VOICES | HYWEL DAVIES Defining the golden thread The Higher-Risk Buildings (Keeping and Provision of Information etc.) (England) Regulations 2023 set out the requirements for providing golden thread information about a higher-risk building to other parties. Hywel Davies explains what any accountable person needs to do now T DR HYWEL DAVIES HonFCIBSE is chief technical ofcer at CIBSE. He chaired the BRAC Golden Thread working group. he Higher-Risk Buildings (Keeping and Provision of Information etc.) (England) Regulations 2023 are the final set of regulations implementing Part 4 of the Building Safety Act, which covers the occupation of higher-risk buildings (HRBs). They deliver on Dame Judith Hackitts call, in 2018, for a digital standard of record-keeping for HRBs, and prescribe what information and documents the principal accountable person (PAP) and any other accountable person (AP) responsible for a HRB must keep in relation to the building. Those who are accountable for a HRB have a duty to have, and to maintain, accurate, up-to-date and secure information about the building, so they can discharge their duty to manage that building safely. If they already have up-to-date information and a full safety management plan, there will not be a huge amount to do. These golden thread regulations should certainly not surprise anyone responsible for a HRB. It is more than five years since Dame Judith made her recommendations, and four and a half years since the government accepted them in full. This train has been coming for a while now. For those reasons, many in the sector have been working towards this for several years. They have been busy identifying and bringing together the information they already hold, and updating information where that was needed. There has been a particular focus on the requirement for this information to be held electronically, for it to be readily available to those who need it, and for it to be exchangeable, especially if management contracts or providers change, or HRBs change ownership. An AP is a dutyholder who is responsible for the safety of an occupied HRB under Part 4 of the Building Safety Act. If there is only one AP, they are the principal AP (PAP). Where there is more than one AP, the PAP is the AP responsible for the structure and exterior of the HRB. These regulations identify what information the PAP must provide to the regulator, other APs, residents and the fire and rescue authority. There is significant detail, both in the regulations and in Schedule 1, on the information prescribed for the golden thread under section 88(1) of the Building Safety Act. The key building information submitted will help the accountable person to assess the buildings safety risks Unrivaled Accuracy in Airflow & Pressure Differential Measurement Accurate and stable measurement down to still air for HVAC No onsite calibration is required Thermal dispersion technology Premier specified airflow measurement device cooperward.co.uk +44 118 971 4971 enquiries@cooperward.co.uk comp-cooperward.indd 1 14 November 2023 www.cibsejournal.com 9/14/2023 1:51:04 PM