Improving fire safety in buildings with construction management software

Construction management software is becoming increasingly important across the sector. Margins are tighter than ever and anything which can make a business more efficient and productive is a worthwhile investment.

However, that’s not the only benefit construction companies get from digital solutions. Construction management software can also deliver improved fire safety solutions which are an essential part of meeting Golden Thread requirements.

What is required under the Golden Thread regulations? 

Working to meet Golden Thread requirements starts at the earliest design stage, then continues through the entire development process and beyond. You need to design fire safety into the building at the start, build accurately according to those plans, and then be able to prove you have done so.

That requires you to show your plans and proof are:

• Kept digitally
• Kept securely
• A building’s single source of truth
• Available to people who need the information to do a job
• Available when the person needs the information
• Presented in a way that can be easily used

All of that data needs to be readily accessible and correct following the completion of the building. If an Accountable Person suspects a fire risk, they must have access to all the information from the development process to check it is accurate. Contractors are responsible for keeping this information and providing it when required.

See the UK government website for full information about Golden Thread responsibilities and what you need to do as a contractor.

How does construction management software help manage fire risk?

One of the most important advantages of digital construction software is that it acts as a single source of truth for the project. All details are up-to-date, readily accessible and reliable. Nothing is hidden away on paper and there is no possibility that people are working off outdated information.

That helps ensure your site runs smoothly and all workers are aligned. It also makes it easier to build fire safety into your development and provide the information required to meet Golden Thread regulations, including:

• Accurate design details and building plans
• Material records with proof of what was used and installed
• Construction processes and proof that everything was built as per the plans
• Up to date regulatory compliance certification

Crucially, the software makes this level of data easy to create, act on and store even for smaller contractors. The right digital construction management system will give Tier 3 and 4 companies the same outcomes as Tier 1 and 2 firms.

That removes a large, costly administration burden from smaller businesses and allows them to bid for more complex and more profitable projects without worrying about an increased Golden Thread administration burden.

Active fire safety compliance management with Gsite

Gsite delivers all of those advantages and allows you to actively manage Golden Thread fire safety responsibilities on your projects in the following ways:

• Data automatically distributed and stored in a compliant fashion
• Information easily accessible on current and past projects when needed
• Eliminates paperwork to create digital audit trails
• Update inspection forms centrally to ensure the right things are being checked
• Real-time monitoring and reporting so deviations can be amended rapidly
• AI data analysis to spot potential safety risks
• All plans updated centrally so workers are using up to date information

Want to learn more about how to improve fire safety processes on your next project? Book a Gsite demo with the team today to discuss how our digital construction tools can help you meet Golden Thread requirements!