A new report published by the Building Regulations Advisory Committee (BRAC) has revealed that the golden thread of information will play a “crucial” role in supporting the construction sector, residents, and the building safety regulator
The new report provides an overview of the development of the golden thread policy, outlining how the Building Regulations Advisory Committee (BRAC) has supported the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
The report sets out the golden thread definition and principles which will inform ongoing work in developing secondary legislation and guidance and demonstrates how industry can support the government in delivering safer buildings.
It outlines the high-level golden thread requirements including the golden thread definition and principles, and how digital standards will underpin implementation of the golden thread of information.
Dame Judith Hackitt’s report ‘Building a safer future‘, recommended the introduction of a ‘golden thread’ to support duty holders in designing, constructing, and managing their buildings as holistic systems, taking into account building safety at all stages in the lifecycle.
The government has committed to implementing Dame Judith Hackitt’s recommendations on the golden thread.
The BRAC golden thread working group has brought together a cross-section of industry to support officials in developing golden thread policy.
Transformation in the built environment
The report stated: “As part of this pivotal culture change, the opportunity must be taken to maximise industry awareness and understanding of the value of data, wider opportunities and digital vision for the sector, and to drive the adoption of these technologies across the construction supply chain.
“The golden thread not only allows understanding of a building now and in the future, but can play a key part in the facilitation and acceleration of wider digital transformation in the built environment, which will deliver economic growth, better public services, and help deliver lower carbon emissions and greater sustainability.
“It is therefore vital that the right approach to golden thread is adopted now, to deliver building safety and to support wider digital transformation.”
It added: “Whilst it will take many years to embed these changes in the sector it is essential that those who will need to put in place a golden thread for their building understand what is required and can begin to prepare for the legal duty to provide it.
“We want to encourage the sector to begin preparing for the upcoming legislation now, by considering the way they currently manage and exchange information.”
The government will set out the specific requirements for the golden thread in secondary legislation. The regulations will set out the information that has to be stored in the golden thread and how the information must be kept.
