Collaborative safety culture: Novus Property Solutions explains Building Safety Act duties

by Breaking NewsConstructionSafety

David Barnes, Operations Manager – Compliance at Novus Property Solutions, explains how contractors maintain the golden thread of information on projects involving passive fire protection

Granted Royal Assent on 28 April 2022, the Building Safety Act overhauled existing regulations and created three new bodies to provide effective oversight including the Building Safety Regulator which oversees the safety and performance of all buildings.

By introducing a series of critical gateways covering the design, construction, and occupation phases, the Building Safety Act sets out clearly what role every link in the supply chain plays and where responsibility lies at each stage.

Gateway 1 is the design stage and focuses on obtaining planning permission, demonstrating proposed designs meet all necessary safety requirements and the specification must be fit for purpose.

Gateway 2 involves inspections during the construction phase to verify adherence to approved plans with evidence to show compliance.

The final stage is gateway 3 which ensures the building is fit for occupation.

The aim is to improve accountability, facilitate early risk identification and ensure ongoing compliance.

It’s also important to create a clear trail of information throughout a building’s lifecycle – something which is often referred to as the ‘golden thread of information’.

As a contractor we concentrate on gateways 2 and 3, although we can advise clients on the design and materials specification for gateway 1, the accountability here lies with them so it’s crucial they understand their responsibilities.

The idea is that at any point in the future all the information about works that have been done previously, including products used and their expected lifespan, even who signed it off would be readily available and accessible, removing any guesswork.

But we must all play our part to supply reliable information at every stage if we’re to accurately maintain the golden thread of information and this is where having access to good quality reliable data is crucial.

How to maintain the golden thread through refurbishments

Typically, the projects we tend to work on are refurbishments rather than new build which brings a different set of challenges.

When we’re working with existing products it’s important to understand how they will interact with each other.

A critical stage is to undertake client surveys before works start and pick up any fire risks to identify any defects before works start.

Passive Fire Protection (PFP) measures ensure the building structure is protected so that in the event of a fire, the spread of flames, smoke and toxic gases are contained long enough for safe evacuation and emergency response.

But by their very nature PFP products are typically hidden from sight so regular checks are needed to maintain and ensure they’re up to standard and performing as intended.

Scheduled maintenance dates, particularly for fire doors, should be integrated within the golden thread.

We have robust procedures in place and use the Onetrace software app which allows us to easily track everything from start to finish – including uploading installation photos.

Working with third party accredited industry bodies and associations such as BM Trada and the Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) and FIRAS offers clients peace of mind that appropriate procedures are in place to ensure works completed are complaint and fit for purpose.

As a BM Trada registered contractor, we are subject to regular spot checks and audits conducted at random to make sure we’re maintaining the golden thread and doing our due diligence across the board or risk losing our BM Trada registered status.

We use BM Trada products, or ones from our trusted supply chain, to ensure all materials we work with will provide the required level of fire protection, looking at all individual components as a system within the building.

The essence of the golden thread of information is to ensure full transparency at all stages including factoring in future planned and reactive maintenance programmes.

This is really important with PFP as products could be compromised which would negatively impact their effectiveness so anyone undertaking future works must be aware of what PFP measures are in place and how to work around them effectively.

As part of the Building Safety Act, any changes need to be notified with the Building Safety Regulator.

A collaborative approach to training and knowledge-sharing

One of our responsibilities as a main contractor is that we must show evidence of competency.

This means that keeping up to speed with training and being aware of changes to products or materials being specified is crucial.

It’s also vital as a contractor that we bring our clients and supply chain partners on the journey with us to ensure we all feed into the golden thread of information to make it as data-rich as possible.

It will only work if there is buy-in from all parties.

For a project to be PFP certified carries with it caveats for clients to uphold – there are certain things they need to do and that’s something we’re working closely with clients to make sure they fully understand their responsibilities to maintain the certification.

We’ve been working with some of our social housing and local authority clients to offer training.

We’re also guiding clients on the nuances of the Building Safety Act, and we’re able to offer a Building Safety Act training course outlining clearly where different responsibilities lie.

