A concise guide to the Golden Thread
February 18, 2025
What is the Golden Thread and how does it apply to Premier Estates?
The Golden Thread is a collection of digitally available building safety information that also includes the Building Safety Case.
Golden Thread – A continuous line of information – stored digitally for easy access – that links every action and decision back to the organisation’s goals, vision, and values. It provides a strategic approach to maintaining organisational alignment.
Building Safety Case – A structured argument that demonstrates that Accountable Persons (APs) and the Principal Accountable Person (PAPs) understand how a building’s potential risks are identified and controlled. It includes accessible evidence that the building meets certain standards and regulations.
Keeping residents and buildings safe
The purpose of the Golden Thread is to have the right information to hand so relevant people can understand any given building and the steps required to keep both the building and its occupants safe.
The Golden Thread is part of the Building Safety Act 2022. The Act was created to enforce stricter regulations on the design, construction, operation, and the management of buildings that are 18 metres tall (or seven stories) and above. Those responsible for building safety must now retain a ‘golden thread of information,’ And the construction and property industries have had to adjust in order to adopt the legislation and be complaint.
The Golden Thread’s key principles include:
- Using digital tools and systems to store and work with key information about the building.
- Recording the original design intent and ensuring subsequent changes are captured and preserved.
- Making information easily available to the right people at the right time.
- Supporting Dutyholders and Accountable Persons (APs) throughout the life cycle of a building.
At what point does the Golden Thread start?
The Golden Thread needs to start before building work begins. The information must be kept updated throughout the design and construction process. The Golden Thread is handed over to the Accountable Person (AP) once the building work is completed.
Maintaining accurate information, ensures that building owners can better manage their buildings to ensure the highest level of safety.
Each golden thread will be bespoke, and specific to the building and group of residents and occupants and is geared towards the right people having the right information when they need it.
The information about the building MUST be:
- Stored digitally.
- Stored securely.
- The building’s single source of truth.
- Available to people who need the information to do a job.
- Readily available when a person needs the information.
- Presented in a way that can be easily used.
Who is responsible for maintaining the Golden Thread?
Those persons responsible for a building must retain a Golden Thread. A responsible person for any given building can be the Dutyholders, the Accountable Persons (APs), Principal Accountable Person (PAP), the Building Owner, depending in which lifecycle phase the building is in.
During the design and construction phase the information thread rests with the client or someone appointed on their behalf. This includes principal designers and principal contractors.
During occupation, the Accountable Person (AP)/Principal Accountable Person (PAP), is responsible for coordinating the golden thread, keeping it updated, and ensuring it is accurate and accessible. If they cannot find this information, they must be able to justify why.
The Accountable Person can be an individual, a partnership, or a corporate body. There may also be multiple Accountable Persons for a building. If this is the case, then the Principal Accountable Person will take lead responsibility for the golden thread.
When a building already exists, the accountable person will need to find the information that allows them to assess and manage the safety risks of potential fire spread and structural stability. When a building is being refurbished this may involve Dutyholders, the Principal Accountable Person and Accountable Persons, because many units will likely remain occupied during refurbishment.
Who can be an Accountable Person (AP)?
- Accountable Persons (APs) are the organisation or person who owns or are accountable for the building.
- Accountable Persons are legally responsible for repairing or maintaining common parts of a building, for example, the exterior and structure, corridors, or lobbies.
- If a building has more than one Accountable Person, the accountable person who owns the building, or is legally responsible for the structure and exterior of the building will be the principal accountable person. This can be devolved to a Property Management Organisation.
- It is the Principal Accountable Person who will be required to register high-rise buildings.
There is an in-depth video about the Golden Thread on the HSE YouTube channel here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lRaa8-Cy_4
Premier Estates provide award-winning property management services across the UK. If you would like to speak to one of our team about managing your property portfolio, please call 0345 491 8899.
Sources:
www.buildingsafety.campaign.gov.uk/building-safety-regulator-making-buildings-safer/building-safety-regulator-news/understanding-the-golden-thread/
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-regulations-advisory-committee-golden-thread-report/building-regulations-advisory-committee-golden-thread-report
PAS 8673:2022 Built environment – Competence requirements for the management of safety in residential buildings – Specification (pdf)
