Table of Contents
What is the Building Safety Act 2022?
The Building Safety Act 2022 represents the most significant reform to building safety regulation in England in nearly 40 years. Enacted in response to the tragic Grenfell Tower fire of 2017, the Act fundamentally changes how buildings are designed, constructed, and managed throughout their entire lifecycle.
At its core, the Act creates a new regulatory framework overseen by the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), which sits within the Health and Safety Executive. The BSR has extensive powers to regulate higher-risk buildings and enforce compliance with building regulations.
Key Objectives of the Act:
- Establish a clearer framework of accountability for building safety
- Create a rigorous new regime for managing higher-risk buildings
- Give residents a stronger voice in building safety decisions
- Ensure accurate building information is maintained throughout the building's life
Who is Affected by the Building Safety Act?
The Building Safety Act affects anyone involved in the design, construction, ownership, or management of higher-risk buildings. While the most stringent requirements apply to buildings at least 18 metres tall or with 7+ storeys containing residential units, the Act's wider reforms impact the entire construction industry.
Principal Designers
Responsible for planning and managing design compliance
Principal Contractors
Oversee construction phase compliance and coordination
Clients
Must appoint duty holders and ensure adequate arrangements
Accountable Persons
Responsible for occupied building safety management
Building Owners
Must register HRBs and maintain safety information
Designers & Contractors
Must cooperate with duty holders and maintain competence
The Three Gateways Explained
The gateway regime is central to the new building control process for higher-risk buildings. Each gateway represents a hard stop where the Building Safety Regulator must grant approval before the project can proceed. This ensures safety is considered at every critical stage.
Gateway 1: Planning Application
Before planning permission is granted
Gateway 1 requires applicants to submit a fire statement to the HSE as part of the planning application. The statement must demonstrate that fire safety has been considered in the design from the outset.
Key Requirements:
- Fire statement demonstrating consideration of fire safety
- Information about proposed fire safety features
- Details of consultation with the fire and rescue service
Gateway 2: Before Construction
Before building work begins
Gateway 2 replaces the traditional building control approval process. The Client must submit a full building control application to the BSR, demonstrating that the proposed design complies with all building regulations.
Key Requirements:
- Complete design documentation and compliance strategy
- Fire and emergency file with detailed safety information
- Construction control plan demonstrating quality assurance
- Change control procedures for managing variations
Gateway 3: Before Occupation
Before building can be occupied
Gateway 3 must be passed before any residents can occupy the building. It requires evidence that the building has been constructed in accordance with approved plans and that all safety information has been properly compiled and handed over.
Key Requirements:
- As-built documentation reflecting actual construction
- Complete Golden Thread information package
- Verification that all building regulations are met
- Handover to Accountable Person with all required records
Golden Thread Requirements
The Golden Thread is one of the most important concepts introduced by the Building Safety Act. It refers to the complete digital record of building safety information that must be created, maintained, and passed on throughout a building's entire lifecycle.
The Golden Thread must be accessible, accurate, and up-to-date at all times. It ensures that anyone responsible for the building has access to the information they need to manage building safety effectively.
Critical Requirement
The Golden Thread must be stored digitally. Paper records alone are not compliant with the Act. Information must be structured, searchable, and capable of being shared securely with those who need access.
What Must the Golden Thread Contain?
HRB Regulations in Force
The Building Safety Act 2022 sets the statutory framework; the operational detail for higher-risk buildings is prescribed in secondary legislation. Since 2023, a suite of regulations has defined gateway procedures, registration duties, Key Building Information, safety management, occurrence reporting, and resident information rights.
Compliance teams should plan against the Act plus these implementing regulations, not the Act alone. Two requirements are often conflated: 16 KBI categories under SI 2023/396 (regs 3–18) and 10 risk management principles under SI 2023/907 reg.4(1)(a)–(j) for the safety case — they are separate obligations.