It’s about joining the dots with the client, designers, product manufacturers and installers so that nothing falls between two areas.

As an industry we must collaborate, share information to uphold the golden thread and make sure our buildings are built and maintained to the highest standards.

The responsibility for building safety ultimately lies on all our shoulders.

This was originally published in the March 2026 Edition of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE copy, click here.

Allegion UK commentary links building safety to digital fire door data

by Featured NewsFire DoorsIndustry CommentSafety

Building safety and digital fire door information

Allegion UK has published commentary from Sue Corrick on how digital information is being used in building safety, including how fire door hardware can act as a source of recorded data.

The commentary argues that improving the structure, quality and usability of digital handover information is central to meeting Regulation 38 and Golden Thread requirements.

Standardised, accessible asset data is presented as a way to support hardware specification, installation and maintenance across the supply chain.

It suggests that even highly mechanical components such as fire door closers can contribute to a more data-centred approach to compliance and building operation.

Certification, records and what data is used for

Corrick’s commentary sets out how testing and certification data for fire doors and their hardware components has often been inconsistent, missing or unverified.

Much of this information has historically been held in disconnected paperwork systems.

The piece states that test evidence should clearly show classifications, limitations and compatibility between components such as door closers, hinges and leaf assemblies.

Assessment reports should be transparent, retrievable and directly linked to a manufacturer’s products.

Digital record keeping is described as increasingly necessary for duty-holders who are responsible for products remaining reliable and suitable across a project’s lifecycle.

The Building Safety Act is said to have increased attention on competency and traceable, accessible product information.

The Golden Thread of Information is described as a legal requirement under the Act and a framework for creating, maintaining and accessing verified product data.

The commentary also references government proposals for a centralised library for construction products to expand regulatory coverage and support decision-making.

Inspection data from the Fire Door Inspection Scheme (FDIS) is cited as showing that care and maintenance issues are present in 54% of fire door inspections.

The piece gives examples of how door closer information can be embedded with the product itself, including video installation guides accessed via QR codes and safety critical data available through the Golden Thread.

Corrick said: “Fire door safety will always remain a technical discipline, but in an age where information can be accessed instantly from our fingertips, even a mechanical fire door closer has a digital voice.”

Confederation backs BSI Fire Safety Conference 2026 at IET London

by Associations and OrganisationsEventsFeatured NewsSafety

Fire Sector Confederation sponsorship announced for London conference

The Fire Sector Confederation has announced it will sponsor the BSI Fire Safety Conference 2026 on Thursday 29 January 2026 at IET London: Savoy Place, London, UK.

The organisation said the sponsorship aligns with its work on fire safety standards, industry collaboration and professional development for practitioners.

Confederation sets out sponsorship aims

The Fire Sector Confederation said it is supporting the conference to help advance fire safety knowledge and promote best practice across the built environment.

It added that the sponsorship is intended to support continuous improvement across the sector.

Topics include compliance, competency and data

The Confederation said the BSI Fire Safety Conference 2026 will bring together regulators, standards leaders and frontline practitioners.

It said the programme will cover building and residential safety.

It said sessions will also address product compliance and testing.

It added that competency frameworks are expected to be part of the agenda.

The organisation said the event will also examine the digital “golden thread” of fire safety information.

Updates expected from regulators and standards bodies

The Fire Sector Confederation said the conference will include updates from the Building Safety Regulator.

It said the programme will also cover developments in British Standards including BS 9994 and BS 9996.

The organisation added that the conference will feature insights from the National Fire Chiefs Council, among other organisations.

Executive Director comments on conference value

Steve McGuirk, Executive Director at the Fire Sector Confederation, said: “The BSI Fire Safety Conference provides an invaluable platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration across our sector.

“As we navigate evolving regulations and standards, events like this are essential for ensuring that fire safety professionals have the tools, insights, and connections they need to protect lives and property.”

The Fire Sector Confederation said further information and registration details are available via BSI.

The Golden Thread: Bridging the information gap in building safety

by Breaking NewsBuilding Management

Nicola John, Managing Director of Fire Door Maintenance, discusses digitisation and the golden thread’s role in maintaining comprehensive safety across building lifecycles

The 2018 “Building a Safer Future” report, commissioned by Dame Judith Hackitt, noted that existing building and fire safety regulations and processes for constructing high-rise buildings were “not fit for purpose”.

