Chapter 6: Building and Site Condition Assessments

Building & Site Condition Assessments

Building and Site Condition Assessments are required for certain OSPI grants and programs

Section 601: Introduction

A Building Condition Assessment (BCA) is an evaluation of useful life, energy consumption, history, code compliance and performance standards of a school building and each of its systems. This assessment process identifies and prioritizes the backlog of building deficiencies that should be addressed by the school district’s management plan. A site condition assessment is similar but addresses site systems and components.

Section 602: Accessing the Condition Assessment Tool in ICOS

Building and Site Condition Assessments are conducted via the online system ICOS. Refer to Chapter 1: Inventory and Condition of Schools (ICOS) for details on accessing ICOS.

Section 603: When Building and Site Condition Assessments are Required

Building and Site Condition Assessments are required for various OSPI programs. Refer to Figure 1 below for a detailed breakdown.

Figure 1: Required Instances for Building and Site Condition Assessments

OSPI Program	What is Required	For Additional Information
Study and Survey	Site Condition Assessment—assessor does not need to hold BCA certification	Chapter 5: Advance Planning—The Study and Survey
Asset Preservation Program	District-Level Building Condition Assessment, with Certified BCA performed every sixth year from when the APP Building received board approval of the project	Chapter 9: Facilities Management; Section 904
OSPI-Administered Facilities Grants (Non-SCAP)	Building Condition Assessments may be required for select OSPI-Administered Facilities Grants. Be sure to follow the language of the grant application closely.	Chapter 10: OSPI-Administered Facilities Grants

Section 604: Site Condition Assessments

A Site Condition Assessment systematically evaluates site components to aid in capital planning and prioritization, similar to a BCA. It is a high-level, subjective evaluation, not a detailed audit or inspection. Refer to Section 603 of this chapter for information on when Site Condition Assessments are required.

Section 605: Building Condition Assessments (BCA)

A Building Condition Assessment (BCA) is a systematic evaluation of the various components comprising a structure, aimed at aiding in capital planning and prioritization. This assessment is characterized by its high-level, subjective nature, focusing on the overall condition and functionality of the building, as well as its life expectancy of its components, rather than detailed audits or inspections. Refer to Section 603 of this chapter for information on when Building Condition Assessments are required.

District-Level Building Condition Assessment

A district-level Building Condition Assessment (BCA) is carried out by school district personnel, typically a facility professional who knows and works with the buildings and its systems, where the assessor does not need to hold BCA certification. It often involves periodic updates of previous certified assessments and can be completed relatively quickly.

Certified Building Condition Assessment

A certified Building Condition Assessment (BCA) necessitates engagement by a third-party individual holding BCA Certification. This assessment entails greater depth and complexity, as certification calls for the assessor to possess a comprehensive understanding of the objectives and standards associated with this type of BCA, including its alignment with OSPI’s programs.

Locating a Certified BCA Assessor

Please consult the OSPI website (LINK) for a roster of BCA-Certified Assessors.

Section 606: Obtaining BCA Certification

Licensed engineers and architects, and facilities professionals who can show sufficient experience working with buildings are eligible to become BCA Certified. School facilities professionals may be eligible for certification, but cannot perform certified BCA’s within their own district, only outside their district. They may, however, conduct district-level BCA’s within their district.

Certification requires:

Attendance and completion of an in-person BCA Certification training, conducted by OSPI School Facilities and Organization staff. Contact your OSPI Regional Coordinator for more information on when the next training might be available.
An Education Data System (EDS) account (See Chapter 1: Inventory and Condition of Schools (ICOS); Section 102: Setup and Access)
Submission to OSPI of engineer or architect license number, or a professional resume showing the individual has sufficient experience working with buildings.