BM Trada Q-Mark and the Golden Thread: What Every Responsible Person Needs to Know

BM TRADA Q-Mark certification and golden-thread information are distinct. This guide explains how each should be considered in the context of a specific project.

The higher-risk-building regime requires building-safety information to be managed as the golden thread. The information should be accurate, kept digitally, securely managed and available to people who need it. The fire-door information required will depend on the building and the work undertaken.

What is the Golden Thread?

The golden thread is the digital information required for higher-risk buildings under the Building Safety Act regime. Whether a building is in scope, and what information is needed, should be checked against the Building Safety Regulator’s current guidance.

For fire doors, the information strategy may need to record the specification, relevant product information, installation evidence, inspection records and subsequent work. The exact data set should be confirmed for the project.

BM Trada Q-Mark: The Certification Standard

BM TRADA lists Eagle Fire for Q-Mark Fire Door Installation, Fire Door Maintenance and Fire Stopping Installation. The current certificate and scope should be checked against the work being commissioned.

A certification scheme and the golden thread are not the same thing. Certification can be part of the competence evidence considered for a package, while the golden thread concerns building-safety information for relevant higher-risk buildings.

What the Golden Thread Means for Procurement

Responsible persons and principal contractors should define the competence and information requirements for each package before appointment. Contractor certification, where required, should be verified against the scope of work.

Procurement requirements differ between organisations and projects. Buyers should confirm the required certification, competence evidence and evidence outputs before tender or appointment.

How to Verify a Contractor's BM Trada Q-Mark Certification

1. 1Ask the contractor for their BM Trada Q-Mark certificate number
2. 2Search the BM Trada Q-Mark register at bmtrada.com to verify that the certificate is current and covers fire door installation
3. 3Check that the scope of certification covers the specific type of fire door installation required for your project
4. 4Ask for evidence of individual operative qualifications, not just the company's certification
5. 5Request the contractor's standard documentation package to verify it meets Golden Thread requirements

Selecting a Contractor

Selecting a contractor should be based on the documented scope, relevant competence, certified scope where required, product evidence, programme controls and the handover information needed by the duty holder.