What should be included in the Golden Thread?

The golden thread is both the information that allows you to understand a building and the steps needed to keep both the building and people safe, now and in the future.

The golden thread will hold the information that those responsible for the building require to:

• show that the building was compliant with applicable building regulations during its construction and provide evidence of meeting the requirements of the new building control route throughout the design and construction and refurbishment of a building
  
  
• identify, understand, manage and mitigate building safety risks to prevent or reduce the severity of the consequences of fire spread or structural collapse throughout the life cycle of a building
  
  
  

The information stored in the golden thread should be reviewed regularly and managed so that the information retained, at all times, achieves these purposes.

Many people will need to access the Golden Thread to update and share Golden Thread information throughout a building’s lifecycle, including but not limited to building managers, architects, contractors and many others. Information from the golden thread will also need to be shared by the Accountable Person with other relevant people including residents and emergency responders.

The golden thread covers both the information and documents and the information management processes (or steps) used to support building safety.

The golden thread information should be stored as structured digital information. It will be stored, managed, maintained and retained in line with the golden thread principles. The government intends to specify digital standards which will guide how the principles can be met.


The golden thread information management approach will apply through design, construction, occupation, refurbishment and ongoing management of buildings. It supports the wider changes in the regime to promote a culture of building safety.

Building safety should be taken to include the fire and structural safety of a building and the safety of all the people in or in the vicinity of a building (including emergency responders).