The assessment of building performance: a property rating model for the office and logistic buildings

The property market and, in particular, the market of buildings for the services industry typically rate as “Class A buildings” those facilities that meet high quality standards. The definition of Class A buildings, drawn from financial rating models, is not always supported by precise, objective and scientific identification of its characterizing elements. This paper will illustrate criteria for determining the variables which support a property rating model, targeted at the identification of elements that can define the “quality” level of buildings according to performance-based criteria. The research method applied has produced a classification of the most popular and internationally applied systems of building performance rating, based on functional and/or technological criteria. More specifically, this paper describes the assessment domains and the reference context/market taken into consideration by the various rating systems. The research work was developed into an identification of the parameters that can be applied to build a “property rating” model for the buildings for the services industry, and for the industrial plants used for logistics activities, these parameters being suitable to represent simulations of the overall performances of buildings.