In the ever-evolving landscape of building safety regulations, as an Asset Owner or Dutyholder in the UK, you may be facing a significant challenge: bringing together and managing fragmented or unusable building information for existing in-use higher-risk buildings (HRBs).
This challenge becomes even more complex when consolidating a Golden Thread of Information and preparing Safety Cases to comply with the Building Safety Act and Building Assessment Certificate applications. To learn more about the golden thread, read our complete guide, ‘Golden thread guidance — Navigating Building Safety Act Compliance’ here.
What is classed as a high-risk building?
A higher-risk building, under the new higher-risk regime overseen by the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), is defined as a building with at least two residential units that either stands at least 18 meters tall or has seven or more storeys.
This definition applies specifically to the in-occupation phase, as outlined in Part 4 of the Building Safety Act 2022 and the Higher-Risk Buildings Regulations 2023. These criteria ensure that such buildings meet the safety requirements designed to protect occupants under the new regime. To learn more about the BSR and the new regulatory framework, read our comprehensive guide, ‘The Building Safety Regulator — navigating the new framework’.
Higher-Risk Residential Buildings (HRRBs)
Buildings with at least two residential units which are at least 18 metres in height or have at least seven storeys.
What safety risks are there in higher-risk residential buildings?
Understanding what constitutes a higher-risk building is crucial because it directly impacts how safety is managed and maintained within these structures. In the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire, it's become clear that having detailed and accessible building information is essential for preventing similar incidents in the future.
For higher-risk buildings, which are subject to strict regulations due to their potential safety risks, maintaining comprehensive records is not just about compliance — it's about safeguarding lives.
These records enable dutyholders to effectively manage hazards such as fire risks and structural weaknesses. By ensuring that all necessary safety information is readily available and easily understood, everyone involved in the construction and operation of these buildings, including emergency services, can make informed decisions that keep both the building and its occupants safe.
Eliminate data gaps in existing high-risk buildings
All your in-use building information in one place for safety case reporting and compliance.
The impact of fragmented information
The impact of fragmented information on building management cannot be overstated, especially when dealing with higher-risk buildings. When critical building information is scattered across multiple systems, stored in various formats, kept in systems like SharePoint that aren’t designed to manage risk, or still relying on outdated paper records, it creates significant challenges that can compromise the building’s overall safety and integrity.
Firstly, fragmented information hinders the ability to gain a comprehensive and up-to-date view of a building’s safety status. When data is disjointed, it becomes difficult to track and manage crucial details such as fire safety, structural assessments, or maintenance and inspection records.
This lack of clarity can lead to gaps in safety measures, where potential risks go unnoticed or unaddressed due to incomplete or inaccessible information.
Secondly, the compliance process becomes far more complex and time-consuming when information is fragmented. Higher-risk buildings are subject to stringent regulations, requiring thorough documentation and timely submissions of Key Building Information, Building Assessment Certificate applications and Safety Cases.
If this information is spread across various platforms or stored in incompatible or unusable formats, pulling it together to meet regulatory requirements can become a logistical nightmare.
This not only increases the workload but also heightens the risk of errors, which can lead to non-compliance and, consequently, legal and financial penalties.
Finally, fragmented information leaves building owners and dutyholders vulnerable to potential risks. In emergency situations, quick and informed decision-making is critical.
If the necessary building information is not readily available in a clear and cohesive manner, the ability to respond effectively is compromised. This can delay critical actions, putting both the building and its occupants at greater risk.
Streamlining information with Zutec
This is where Zutec comes in. By partnering with us, you can streamline the process of managing your building information and getting it into one place, so it is always findable.
The Zutec Golden Thread CDE for In-Use Buildings can help you collate, categorise, and review all your existing documents, identify and fill data gaps, and ensure that all information is accounted for and easily accessible to the right people at the right time — all within one centralised platform.
With Zutec, you gain a single source of truth that simplifies building management, maintenance, reporting, and compliance.
Not only that, our solution allows for easy updates, ensuring your information is current, accurate, and ready to establish a Golden Thread of information before your Building Assessment Certificate applications and Safety Case submissions.
Try before you buy: Proof of Concept
To make the transition even easier, we offer a Proof of Concept (PoC). This allows you to test our solution using data from one of your existing buildings before rolling it out across your entire property portfolio.
This hands-on experience will demonstrate how Zutec can simplify your compliance efforts and enhance building safety and maintenance management.
Key features of Zutec’s solution
To understand how Zutec can support your compliance needs, download our Golden Thread CDE for In-Use Buildings booklet. Here’s what you can expect:
- Managed Data Migration: We use machine learning and expert teams to consolidate, structure, and categorise all your existing building information into one platform.
- Standardised Templates: Our predefined templates ensure you have all the necessary information to support Building Safety Act compliance.
- Real-time Dashboards: Access an intuitive dashboard for reporting, understanding data, locating key fire and structural safety documents, and identifying compliance gaps.
- Auditability: Maintain a clear audit trail when changes are made to documents, supporting ongoing compliance.
- Information Sharing: Seamlessly share information with stakeholders such as the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), local fire services, residents, and your compliance and maintenance teams.
Get started today
Ready to see how Zutec can transform your building information management? Download our booklet to learn more.
📞 Book a demo today to get started with a Proof of Concept. Let us help you ensure compliance and enhance building safety with ease.