The report’s primary recommendation was a move towards digitisation of product information, dubbed the golden thread.

It encourages effective and accurate storage and management of information concerning buildings’ designs, construction and uses.

The golden thread is more than just a record-keeping tool.

It is a framework for linking different parties within the construction industry.

By connecting architects, engineers, contractors, manufacturers and building owners, the golden thread fosters transparency and collaboration.

It ensures that all work not only meets regulatory standards but also enables the identification and management of any safety risks throughout the building’s lifecycle.

This approach is a fundamental shift in how the construction industry approaches safety.

It provides a safeguard against siloed practices, where vital information could be lost or overlooked, leading to potentially catastrophic consequences.

By maintaining a comprehensive and integrated digital record, the golden thread helps ensure that safety remains at the forefront of every stage of a building’s life, protecting both the structure and its occupants.

Challenges for the industry persist

The report highlighted the shortcomings of the industry, with Hackitt’s foreword calling out cultural issues across the sector, including ignorance, indifference to implementation, lack of clarity on roles and responsibilities and inadequate regulatory oversight and enforcement tools.

Six years on and the problem remains.

Recent research by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has shown a widespread lack of understanding within the manufacturing industry over the nature of keeping a digital record and how it could be achieved.

In fact, 92% of product manufacturers do not see digitisation as a major concern and more than half “see no need to digitise”.

85% of companies still provided product information largely via pdf or hard copy only and only 8% have ever made or commissioned a Building Information Modelling (BIM) object.

Just over half of respondents felt they were digitised to some extent, but even when provided with the definition of digitisation, few of the respondents fully grasped and understood what it meant in practice.

Even among those who consider themselves partially digitised, there is often a fundamental misunderstanding of what true digitisation is.

Many equated digitisation with using computers or having online systems, rather than understanding it as a comprehensive approach to maintaining and integrating critical safety information throughout a building’s lifecycle.

It’s clear the industry is still not meeting post-Grenfell regulatory requirements to digitise product information and widespread training to understand the golden thread is needed before we can put it into practice.

Digitisation is also set to form part of the requirements under the Building Safety Act 2023.

Those working in the construction industry urgently need to implement the golden thread approach to ensure they are complying with the new laws.

The risks of siloed practices

Manufacturers, installers, inspectors and landlords often work in isolation, focusing solely on their tasks without considering the broader impact on other stages of the building lifecycle.

This disconnection causes a lack of communication and oversight, with no “golden thread” to link all product information throughout construction.

Without accessible product data, critical safety issues can remain hidden.

The consequences of siloed practices have been fatal. The Grenfell disaster was a stark reminder of this danger.

Dr. Barbara Lane’s supplemental report on the Grenfell disaster revealed that none of the 106 fire doors replaced in 2011 complied with ADB 2013 Building Regulations.

Alarmingly, fire door closers had been disconnected, potentially exacerbating the fire’s spread and obstructing residents’ escape routes – a tragic mistake that cost lives.

If a golden thread of information had been available, these flaws could have been identified and corrected, enabling the fire doors to perform their critical safety function.

The golden thread isn’t another legal hoop for the industry to jump through.

It is a fundamental change to ensure sectors work together and ensure buildings are safe.

Implementing the golden thread

Technological advances now make it easier to maintain the golden thread of information.

For example, fire doors can be fitted with BIM data pins that, when scanned, provide instant access to an online database with critical details like installation, inspections and compliance.

These fire-proof pins ensure that essential data remains accessible, even if the door is destroyed.

Despite this innovation, industry adoption remains limited.

Full digitisation needs wider adoption by industry and the supply chain to keep fire safety data consistently updated and accessible throughout a building’s lifecycle.

However, digitisation alone isn’t enough.

There is also a shortage of workers trained to understand the entire lifecycle of safety products like fire doors.

Fire Door Maintenance, part of UAP, is training the industry to bridge this knowledge gap.

