ASSA ABLOY releases ‘Golden Thread’ guide and CPD to support UK construction industry compliance
Iain Hoey
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Understanding the ‘Golden Thread’ concept
ASSA ABLOY has released a new guide, “The ‘Golden Thread’: A Quick Guide”, and a RIBA-accredited Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme.
This initiative aims to clarify the ‘Golden Thread’ concept within the UK’s construction sector, detailing responsibilities for each stage of a building’s life cycle, from early design through construction to ongoing management.
The guide and CPD seek to assist professionals in understanding compliance requirements, as outlined in the Building Safety Act, as reported by ASSA ABLOY.
The ‘Golden Thread’ is a structured information record, initiated following Dame Judith Hackitt’s ‘Building a Safer Future’ report, which responded to the Grenfell Tower fire.
This framework mandates that all safety-critical information is documented, maintained, and accessible for stakeholders involved in the construction and management of buildings, ensuring continuity in safety measures.
Key responsibilities for architects
ASSA ABLOY’s guide stresses architects’ unique responsibilities under the ‘Golden Thread’.
These include ensuring comprehensive documentation of design plans, material specifications, and regulatory compliance data.
The guide encourages architects to consider long-term impacts of their choices to maintain an unbroken safety record post-handover.
Peter Ashworth, Director & Head of Specification & OEM at ASSA ABLOY, commented: “The ‘Golden Thread’ is here to stay and only those who embrace it will prosper in the construction industry of the future.
“The RIBA accredited CPD along with the guide will help all those involved in new build construction understand their responsibilities so they can ensure compliance and safety as outlined in the new Building Safety Act.”
Introduction of ASSA ABLOY’s Openings Studio™
ASSA ABLOY’s guide introduces Openings Studio™, a cloud-based BIM plug-in tool for architects, designed to assist in managing door openings as part of the digital record required by the ‘Golden Thread’.
Openings Studio facilitates the recording, visualisation, and modification of information related to door installations, enhancing compliance with the safety framework.
Each door recorded in Openings Studio receives a unique smart tag, enabling easy access to data such as installation history, inspection records, and maintenance logs.
This centralised, accessible data storage provides a seamless way for architects and other professionals to maintain an up-to-date digital record, ensuring all details are readily available for review.
Digital compliance through Openings Studio’s mobile app
The Openings Studio mobile app supports real-time updates, enabling architects to upload images, specifications, and documents during each project phase.
This feature aligns with the new guidelines requiring all parties in the construction and maintenance process to keep comprehensive records.
Ashworth explained: “The new guidelines require every organisation involved in the design, build and maintenance process, including architects, to keep a record of everything they do.
“That’s exactly what Openings Studio provides for doors. It allows architects to upload images, documents, specs and comments throughout the process.
“This means there will always be evidence that they have met the requirements, protecting them against the potential repercussions of not meeting the guidelines.”
Assa Abloy releases ‘Golden Thread’ guide and CPD to support UK construction industry compliance: Summary
ASSA ABLOY has launched a guide and RIBA-accredited CPD programme to promote the adoption of the ‘Golden Thread’ in the UK construction industry.
The guide, titled “The ‘Golden Thread’: A Quick Guide”, clarifies compliance requirements across all stages of a building’s life cycle.
It highlights architects’ responsibilities in documenting design decisions and regulatory compliance.
Additionally, ASSA ABLOY’s Openings Studio™ tool allows architects to manage door openings and maintain an accessible digital record, supporting the comprehensive documentation required under the ‘Golden Thread’.
