building operations.
Includes Sustainable and Smart pathways.
Relevant to commercial real estate operations and environmental management.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
BOMA BEST does not impose statutory penalties.
Possible consequences include:
1. Certification refusal
A building may fail certification if evidence, performance or eligibility does not meet the requirements.
2. Lower certification outcome
A building may receive a lower level than expected or fail to meet portfolio targets.
3. Loss of contractual benefits
If BOMA BEST is tied to leasing, financing, procurement or asset management requirements, failure may create commercial consequences.
4. Reputational risk
Claims about sustainable building operations may be challenged if certification evidence is missing or outdated.
5. Operational risk
Weak building operations can increase energy costs, tenant dissatisfaction and emissions exposure.
Examples of Known Violations / Failure Modes
Typical failure modes include:
Claiming BOMA BEST certification before award.
Using outdated certification status in marketing.
Submitting incomplete energy, water or waste data.
Treating certification as a guarantee of asset value.
Overstating building performance beyond the certified scope.
Ignoring tenant-controlled consumption.
Failing to maintain operational practices after certification.
Treating BOMA BEST as a substitute for legal compliance.
Not updating documentation after major building changes.
Confusing BOMA BEST Sustainable with BOMA BEST Smart.
Making portfolio-wide claims based on only some certified buildings.
Resources
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