It’s the UK’s first practical fire door training centre, covering everything from regulation compliance to how and why components were chosen in product engineering and how products are ultimately installed for the end user.

By fostering a deeper understanding and ensuring seamless collaboration across the construction process, we can uphold the golden thread.

This commitment is not just about legal compliance – it’s about safeguarding lives and ensuring that tragedies like Grenfell never happen again.

This article was originally published in the November 2024 issue of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

ASSA ABLOY releases ‘Golden Thread’ guide and CPD to support UK construction industry compliance

by Building ManagementFeatured NewsTraining

Understanding the ‘Golden Thread’ concept

ASSA ABLOY has released a new guide, “The ‘Golden Thread’: A Quick Guide”, and a RIBA-accredited Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme.

This initiative aims to clarify the ‘Golden Thread’ concept within the UK’s construction sector, detailing responsibilities for each stage of a building’s life cycle, from early design through construction to ongoing management.

The guide and CPD seek to assist professionals in understanding compliance requirements, as outlined in the Building Safety Act, as reported by ASSA ABLOY.

The ‘Golden Thread’ is a structured information record, initiated following Dame Judith Hackitt’s ‘Building a Safer Future’ report, which responded to the Grenfell Tower fire.

This framework mandates that all safety-critical information is documented, maintained, and accessible for stakeholders involved in the construction and management of buildings, ensuring continuity in safety measures.

Key responsibilities for architects

ASSA ABLOY’s guide stresses architects’ unique responsibilities under the ‘Golden Thread’.

These include ensuring comprehensive documentation of design plans, material specifications, and regulatory compliance data.

The guide encourages architects to consider long-term impacts of their choices to maintain an unbroken safety record post-handover.

Peter Ashworth, Director & Head of Specification & OEM at ASSA ABLOY, commented: “The ‘Golden Thread’ is here to stay and only those who embrace it will prosper in the construction industry of the future.

“The RIBA accredited CPD along with the guide will help all those involved in new build construction understand their responsibilities so they can ensure compliance and safety as outlined in the new Building Safety Act.”

Introduction of ASSA ABLOY’s Openings Studio™

ASSA ABLOY’s guide introduces Openings Studio™, a cloud-based BIM plug-in tool for architects, designed to assist in managing door openings as part of the digital record required by the ‘Golden Thread’.

Openings Studio facilitates the recording, visualisation, and modification of information related to door installations, enhancing compliance with the safety framework.

Each door recorded in Openings Studio receives a unique smart tag, enabling easy access to data such as installation history, inspection records, and maintenance logs.

This centralised, accessible data storage provides a seamless way for architects and other professionals to maintain an up-to-date digital record, ensuring all details are readily available for review.

Digital compliance through Openings Studio’s mobile app

The Openings Studio mobile app supports real-time updates, enabling architects to upload images, specifications, and documents during each project phase.

This feature aligns with the new guidelines requiring all parties in the construction and maintenance process to keep comprehensive records.

Ashworth explained: “The new guidelines require every organisation involved in the design, build and maintenance process, including architects, to keep a record of everything they do.

“That’s exactly what Openings Studio provides for doors. It allows architects to upload images, documents, specs and comments throughout the process.

“This means there will always be evidence that they have met the requirements, protecting them against the potential repercussions of not meeting the guidelines.”

Assa Abloy releases ‘Golden Thread’ guide and CPD to support UK construction industry compliance: Summary

ASSA ABLOY has launched a guide and RIBA-accredited CPD programme to promote the adoption of the ‘Golden Thread’ in the UK construction industry.

The guide, titled “The ‘Golden Thread’: A Quick Guide”, clarifies compliance requirements across all stages of a building’s life cycle.

It highlights architects’ responsibilities in documenting design decisions and regulatory compliance.

Additionally, ASSA ABLOY’s Openings Studio™ tool allows architects to manage door openings and maintain an accessible digital record, supporting the comprehensive documentation required under the ‘Golden Thread’.

