Golden Thread Journal- 'Setting the Scene'

The purpose of the ‘golden thread’ is to have the right information in order to understand the building and the steps needed to keep both the building and the people living in it safe. The use of the Digital Golden Thread evolves during project stages. The requirements for the Digital Golden Thread are mapped across various legislation, depending on whether its design and construction or occupation and every Duty-holder needs to play their part at some point to assist with its compilation. However the pre requisites for any ‘electronic facility’ which will be used to store the Digital Golden Thread are defined under Regulation 31 of The Building (Higher-Risk Buildings Procedures) (England) Regulations 2023. For instance, the ‘electronic facility’ should be auditable and secure from unauthorised access. The Building Safety Regulator will be taking a proportionate approach when comparing the Digital Golden Thread for a New vs existing building. There are some exceptions for certain works when requirements vary for the Golden Thread, i.e. for scheme works.

The Digital Golden Thread is an initiative which the Client initially needs to drive by setting up a ‘electronic facility’ to handle and share the information. The Client must establish this system before construction starts and upload the relevant information. Arrangements for the Digital Golden Thread are to be stated at Gateway 2 in the Construction Control Plan. Under Regulation 38 of The Building (Higher-Risk Buildings Procedures) (England) Regulations 2023 the person signing off the Golden Thread must give an acknowledging receipt stating the Golden Thread is accessible and sufficient for them to understand, operate and maintain the building- HUGE LEGAL REAMIFICATIONS ALERT!

There is no easy win for a concise definition and the exact documents the Golden thread entails but SI 41/ 2024, The Higher-Risk Buildings (Keeping and Provision of Information etc.) (England) Regulations 2024 list the typical deliverables required in the Digital Golden Thread in Schedule 1 for an Accountable Person to be able to discharge their duties.

My first ever ‘gap analysis’ of Digital Golden Thread compliance was for a building located in Watford which was subject to transitional arrangements, but the report resulted in our Client walking away from the purchase of a building because the information was not sufficient to understand, operate and maintain the building- Granted some of the information missing was from requirements under the new legislation which made those bits excusable, but a lot of the information highlighted as missing was typical project information deliverables so after some to and fro the Client decided they did not want it open a can of worms and abandoned ship! We may see more and more people instructing gap analysis of the Digital Golden Thread, Fire and Emergency files and Gateway applications in advance to avoid challenges on the eleventh hour.

In the next article we will be looking in more detail around the real world implications of the Digital Golden Thread.