Gateway regime, golden thread, HRB registration, occupied safety management
Gateway 1, 2 and 3 submissions and BSR correspondence
BSR registration and 14-day material change notifications
16 prescribed KBI categories (regs 3–18) and 28-day submission deadline
Safety case, 10 risk management principles, engagement, complaints, notices
Mandatory occurrence reporting with BSR deadlines
Schedule 2 resident information and Schedule 3 requestable documents
Threadsovereign implements Tier A instruments across the HRB lifecycle — design and construction (Part 3) through registration, KBI, safety case, occurrences, and resident information (Part 4). Leaseholder remediation economics and non-HRB building control reforms sit outside this product scope.
Duty Holder Roles Under the BSA 2022
The Building Safety Act creates clear lines of accountability through defined duty holder roles. Each duty holder has specific responsibilities and can face personal liability for failures to comply with their obligations.
Client
The person or organisation commissioning the building work. Must ensure adequate time, resources, and competent appointments.
Key Duties:
- Appoint Principal Designer and Principal Contractor in writing
- Ensure adequate time and resources for compliance
- Provide relevant information to duty holders
- Ensure building safety throughout the project
Principal Designer
Plans, manages, monitors, and coordinates the design work during the design phase.
Key Duties:
- Coordinate design work to ensure compliance
- Facilitate cooperation between designers
- Identify and manage design risks
- Prepare and maintain design information for the Golden Thread
Principal Contractor
Plans, manages, monitors, and coordinates the building work during the construction phase.
Key Duties:
- Draw up and maintain the construction phase plan
- Organise cooperation between contractors
- Ensure compliance during construction
- Maintain and update Golden Thread information
Accountable Person
Responsible for the safety of an occupied higher-risk building. Usually the building owner or managing agent.
Key Duties:
- Register the building with the BSR
- Apply for and maintain building assessment certificate
- Maintain the Golden Thread and safety case
- Implement resident engagement strategy
Consequences of Non-Compliance
The Building Safety Act introduces serious consequences for those who fail to meet their obligations. The Building Safety Regulator has extensive enforcement powers and will not hesitate to use them.
Potential Penalties
Unlimited Fines
For corporate bodies and individuals
Imprisonment
Up to 2 years for certain offences
Stop Notices
Halt construction immediately
Prohibition Orders
Prevent building occupation
Compliance Notices
Mandated remedial work
Prosecution
Criminal charges for serious breaches
Beyond regulatory penalties, non-compliance can result in reputational damage, loss of professional accreditation, and civil liability. Insurance may also be affected, and professional indemnity policies may not cover deliberate or reckless non-compliance.
How Threadsovereign Addresses Each Obligation
Threadsovereign is purpose-built for the Building Safety Act 2022 and the HRB regulations that implement it. The platform addresses major Part 3 and Part 4 obligations — giving Principal Designers, Accountable Persons, and their teams one auditable workflow from gateway submission through occupied phase management.
Golden Thread Management
Centralised digital repository with full version history, structured data, secure sharing, and audit-ready evidence for design, construction, and occupation (BSA s.58, s.88).
Gateway Submissions
Pre-built checklists for Gateway 1, 2, and 3 with mandatory-item flagging, pre-submit validation, and BSR correspondence tracking (SI 2023/909).
Key Building Information
All 16 KBI categories (SI 2023/396 regs 3–18) with completion tracking, 28-day deadline alerts, and electronic BSR submission readiness.
Safety Case & Principles
Structured safety case with individual attestation of all 10 risk management principles (SI 2023/907 reg.4) before BSR submit.
Duty Holder Coordination
Role-specific portals for Principal Designers, contractors, clients, APs, BSMs, and residents, with task tracking and audit trails for every action.
Occurrence Reporting
Mandatory occurrence workflow with BSR deadline tracking (SI 2023/906 and SI 2023/907 reg.6).
Resident Information
Schedule 2/3 resident information, safety concern submissions (s.91B), and full engagement tooling on Professional plans (SI 2024/41).
Audit Readiness
Comprehensive audit logs, exportable evidence bundles, and instant reporting for BSR inspections and internal reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Building Safety Act 2022 and compliance requirements.