Building Safety Act: The Golden Thread offers peace of mind says Sherwin-Williams

by Breaking NewsConstruction

The Golden Thread really is ‘golden’

Three Gateways signpost the way to getting it right

Consequences are tough for non-compliance

The terms under the new Building Safety Act 2022 became enforceable from October 1st this year. Here, Bob Glendenning, Fire Design Engineering Manager of Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings, examines why creating a ‘Golden Thread’ of information within the new legislation is so important for those involved in the intumescent coatings industry.

The Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA) has been developed as a new framework for the design, construction and occupation of ‘higher risk’ buildings. These buildings are defined as being a minimum of 18 metres or seven storeys in height and comprise of at least two domestic premises.

These regulations required that all existing occupied high-risk buildings should be registered with the new Building Safety Regulator (BSR) from April 6, 2023 and no later than October 1, 2023. The BSR is an independent body which forms part of the Health and Safety Executive, which aims to raise building safety standards and the performance of buildings whilst also monitoring the competence of regulators and industry professionals.

The reality of this new legislation is that under the terms of the Act, a Principal Accountable Person who fails to register an occupied higher-risk building ‘without a reasonable excuse’ will be liable to either a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years.

The Principal Accountable Person is described as the organisation or person who owns, or has responsibility for, the building. It may also be an organisation or person who is responsible for maintaining the common parts of a building, for example corridors or lobbies.

The three Gateways provide evidence

The Golden Thread is an information trail that runs through all of the three Gateways from the outset to completion and occupation so that end users can be assured of compliance, quality and safety and have confidence in the products used to provide fire and life safety.

For the protection of structural steel with intumescent coatings, those who may need to submit information may include main contractors, architects, designers, specifiers, fabricators and applicators. Indeed, any party who is responsible for fire safety critical elements or components.

Importantly, the criteria for the Golden Thread requires all relevant documents and evidence to be stored digitally to prove that adequate steps have been taken in the construction and ongoing maintenance of a building.

Gateway 1

Covering the planning stage. This has been in force since August 1, 2021 and sets out the framework for the second and third stages. Applicants need to demonstrate that fire safety matters have been incorporated into the planning stage for all buildings. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), who are now also the BSR, will be part of the consultation.

If a fire statement is required to be submitted with a planning application it will be an issue for consideration for the Local Planning Authority (LPA) when reaching its decision on the application. Contractors should take note that if the LPA considers the statement inadequate it can refuse the application.

At Sherwin-Williams, our policy of early engagement and collaboration between all parties helps to clarify any points up front before they become a problem with the subsequent knock-on effect on time and cost.

It is clear that engaging multiple stakeholders – including designers, fabricators and applicators – early and consistently throughout the process is key to delivering a successful, safe and cost-efficient solution. Working together, we share knowledge and help our clients to reach their goals. After all, we are ALL now part of this renewed responsibility.

We encourage and fully support this early engagement, and with the correct information from the project team we can provide information and guidance on a safe and efficient structural fire protection approach.

Gateway 2

Submitting building control approval to the Regulator. This should include written declarations covering the competency of the main contractor, designer, a description of works and plans and a planning statement from Gateway 1.

Importantly, there should be information about how evidence is being captured to maintain the Golden Thread. The Regulator has a 12-week period to approve or reject these building control applications or to approve subject to fulfilment of certain requirements.

Any major changes at this stage will also need approval from the Regulator, and records of the controlled change – including an explanation of compliance with Building Regulations – will also need to be maintained. The categorisation of major and ‘notifiable changes’ are still subject to consultation under the new legislation.

Gateway 3

Providing information to ensure the building is safe for occupation. There is a requirement to submit a completion certificate application and provide updated plans.

These plans should reflect the scale of the higher-risk building, key building information, a list of mandatory incident reporting and signed declarations from the main contractor and principal designer that the works and building comply with Building Regulations.

Finally, confirmation that information for the Golden Thread has been handed over to the accountable person should also be declared. There is then a 12-week period for the Regulator to approve the application for a completion certificate.

We all have a role to play

Remember – responsibility lies with us all. Nobody in the supply chain can absolve themselves.

The Accountable Person must have assessed all building safety risks and taken all reasonable steps to control them, give the safety case report to the Regulator on request and apply for a building assessment certificate. To be clear, the information stored in the Golden Thread needs to be accurate, easily understandable, up to date and readily accessible.

