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Beyond the Golden Thread

How rich, real-time data is the key to managing compliance.

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The new Building Safety Act 2022 fully comes into force on 1st October 2023. The new legislation was developed as a direct result of the Grenfell Tower disaster in 2017, which tragically saw 72 people lose their lives.


It is one of several pieces of legislation and guidance implemented by the Government to enhance Building Safety, including the Fire Safety Act 2021. Importantly, the Building Safety Act 2022 will help people be and feel safer in their homes and will change how buildings are designed, constructed, and managed.


"The Building Safety Regulator has two main objectives:-

  • To secure the safety of people in and around buildings and improve building standards.
  • To regulate in line with best practice principles."


Anyone involved in the design, construction, or management of the built environment now has a legal obligation to comply with these regulations, reducing overall risks and ensuring that those who create Building Safety risks are responsible for managing them.



But what does this mean in practice?


One of the key requirements of The Act is that companies now keep vital, real-time safety information on how a building has been designed and built. Termed ‘The Golden Thread’, this information needs to be immediately accessible and will be stored digitally for the entire life of the building. This information is designed to enable anyone involved with the upkeep and management of a structure to understand how to keep the building and its users safe now and in the future.


“Golden Thread of Information – the information about a building that allows someone to understand a building and keep it safe, now and in the future; this information must not only be accurate and up to date but easily understandable and accessed by those who need it.


The Golden Thread applies to all buildings within the scope of the new, more stringent building safety regime, introduced through the Building Safety Act 2022”.


No responsible developer, contractor or sub-contractor wishes to be held accountable for potentially fatal accidents, which is why The Golden Thread is a way of ensuring that all documentation is in place that evidences steps taken in the build process, how any issues were addressed and supports the ongoing maintenance of each building.

Golden Thread – Key Takeaways



  • It applies to new or existing occupied buildings over 18 metres high or seven storeys or more, which contain at least two residential units. The design, refurbishment and construction requirements also apply to care homes and hospitals meeting the same height threshold.
  • It requires construction professionals and building owners to digitally archive H&S, Quality and design plans, along with any other key documents connected to the specifications of the building.
  • Any changes made to the building over its lifetime must also be recorded to verify against the original plans where necessary.
  • It clarifies who is responsible for the Fire and overall Building Safety throughout the building lifecycle.



In short, the new Building Safety Act has activated a change in responsibility and will impact the whole industry. By establishing a more robust regulatory framework, The Act demands higher standards and clearer guidance, putting residents at the heart of the build process.

How RED Jam have been supporting clients with their transition…..


Over the past year, we have been working with a wide variety of main, sub and specialist contractors, helping them prepare for the changes as a result of the new Building Safety Act.


This work has ranged from full-scale continuous improvement programmes to specialist integration of digital tools to support evidence of the build process.

Our approach is all about reviewing the current processes across our client’s operations while analysing and simplifying these to save time and money and deliver the rich data required to comply with The Act.


To date, we have worked alongside glazing companies, specialist fire-door installers, brick and blockwork organisations, leading offsite specialists, and main contractors to help streamline their site operations and move their reporting systems from paper to digital.


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