How are landlords creating a ‘golden thread’ of information for their properties?
The Building Regulations Advisory Committee has set out the ‘golden thread’ of information to encourage centralised digital record-keeping for compliance data. Inside Housing’s webinar, sponsored by software provider PlanRadar, asked how the sector is tackling the task
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A couple of years on from Dame Judith Hackitt’s report, Building a Safer Future, the sector is now preparing for the new Building Safety Bill.
In the report, Dame Judith recommends that a ‘golden thread’ of information is formed for each tall building from design, construction and management when occupied, to have an immediate and clear picture of the building’s safety status for the whole of its life cycle.
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Last year the Building Regulations Advisory Committee produced a paper setting out the principles of the ‘golden thread’ to encourage centralised digital record-keeping to reduce the risk of fire, improve compliance data to ensure the right people have access to information when needed, and consequently make buildings safer for residents.
There are an estimated 12,500 residential blocks of at least 18 metres in the UK, 6,000 of which are owned by social housing providers. So how is the sector tackling the task?
Inside Housing’s webinar, sponsored by PlanRadar, asked a panel of experts how the sector can navigate the changes brought in by the new Building Safety Bill and the expectations of the Building Safety Regulator, as well as what technology can aid this.
Inside Housing and PlanRadar webinar: the participants
Aman Sharma, deputy chair, Building Regulations Advisory Committee Golden Thread Working Group
Aman Sharma is deputy chair of the Building Regulations Advisory Committee (BRAC), chair of the BRAC Fire Safety (Part B) Technical Review Working Group, chair of the review programme for buildings out of scope of the new safety case regime, and deputy chair of the BRAC Golden Thread Working Group.
He also chairs the British Standards Institute committee FSB 1/1/1, leading on the delivery of BS 8644-1 – ‘Digital Management of Fire Safety Information’.
Jack Ostrofsky, head of sustainability and design, Southern Housing Group, and chair, BIM for Housing Associations
Jack Ostrofsky has a broad range of experience across the entire property life cycle, including fire risk assessment, strategic asset management and development. He has been at the forefront of enterprise-wide responses to the Hackitt Review for several large housing associations, he is a member of the Building Regulations Advisory Committee Golden Thread Working Group and he chairs BIM for Housing Associations, a collaborative effort committed to accelerating the uptake of building information modelling (BIM) in the sector.
Vicky Saunders, managing director, BTP architects
Vicky Saunders is managing director at BTP architects. She is an award-winning specialist in housing design and has extensive knowledge in all types of housing, including new build, refurbishment, supported living and extra care schemes.
Ms Saunders has developed a particular specialism in tower block refurbishment and fire safety following the Grenfell tragedy, working with housing associations across the UK. She worked with Great Places Housing Group recently on a national pilot using BIM on tower blocks to provide the ‘golden thread of information’ and assist in fire safety and maintenance.
Ms Saunders is an ISO 19650 accredited BIM specialist, Home Quality Mark Assessor and RICS/AABC conservation architect. She is a regular contributor in the press on quality in housing design and the planning process.
Robert Norton, UK senior account manager (fire, health and safety) PlanRadar
Robert Norton is responsible for new business and existing client relationships at PlanRadar, leading the UK´s focus on health and safety, and in particular fire safety. Mr Norton has more than 10 years of experience in the construction industry, having worked as an engineer before joining PlanRadar three years ago.
Richard Whittaker, director of development, Citizen Housing
Richard Whittaker is director of development at Citizen Housing and responsible for introducing BIM, having spent the past few years working with BIM on social/affordable housing. He is also a board member at Constructing Excellence Midlands and chaired their Construction Clients Group. Mr Whittaker worked with the first provider of affordable homes to use BIM within the UK on social housing projects.
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