The Building Safety Act is here—are your property documents ready?
The Building Safety Act has fundamentally changed how property managers must handle building information. Here’s what you need to know to ensure compliance.
What is the Building Safety Act?
The Building Safety Act 2022 is the UK’s most significant change to building safety in nearly 40 years. It introduces strict requirements for:
- Golden Thread of Information - A complete, accurate digital record of a building’s design, construction, and maintenance
- Building safety cases - Comprehensive documentation proving buildings are safe
- Accountable persons - Clear responsibility for building safety
Key Documentation Requirements
1. Design and Construction Records
You must maintain complete records of:
- Original architectural plans
- Structural engineering drawings
- Fire safety strategies
- Materials specifications
- As-built documentation
2. Maintenance and Inspection Records
Ongoing compliance requires:
- Regular inspection reports
- Maintenance logs
- Repair and modification records
- Certification documents
- Contractor records
3. Safety Case Reports
High-risk buildings need comprehensive safety cases including:
- Risk assessments
- Fire safety measures
- Emergency evacuation plans
- Resident safety information
The Documentation Challenge
Most property managers face these challenges:
- Fragmented information - Documents scattered across folders, emails, and filing cabinets
- Poor naming conventions - Files with cryptic names that make search impossible
- Missing documents - Critical records that can’t be located
- Version control issues - Multiple copies with unclear which is current
How AI Can Help
Modern AI-powered document management systems can:
- Automatically organise thousands of documents by type and relevance
- Suggest better filenames based on document content
- Enable natural language search - Find documents by asking questions
- Track document relationships - Link related files automatically
- Identify gaps - Flag missing required documentation
Getting Compliant in 5 Steps
Step 1: Audit Your Current Documentation
Create an inventory of what you have and identify gaps.
Step 2: Digitize Everything
Scan physical documents and consolidate digital files.
Step 3: Organise Systematically
Implement a clear folder structure aligned with the Golden Thread requirements.
Step 4: Implement Search Tools
Deploy AI-powered search to make information discoverable.
Step 5: Establish Processes
Create workflows to ensure ongoing compliance.
The Cost of Non-Compliance
The penalties for failing to comply with the Building Safety Act are severe:
- Unlimited fines for serious breaches
- Criminal prosecution of responsible persons
- Prohibition orders preventing building occupation
- Reputational damage affecting property values
Taking Action
Don’t wait until an inspection to discover your documentation is inadequate. Start organising your building information today.
Need help getting compliant? Findable’s AI-powered platform can help you organise, search, and manage your building documentation in minutes, not months.
Book a demo to see how we can help you achieve Building Safety Act compliance.