Golden Thread Report - BRAC

The "golden thread" refers to the principle of maintaining and ensuring easy access to crucial information about a building's design, construction, and ongoing management throughout its lifecycle. This encompasses fire safety systems, materials used, maintenance records, and any modifications made over time. While there isn't a standalone act named after this principle, its elements have been integrated into various legislations and proposed reforms, especially following the Grenfell Tower tragedy. For example, the Building Safety Bill introduced in 2020 includes provisions aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability in building safety, aligning with the golden thread principles. The term has become symbolic of efforts to improve building safety and ensure that essential information is available to those responsible for managing and maintaining buildings.

The report provides an overview of the development of golden thread policy, and how it has been progressed by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), working with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), supported by the Building Regulations Advisory Committee (BRAC) golden thread working group, and key stakeholders from across the built environment and housing sector. This report provides greater clarity on the golden thread policy and the changes it will require of industry. 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.

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