In echoing the point made by Dame Judith Hackitt, we at Sherwin-Williams emphasise that the Golden Thread constitutes any relevant package of information which refers specifically to a project or programme of works. This could come in various forms including a product specification, marked-up drawings, CAD data, a BIM model, a product / member DFT schedule, application records or datasheets for example. As long as it provides evidence of good practice and compliance, it is relevant.

It is important to understand and work with this new process. It has been introduced for good reason and our message is not to underestimate your role whatever it may be from the main contractor through to the applicator.

We want our customers to embrace change for the better. Capturing relevant data on the use of our intumescent coatings all contributes to best practice for their own uses and for those people who move about in these buildings who surely have the right to expect the highest levels of safety.

This information validates each key stage of The Golden Thread. We should highlight that it is the responsibility of each Principal Accountable Person to provide the right information to the supply chain – including those bidding the intumescent fire protection package – who in turn are then responsible for all information being passed onto us being accurate.

Also, bear in mind that this commitment to best practice and gathering of evidence of compliance is not just for the short term but for the lifetime of a building and will be highly valuable should anything happen during its occupation. Think of it as future-proofing life safety for everyone’s sake.

To speak to Sherwin-Williams, tel +44 (0)1204 521 771 or visit the Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine website.

UK government releases its response to the Golden Thread information consultation

by Featured NewsSafety

The “golden thread” receives a detailed examination

The UK government has recently published its response to the consultation on the new safety regime for occupied higher-risk buildings.

This consultation covered the “golden thread information” and duties on accountable persons.

The full details of the government’s response can be found here.

A look back at the consultation

On 20 July 2022, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities released a consultation to gather opinions on improving the building safety regime for occupied higher-risk buildings.

The new regime was essential to Dame Judith Hackitt’s recommendations after the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

These recommendations focused on enhancing fire and structural safety risks in high-rise multi-occupied residential buildings.

The consultation addressed residents’ rights to have a significant say in the management of their building’s safety.

It explored the type of information accountable persons will provide, the “golden thread information” necessary to maintain building safety, and the duties of accountable persons.

Accountability and legislation

The new framework aims to ensure stronger oversight, better enforcement, and sanctions to address non-compliance.

It establishes clear legal responsibilities for those involved in the design, construction, and management of higher-risk buildings.

The duties on accountable persons to deliver this information are now being processed via secondary legislation.

Public participation and insights

The consultation ran for twelve weeks, ending on 12 October 2022. Responses varied, with a diverse range of stakeholders weighing in, including local authorities, developers, and residents.

The contents of the “golden thread” section drew 63 responses, with feedback from organisations and private individuals.

The section on the duties of the accountable persons to provide information saw 52 responses.

Summary and way forward

All responses were reviewed and have influenced the development of new regulations.

Some policies have been amended based on the feedback to ensure the new regime meets its safety objectives effectively.

The regulations are now under parliamentary review and, if approved, will be implemented later in 2023.

IFSJ Comment

The recent release of the UK government’s response to the consultation on the “golden thread information” is a testament to the collaborative efforts between government, industry professionals, and residents.

By ensuring a more transparent and accountable system for building safety, the government is taking a significant step towards safeguarding its residents.

The extensive feedback, diversity of respondents, and the comprehensive nature of the “golden thread” underline its pivotal role in the new building safety regime.

The Golden Thread: Beyond bricks and mortar

by Breaking NewsBuilding ManagementIFSJ ExclusivesPassiveSafety

Dan Rossiter, Built Environment Standards Lead at BSI, delves into the implementation, benefits, and challenges of the Golden Thread

Can you provide an overview of what the ‘Golden Thread‘ of information is in the context of building safety?

When I communicate about the golden thread, I often start by signposting to the definition that the then Building Regulation Advisory Committee (BRAC) published in their Golden Thread Report: “The golden thread is both the information that allows you to understand a building and the steps needed to keep both the building and people safe, now and in the future.”

This means that the golden thread of information encapsulates both the content (i.e. information and documents) as well as the process of keeping the content up to date (i.e. information management).

