The Building Safety Act 2022 introduced a new framework for managing safety in higher-risk residential buildings. At the heart of that framework is the concept of the golden thread - a continuous, structured record of building safety information that must be maintained throughout the building’s lifecycle.
For smoke ventilation systems, the golden thread has practical and immediate consequences. It is no longer acceptable to commission a system, hand over a file of documents, and then assume the information will be maintained indefinitely by whoever manages the building. The Act creates specific duties around information management that apply to designers, contractors, and building managers alike.
This article explains what the golden thread is, how it applies to smoke ventilation, and what documentation you need to maintain.
What Is the Golden Thread?
The term golden thread originates from Dame Judith Hackitt’s Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, published in 2018 following the Grenfell Tower fire. The review found that one of the systemic failures contributing to building safety incidents was the loss of accurate information about buildings over time - designs changed without documentation, installations deviated from drawings, and maintenance records were incomplete or missing.
The golden thread is the solution to this problem. It means creating and maintaining a complete, accurate, and accessible record of all information relevant to the safety of a building, from design through construction to occupation and throughout the building’s entire operational life.
Under the Building Safety Act 2022 (s.65), the golden thread is a legal requirement for higher-risk buildings (HRBs), residential buildings in England that are at least 18 metres in height or have at least 7 storeys, and that contain at least 2 residential units. Either the height or the storey condition triggers the regime, provided the residential-unit count is met. For these buildings, the Principal Accountable Person (PAP) has a statutory duty to maintain the golden thread.
For buildings below the HRB threshold, the golden thread is not a statutory requirement in the same formal sense - but the principle of maintaining complete, accessible building safety information is now embedded as a standard of good practice across the industry, and it is likely to become progressively more important as the regulatory framework continues to develop.
What Information Does the Golden Thread Require for Smoke Ventilation?
The golden thread for a smoke ventilation system covers every stage of the system’s life:
Design Records
- The fire strategy document identifying the smoke ventilation strategy
- Smoke ventilation design drawings and schematics
- Performance calculations (free area calculations, airflow calculations, pressure differential calculations)
- Product specifications with BS EN 12101 test certificates for all specified components
- The cause and effect matrix defining system behaviour
- Any fire engineering analysis or deviation from prescriptive requirements
Design records must be sufficient to demonstrate that the system was designed in accordance with the applicable standards and that the design intent is clearly documented.
Installation Records
- As-installed drawings showing the actual installed configuration
- Material records confirming the products installed (including model numbers and certification references)
- Any deviations from the design and the rationale for them
- Installation inspection records
The as-installed record is often where golden thread compliance breaks down. Design drawings are produced, but the installation is then modified during construction - vents repositioned, duct routes changed, product substitutions made - without updating the drawings. The golden thread requires that the as-installed condition is accurately documented.
Commissioning Records
- Commissioning certificates signed by a competent commissioning engineer
- Tested cause and effect matrix
- Component test results (individual damper, fan, actuator, and panel tests)
- System performance measurements
- Any defects identified and their resolution
Commissioning records are the evidence that the system actually works. A design that looks correct on paper and an installation that appears complete on site are only confirmed as functional by commissioning. Without commissioning records, there is no evidence that the system has been tested.
For guidance on what commissioning records should contain, see our article on commissioning best practices for smoke ventilation systems.
Operation and Maintenance Records
- Operation and maintenance manuals for all smoke ventilation components
- System logbook recording all inspections, tests, and maintenance activities
- Fault logs and records of remedial action
- Annual inspection reports from specialist contractors
- Records of any modifications or replacements and their commissioning sign-off
The operation and maintenance record is the living part of the golden thread - it grows throughout the building’s operational life as inspections are carried out, faults are identified and remedied, and components are replaced.
Change Control Records
Whenever the smoke ventilation system is modified - even what appears to be a minor change - the golden thread must be updated. This includes:
- Component replacements (even like-for-like replacements should be recorded)
- Control system software updates
- Cause and effect changes
- Physical modifications to ductwork, vents, or damper positions
- Changes to the building that affect smoke ventilation performance (new partitions, modified escape routes)
The change control principle is one of the most important and most frequently overlooked aspects of golden thread compliance. Buildings evolve over time, and smoke ventilation systems that were correctly designed for the original configuration may be compromised by subsequent changes that were never formally assessed against the smoke strategy.
How Vent Trade Supports Golden Thread Compliance
Vent Trade has been supplying smoke ventilation equipment to the UK industry since 1988. Our approach to product documentation supports golden thread compliance in several ways:
Certified performance data: All Vent Trade products are tested and certified to the relevant BS EN 12101 standards. The test certificates provide the verified performance data that must form part of the design record. When you specify a Vent Trade product, the certification documentation is available to form part of the golden thread.
Technical support for system documentation: Our technical team can support fire engineers and building consultants in producing accurate system documentation. For specifiers preparing design records, we can provide the technical data sheets, installation guides, and performance declarations required to support a complete design record.
O Range smoke control panel: The O Range smoke control panel includes monitoring and logging functions that support the operational record-keeping requirements of the golden thread. Panel fault logs and alarm activations are recorded and can be reviewed during maintenance inspections.
Maintenance and inspection support: Through our network of specialist maintenance contractors, Vent Trade can support building managers in establishing and maintaining the maintenance record that forms the operational element of the golden thread.
Practical Steps for Building Managers
If you manage a higher-risk residential building and are unsure whether your golden thread documentation is complete:
Start with an audit. Compile all existing documentation for your smoke ventilation system - design drawings, commissioning records, maintenance logs, operation and maintenance manuals. Identify what is present and what is missing.
Establish the as-installed position. If your as-installed drawings do not match the current physical configuration (common in buildings that have been refurbished or where maintenance records are incomplete), commission a survey to establish the current configuration as a baseline.
Put maintenance records in order. If maintenance logbooks are incomplete, begin maintaining them properly from now. Incomplete historical records cannot be retrospectively created, but a clear record from a defined start date is better than nothing.
Appoint a Nominated Person for daily checks. The Building Safety Act and BS 9991:2024 both require daily operational checks of smoke control systems. If you do not have someone formally assigned to this role, appoint one now and document their responsibilities.
Engage a specialist smoke control contractor. For HRBs, the annual inspection must be carried out by a contractor with specialist smoke control competence. The Smoke Control Association maintains a directory of member companies.
Practical Takeaway
The golden thread is not a one-time compliance exercise - it is an ongoing information management commitment. For smoke ventilation systems, this means creating complete design and installation records, maintaining operational records throughout the building’s life, and documenting every change formally. Buildings that already have good smoke control documentation are well positioned. Buildings where records are incomplete need to start filling the gaps now.
For support on golden thread documentation for smoke ventilation systems, contact Vent Trade on 01202 725 689 or email info@vent-trade.co.uk.
Sources
Official guidance and standards referenced in this article:
