Golden thread fire safety file: what it is and what goes in it
The fire safety file holds everything the building's fire safety depends on: the fire strategy, compartmentation records, inspection and test logs, fire risk assessments and the resident information that supports evacuation. It is the fire safety spine of the golden thread.
Why the file matters
Fire safety is the largest single subject in the golden thread. The file collects the fire strategy (how the building is designed to behave in a fire), the records that prove the strategy is intact (compartmentation, inspections, tests), and the risk assessments and resident information that govern day-to-day management.
The Grenfell Inquiry showed what happens when this information does not exist: a fire safety strategy left in draft, no usable record of vulnerable residents, and reliance on a single unqualified assessor. The golden thread exists to make that failure structurally impossible.
What a complete file contains
| Document | What to hold |
|---|---|
| Fire strategy | The approved strategy for the building, current and signed off |
| Compartmentation records | Where fire compartments are, their condition, and inspection findings |
| Fire risk assessment (FRA) | Current FRA with actions tracked to completion, not just issued |
| Inspection and test logs | Alarm, emergency lighting, fire doors, compartmentation inspections with dates and results |
| Resident engagement records | Evacuation information, vulnerable-resident needs, engagement evidence |
| Occurrence reports | Mandatory occurrence reports and fire-related incident records |
| Certificates | Fire alarm, suppression and door certificates with issuing bodies and dates |
Sources: GOV.UK guidance; GOV.UK, preparing a safety case report; Grenfell Inquiry phase 2, government response.
What usually goes wrong
- FRA is a paper exercise - the assessment exists but its actions were never tracked
- Compartmentation unrecorded - no survey, no records of breaches or repairs
- Test logs incomplete - alarm and lighting tests logged inconsistently across contractors
- Strategy out of date - refurbishments changed the building without updating the strategy
- Resident needs unrecorded - no usable record of who needs help to evacuate
Assembling the file from what exists
- Receive - digital FRAs, test certificates and contractor logs
- Inventory and gap-check - every document logged against the checklist, gaps flagged
- Structure and index - consistent naming, dates reconciled, actions tracked
- Deliver - a current, findable fire safety file for the golden thread
Questions, answered
Is the fire safety file the same as the fire risk assessment?
No. The fire risk assessment is one document within the file. The file is the full set of fire safety information: strategy, compartmentation, inspection and test logs, certificates, resident engagement and occurrence records, with the FRA as a central component.
What is compartmentation and why does it matter?
Compartmentation is the fire-resisting construction that stops fire and smoke spreading through a building. Its condition is critical to the fire strategy, and the golden thread should hold survey records, breach findings and repair evidence. It is one of the most common evidence gaps in higher-risk buildings.
Who keeps the fire safety file up to date?
The accountable person holds the duty, working with the building safety manager and contractors who carry out inspections and tests. The file must be updated as test results, FRAs and refurbishments change the building's fire safety picture.
Do we need records of residents who need help to evacuate?
Yes. The Grenfell Inquiry highlighted the absence of usable vulnerable-resident records as a systemic failure. Resident engagement information, including evacuation needs, is part of the information the golden thread must hold, handled in line with data protection requirements.
How does the file connect to the safety case report?
The safety case report's fire risk assessment section is evidenced from this file: strategy, compartmentation, test logs and FRAs are the proof that fire risks are understood and controlled. A file that is current and indexed makes the report straightforward to write and defend.
Related guides
- What is the golden thread? - the requirement and who it applies to
- Golden thread compliance certificates - certificate types, dates and expiry tracking
- Building safety case report - the report this file evidences
Need help putting this into practice?
We process, structure and validate golden thread records so they answer the regulator's questions. Every project is scoped and quoted individually.