Building Standards

University of Miami Building Standards (UMBS)

The principal purposes of these Building Standards are to ensure that the University’s buildings, grounds and infrastructure, be of a quality control standard consistent with the upper echelon of higher education, to implement the University’s commitment to sustainability, and to ensure the life cycle value of the physical campus environment.

The standards have been developed as a practical tool for the planning, design, construction and maintenance of facilities. The content is organized in the current format of the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI), the design and construction industry standard, to support professionals in their development of construction documents, bidding and procurement of materials. The standards are designed to be available via the Internet on a controlled access basis to the UM community and approved consultants and vendors.

The Building Standards are administered by the University of Miami Building Standards Committee (UMBSC), under the jurisdiction of the Office of the University Architect and UM Facilities Management.This committee meets monthly to take under advisement new regulatory and industry developments, as well as requests for clarifications or exceptions. The committee releases updates of the standards at the end of each calendar year.

The UMBS promote consistency and excellence in all campus facilities, and embody the University’s endorsement of the Talloires Declaration of the Association of University Leaders for a Sustainable Future, and the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment.

For further assistance on The Building Standards, please contact Max Bunster.