Golden thread in construction: Meaning and key principles

Fuelled by an anticipated upturn in the British economy, the construction industry in the UK is forecast to grow by 12% year-over-year, and is on track to becoming the fastest growing country in Western Europe with regards to construction. But with so many large infrastructure projects planned and in progress and our cities and towns expanding once again, how much do you really know about the history of the buildings around you?

It’s no secret that residents in the UK have fallen victim to a number of tragedies in recent years. One of the most notable being Grenfell Tower. In the wake of this disaster, significant regulatory changes have been put forward in the form of the Building Safety Act 2022. The Act, broken into six parts, gives residents and homeowners more rights, powers and protections, ultimately making homes and residences across the country much safer.

Within this, the concept of the ‘golden thread’ has emerged as a critical element for ensuring building safety and compliance. In this guide, the experts at The Barcode Warehouse explore the golden thread in construction, explaining its significance, the principles behind it, and how it can be effectively implemented to benefit construction projects and stakeholders.

What is the Building Safety Act golden thread??

The Building Safety Act 2022 received Royal Assent on the 28th April 2022. In six parts, the act gives residents and homeowners more rights, powers and protections, ultimately making homes and residences across the country much safer. Two years later, in April 2024, the golden thread came into effect.?

The golden thread in the Building Safety Act refers to a digital recording of essential building information that is continuous and accurate. The golden thread contains the building’s entire lifecycle from the initial designs through to the construction, maintenance and eventual demolition. This was in response to the Grenfell Tower disaster where 72 people lost their lives and a further 223 were injured when a fire broke out that was exacerbated by the building being clad in highly combustible panels. This tragedy emphasised the critical importance of having a detailed, digital, record of building information in order to enhance safety, compliance and accountability.?

What is the scope of the golden thread??

Digitisation is a core element of the Building Safety Act. It specifies that the golden thread must be a digital record that is easily accessible and kept up-to-date. It should also be kept secure from unauthorised access, available whenever someone needs the information, is presented and accessible in a simple format and written in plain English and is fully compliant with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).?

Beyond the records themselves, there are a few further definitions that help to outline the scope of the golden thread. These are defining what a Higher-Risk Building is, and the two clear parts of the thread; construction and maintenance.?

What is the definition of a High Risk Building (HRB)?

The scope of the golden thread is extensive and covers all Higher-Risk Buildings (HRBs) including ones that are already built. A Higher-Risk Building is defined as a building with at least two residential units, care homes, and hospitals which are at least 18 metres in height or have at least 7 storeys. There are some exclusions to this rule including hotels, military barracks and buildings that contain living accommodation provided by the Ministry of Defence.?

A golden thread is legally required for all HRBs including:?

• Existing HRBs: Information relevant to the building will need to be brought together and may need to be digitised as part of this act. This includes a strong focus on any information relating to fire and structural safety. Where any maintenance is carried out including refurbishment or further construction work, the golden thread will need to be reviewed and updated with these works.?
• Under construction HRBs: Any HRBs under construction before the 1st October 2023. In these instances, the golden thread should be created as soon as possible from all of the existing information and be kept up to date throughout the rest of the work and in perpetuity.?
• New HRBs from 1st October 2023: For new HRBs the golden thread must be in place before building work has started. It should include information from the design phase onwards.?

Two parts of the golden thread: building work and maintenance

The golden thread can be broken down into two parts; building work and on-going maintenance.

During the construction phase, the golden thread requires clients, principal designers and contractors and account persons or principal accountable persons to keep a digital record of all design and construction details including materials used, structural elements and compliance with safety regulations. By having this information recorded, you are not only complying with your legal duties but also ensuring building safety as any modifications or repairs can be made with a thorough understanding of the building's original design and construction.

Once construction is complete, the golden thread continues into the next phase; maintenance. The maintenance thread should document all inspections, repairs and any modification. By keeping an ongoing record of the building's history it’s easy to see what has had, or may need, attention in the future. With so much detail contained in the golden thread, it makes perfect sense that these records should be kept digitally rather than filed away on paper. Beyond being able to keep the records up to date more easily, there are many benefits to the golden thread being digital.?

The benefits of digitising the golden thread

Rather than waiting for managers, clients and interested parties to return to the office in order to file updates and paperwork, digital records can be accessed and updated in real-time. This means no matter who is viewing the records, they can trust that the information they are reviewing is fresh and reliable.?

A digital golden thread also provides other high value benefits including:?

