BUILDING
INSIGHTS LIVE
Managing the Golden Thread of Information to Ensure Long-Term Safety
T
he concept of the “golden thread of data” is at the core of the transformed framework for designing and operating new social housing in the wake of Grenfell, and is now a requirement for HRBs under the
Building Safety Act. It’s envisaged as a comprehensive, but also transparent set of digital information on every facet of design and construction of a new building, which also provides a fully accountable set of data for future maintenance needs, in an unprecedented way. T e golden thread data has to not only be secure and accurate, but also able
to be carefully set up, edited and managed so it’s accessible to diff erent levels of the organisation including for eff ective ongoing maintenance. One of the key benefi ts of the golden thread approach is the chance to mitigate against value engineering by contractors to lower-cost options, with a ‘change control’ process that is a fundamental safeguard. Our recent round table (sponsored by K Systems and Winkhaus) delved
into the realities of the new safety framework, and the impact on housing professionals, in depth. It raised a series of challenges, but also produced some insightful ways forward. With building safety now the ultimate priority across the social housing sector, and the golden thread a legal requirement, this was a vital opportunity to share current practice.
ROUND TABLE ATTENDEES • Matt Baird, Co-Chair, Spring Housing Association & Director, Baird & Co Recruitment
• Alex Lubbock, Operations Director, Housing Associations’ Charitable Trust
• Ben Wallbank, BIM Strategist, Trimble Viewpoint
• Stephen Hamil, Innovation Director, NBS • Chris Lees, Chief Executive, Data Clan • Paul McSoley, Vice Chair of Fire, CIBSE •
Anthony Taylor, Chair, Building Safety Alliance
• Hony Premlal, Chair, Women in Social Housing • Hywel Davies, Head of Technical Insight, Chartered Association of Building Engineers
• Kevin Mangan, Technical Director, K Systems
Housing Management & Maintenance August/September 2025
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