Within the BRAC Golden Thread Report there are also several helpful principles such as: Secure, Understandable, Accessible, and Longevity.

What is your perspective on the importance of having up-to-date premises information, particularly in high-stake situations?

What I have noticed is that over the past few years publications, such as The Vision for the Built Environment and Flourishing Systems, have conveyed a new narrative of considering the built environment as a system of systems.

This mindset demonstrates the level of interconnectivity needed for the overall system to operate effectively.

In this new mindset housing, for example, is considered social infrastructure. As infrastructure, they have their own outcomes to benefit society (one for example would be to protect occupants from the elements).

Up-to-date information is needed so that robust decisions can be made to realise such outcomes.

In a high-stake situation, there will likely be several immediate outcomes to realise.

Up-to-date premises information such as: materials used in the external wall and structure; the number of storeys and staircases, as well as Details of the evacuation strategy.

As requested by The Higher-Risk Buildings (Key Building Information etc.), Regulations will be pivotal in making robust decisions to realise these immediate outcomes.

Can you delve into the specific standards that can support the Golden Thread of information?

There are a myriad of standards that can support the Golden Thread of Information, the first being BS 8644-1 (Digital management of fire safety information). Whilst BS 8644-1’s scope extends beyond higher-risk buildings, it outlines an information management process that enables fire safety information to be managed and exchanged.

The information management processes within relate heavily to the ISO 19650 series, as well as the UK BIM Framework more generally.

In addition, there are standards which support the documentation that will likely be needed within the Golden Thread of Information.

These include: PAS 79-1 and the forthcoming BS 9792 (Fire risk assessments), ISO 7519 (General arrangement and assembly drawings), and BS 8587 (Facility Information Management).

Finally, there are standards relating to document management such as EN 82045-2 (Document management metadata) which can complement the BS EN ISO 19650-2 file naming convention to aid with the structure, management, and discoverability of information.

How can organisations begin to implement these standards and ensure they are maintaining the Golden Thread?

An effective way of doing implementing these standards would be to consider how their practices can be integrated into an organisation’s quality management plan.

Similar to when Building Information Modelling (BIM) was first introduced, it was ineffective for an organisation to have two ways of working (i.e. BIM projects and Traditional projects).

In the same manner, an organisation shouldn’t look to have “golden thread projects” but, instead, look to provide information aligned to the golden thread definition and principles on all projects. In doing so, regardless of the type of project, better information may be produced, managed, and exchanged as a result.

From a fire safety perspective, can you detail the benefits of being able to exchange fire safety information seamlessly?

As described within BS 8644-1, there are several instances across a project life cycle where fire safety information should be exchanged.

This can be as early as the briefing stage, where the fire safety outcomes and objectives should be identified, to the later stages, where risk assessments associated with the design and construction should demonstrate how risks have been captured and mitigated.

Being able to exchange such information with as little friction as possible will ensure that the right people have access to right information, to ensure that decision-making is done robustly.

In the context of emergency response, how might the Golden Thread facilitate faster and more effective action?

As opposed to having to access information on arrival (e.g via a premises information box), information can be accessed via the golden thread in transit or via remote colleagues who can inform the emergency responders of any pertinent information.

For example, this can include details of the fire evacuation strategy as well as the location of the assembly point.

What are some common challenges organisations might face when trying to implement the Golden Thread?

The biggest challenge will likely be that there are a wealth of software vendors who are trying to sell a “golden thread of information solution”.

Whilst their technology may enable the exchange of information and documents, without a more holistic organisational view, there is a risk of providing information that isn’t maintained; which would fail to meet the statutory instruments and the law.

As such, it is vital that organisations consider both how their processes need to change as well as what competencies are needed to realise the golden thread of information before investing in a solution.

What is the current status of the Golden Thread Regulations?

We have yet to see the Golden Thread Regulations themselves.

There is no doubt that the publication of this instrument will provide clarity around what is required in relation to the golden thread of information.

In the meantime, built environment professionals should engage with their respective professional institutions to keep up-to-date on relevant building safety activities as well as ensure that they continue to hold the competencies expected of someone performing their professional function.

This article was originally published in the September 2023 issue of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.