BSI Creates Golden Thread Technology

TECHNOLOGY CREATED in response to Dame Judith Hackitt’s call for a ‘golden thread’ of transparency and accountability has been launched to track products through the supply chain. The new identification technology for products will drive safety across the built environment industry’s supply chain, its creators BSI, says.

New software named BSI Identify harnesses Digital Object Identifier (DOI) technology to deliver a unique, constant, and interoperable identifier, called a BSI UPIN. It can be assigned to products to help UK manufacturers to directly manage information about their products in the supply chain.

Identify is being brought to market by BSI in response to Hackitt’s Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety. It called for “an identification system that could provide every component in a building with a unique and persistent identification code.”

Golden Thread Technology

The new DOI system allows product information to be identified and accessed with certainty and preserves a persistent record, according to BSI. It supports decisions at any point in a products’ life cycle from manufacture, specification, procurement, installation, use, to de-commissioning or reuse.

Manufacturers can be give their customers access to the most up to date information. The UPIN directs users to a free, enduring and searchable registry where they can access product information controlled by the manufacturer.

Dan Rossiter at BSI said: “BSI is proud to bring the identification technology to the built environment to drive good practice around traceability and safety. It should have a transformative effect on how product information is exchanged by providing a robust and permanent solution for product traceability and information accountability.”

Construction Products Association (CPA) and representatives from across the built environment supply chain were involved in the development of the new ID system.

Peter Caplehorn, Construction Products Association

Peter Caplehorn, CEO of CPA said: “Digitalization of the construction industry is essential to drive productivity, improve performance certainty, and ensure the robust verification of products and their information.

“The deployment and use of DOI in the product sector is long overdue and will inevitably lead to a step change in efficiency for construction and maintenance across the built environment. The CPA is delighted to be involved in this initiative and we see it as an important contribution towards the ‘Golden Thread’ of information called for in the Dame Judith Hackitt review.”

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