Since the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, the legal landscape surrounding building safety in the UK has undergone a fundamental shift. For those in control of residential blocks—Duty Holders and Responsible Persons—the era of treating lift maintenance as a routine “tick-box” exercise is over. Today, the focus is on strict enforcement, accountability, and the maintenance of a continuous, digital “Golden Thread” of information.

Why the Shift?

The Grenfell Inquiry exposed systemic failures in how safety-critical systems, including lifts, were managed. In many instances, lifts failed to respond to firefighting switches, directly hindering rescue efforts.

In response, the Building Safety Act 2022 and the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022/23 have transformed compliance requirements:

• Strict Accountability: The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) now possesses the power to prosecute individuals, not just companies, for safety failings.

• Monthly Compliance: For buildings over 11 metres, there is a legal requirement to perform and record monthly functional tests on firefighting and evacuation lifts.

• The Golden Thread: Duty Holders must now maintain a digital, up-to-date record of all safety-critical systems. This record is not merely a collection of documents but a continuous narrative of the building’s safety.

Managing the “Golden Thread”

The Golden Thread is a digital record that proves your building is safe. If you cannot produce documentation—such as the fire certificate for a landing door on the 4th floor—when requested by a Fire Officer or insurance inspector, the regulator may deem the system non-compliant.

To ensure your “thread” remains unbroken, your digital file must include:

• Original Specifications: The “As-Built” drawings and the Declaration of Conformity.

• Fire Certification: Evidence, such as BS EN 81-58 certificates, proving that landing doors and shaft materials meet required fire-resistance periods.

• Maintenance Logs: Detailed reports of servicing, not just timestamps.

• LOLER Records: A complete history of “Thorough Examinations” with signed-off evidence that all identified defects have been rectified.

• Testing Evidence: Results of monthly functional tests, including Fireman’s Switch and emergency communication (auto-dialler) checks.

Insurance and Landing Door Integrity

Insurers are significantly more diligent than in previous years. They no longer view a standard maintenance contract as sufficient proof of safety. Furthermore, if your “Golden Thread” records are incomplete, premiums may increase, or coverage may be withdrawn entirely.

A frequent failure point during audits is the Landing Door Fire Certificate. Lift landing doors are a critical part of a building’s fire compartmentation; if they fail, the lift shaft can act as a chimney for smoke and fire. Duty Holders must hold the original fire certificates and ensure that any modifications—such as the addition of signage or new locks—do not compromise the door’s fire integrity.

The Bottom Line for Duty Holders

Compliance is now a continuous obligation. Gaps in your records, such as an inability to prove a door is fire-rated, can lead to Prohibition Notices, forcing a lift to be taken out of service, or the invalidation of insurance policies.

By proactively managing your Golden Thread and ensuring all maintenance and testing data is digital, searchable, and accurate, you not only meet your legal duties but also ensure the ongoing safety of your residents

Set up an electronic cloud-based filing system for all documentary evidence appertaining to your lifts. Accessible to You, Facility Manager and Lift Contractor.

You should have it backed up so that nothing gets lost. Should the other interested parties, or the Building Safety Regulator, get involved, it can be shared on a read-only basis

What Goes Where?

Master Asset Register

All lifts in the building and the Responsible Person

Over 18 Meters: Accountable Person, Freeholder or the landlord

Lift 1

Design and Installation information.

Declaration of Conformity (CE UKCA) Electrical and Mechanical drawings. OEM Manuals. Manufacturers Guide.

Statutory inspections (LOLER)

By year, 6 monthly Insurance inspection Reports

Remediation – Proof that appropriate action was taken

Maintenance Repairs

Service Logs, Visits, Reports, Major Repairs etc.

Modernisation Upgrades

Components replaced and test documents.

Modernisation & Upgrades

Any Modernisation or Refurbishment Documentation

Fire Fighting Evacuation

This section is for Registered High-Risk Buildings over 18 M Travel.

Over 11 Meters Travel and with Evacuation Control

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