• Enhanced safety: Comply with all safety regulations from ensuring that staff are certified to use equipment through to maintaining detailed records of safety inspections.?
• Reduced waste: Ensure that materials are used efficiently and avoid costly over-ordering.?
• Traceability: With digital records, you don’t need to wait for days for new information to be added. Get real-time visibility of building components and site assets.
• Improved efficiency: Maintenance processes are enhanced as site activities are managed with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.?
• Compliance: Streamline your health and safety audits and ensure full regulatory compliance with digital records.?
• Cost savings: Manage the usage of personal protective equipment (PPE), quickly locate hired equipment, and reduce damage to site equipment.
• Integration with smart building technology: With digitisation you can integrate the golden thread data with smart building technologies, such as IoT sensors and systems. This can significantly enhance building performance and safety. These technologies provide real-time data on various aspects of the building, from structural integrity to energy usage, contributing to a more comprehensive and dynamic golden thread.?

So what are your options for ensuring that you meet the standards set by the Building Safety Act and the golden thread? Let’s explore.

How to comply with the golden thread

At The Barcode Warehouse, we know that it’s not as straightforward as simply digitising your plans and records and saving them in a central location. On top of maintaining a digital thread, you’re also managing compliance with construction, contract and safety specifications. In addition to this, you’re managing contractors and sub-contractors, plant, equipment and materials all while trying to keep to strict timeframes. Finally you’re adhering to ISO4001, managing waste and trying to make a profit, too.?

There’s a lot to juggle, and with over 2,300 of our customers in the construction industry, there’s not a challenge that we haven’t come across and don’t have a solution for. In order to comply with the golden thread requirements, your buildings information must be:?

1. Recorded digitally
2. Kept securely
3. Act as the single source of truth
4. Be easily accessible for those who need it
5. Available when needed
6. Formatted in an easy to use manner

How can you achieve this? Building management systems (BIM).

Building information management?(BIM)?systems

The golden thread must be stored digitally to ensure that the documentation is always easily accessible and able to be kept up to date remotely. The digital storage can be across multiple systems, but the challenge faced is that it must remain coherent and accessible to all relevant parties. While Google Drive will get you so far, it can quickly descend into chaos. This is where modern construction management tools like Building Information Management (BIM) systems come into play.?

BIM systems provide a centralised digital platform where you can manage and store all of your building information efficiently.?Designed specifically for the construction industry, it allows your architects, engineers, contractors and other stakeholders to collaborate digitally and create digital models that represent every aspect of the building. This includes everything from the files and digital models to the operation and maintenance manuals.?

Implementing a construction management platform for BIM involves adopting software that supports the creation, storage, and sharing of detailed building information. BIM helps you to maintain a clear and accurate digital record of the building which is crucial to comply with the Building Safety Act 2022. It also offers additional benefits like improving efficiency, traceability, and productivity, and enhancing safety and sustainability.

Use asset and inventory management solutions to support the single source of truth?

The final rules for the golden thread state that it should be easily accessible, available when needed and in an easy-to-use format. This is where GS1 standards come into play to ensure that everyone, at any stage in the construction process, can easily identify a location, asset, or product using a common data language. Without a standardised system for product information, communication between all of the involved parties and stakeholders would not be possible. It’s this transparency, traceability and accountability that is critical to the thread to function effectively.?

Effective asset and inventory management is essential for maintaining the golden thread as the single source of truth. You can use a combination of RFID technology, rugged mobile devices and asset tracking software to streamline the tracking of materials and assets allowing real-time visibility and control over the building’s components. This alignment with GS1 standards helps construction companies maintain compliance with the golden thread requirements while also improving operational efficiency.?

Final thoughts

The golden thread and Buildings Safety Act provides significant long-term benefits, including improved building safety, enhanced operational efficiency, and better compliance with regulations. For building owners and managers, this translates into a higher return on investment (ROI) through reduced maintenance costs, increased asset longevity, and enhanced occupant safety and satisfaction. By keeping a continuous digital record of all critical building information you can ensure that your projects meet the highest standards of safety.?

At The Barcode Warehouse, with our comprehensive asset and inventory management solutions, are well positioned to support you in implementing and maintaining your golden thread systems, ensuring compliance with the Building Safety Act 2022 and driving long-term success and improvement in the industry.?

Keen to learn more about how you can keep a digital record of crucial building information, and track your inventory and assets? Book a free consultancy call with one of our team members today.