Almost nine out of 10 senior executives responsible for building portfolios may be unaware of their legal responsibilities under the UK’s post-Grenfell building safety regime, according to a new industry white paper
Turning Building Safety into a Strategic Advantage: The Golden Thread from BIM in Asset Management (BIMinAM) found that 89% of CEOs and CFOs may be unaware of their duties under the regulations, exposing organisations to significant legal, financial and reputational risk.
The Golden Thread requires organisations to maintain clear, accurate and accessible digital information about how buildings are designed, constructed and maintained throughout their lifecycle, ensuring critical safety information is always available.
The regulations were introduced following the Grenfell Tower disaster and the subsequent Building Safety Act, which placed new legal responsibilities on building owners, operators and senior leaders responsible for building safety.
Golden Thread ‘about more than just compliance’
“Too many organisations still don’t know what information they hold about their own buildings,” said George Stevenson, chair of BIMinAM and chair of the Golden Thread Taskforce.
“The Golden Thread is not just about compliance; it is about giving leadership teams the information they need to manage risk, protect people and make better decisions about their assets.”
The report argues that the Golden Thread is widely misunderstood as a compliance burden when it should instead be seen as a strategic risk management tool.
According to the report, many organisations still rely on fragmented documentation, spreadsheets and incomplete handover records, leaving leadership teams unable to answer fundamental questions about their buildings, including:
- What safety-critical assets exist.
- Why they are required.
- Whether they are functioning correctly.
- Who is accountable for them.
The white paper argues that reliable digital building information is now a board-level governance issue, rather than simply a technical or operational concern.
When implemented using modern digital asset management approaches — including digital twins, structured asset data and continuous site capture — the Golden Thread can deliver measurable operational and financial benefits.
Industry evidence cited in the report suggests that poor building information can drive 20%–30% unnecessary maintenance expenditure, while accurate digital asset records significantly reduce repeat surveys, operational inefficiencies and regulatory risk.
The report concludes that organisations that treat building safety information strategically will gain advantages in risk management, operational efficiency and long-term asset value.
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