If you work in building or fire safety, you may have heard the term ‘Hackitt’ when referring to safety principles or government guidance.
The Hackitt Report, officially titled ‘Building a Safer Future’ was an independent review of UK building regulations and fire safety conducted in the wake of the disaster at Grenfell Tower. Led by Dame Judith Hackitt and published in May 2018, it found the entire regulatory system needed fundamental change. Its recommendations helped to form the Building Safety Act 2022.
Why was the review commissioned?
The review was commissioned by the Communities Secretary Sajid Javid in July 2017, in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire, to examine how high-rise residential buildings are regulated, built and managed.
What did the Hackitt Report actually recommend?
- A new regulatory framework
Hackitt proposed a Joint Competent Authority, a single body combining building control, fire services and the HSE, overseeing all high-rise buildings.
- Clear, identifiable responsibility
A named duty holder, accountable for the building’s safety throughout its life who is required to present a safety case at set intervals.
- Three gateway checkpoints
Mandatory sign off points at planning, pre-construction and pre-occupation stages.
- Stronger enforcement powers
Longer time limits to prosecute serious failures, alongside wider powers to issue improvement or prohibition notices.
- Higher competence standards
A heightened expectation for the construction and fire sectors to demonstrate genuine leadership and technical competence, not just follow guidance.
- More rigorous product testing
Transparent testing of product performance as part of a whole system, not just in isolation.
- Better information management
Accurate safety records kept and handed over properly, the recommendation that later became the legal “Golden Thread” requirement under the Building Safety Act.
- Better procurement practices
Contracts and tenders that explicitly protect safety from being compromised or cut for cost savings.
What actually became law?
The government accepted Hackitt’s full recommendations from the review in December 2018 and used it as the basis for the Building Safety Act 2022. They took things a step further, widening the scope beyond what Hackitt recommended. She proposed the new standards apply to multi-occupancy residential buildings of 10 or more storeys (av. 30 metres), instead the government legislated for 7 storeys or more (av. 18 metres) bringing thousands more buildings into the scope of the requirements.
How does this connect to fire door compliance and LFS’s work?
- Clear duty holder responsibility
LFS acts as Principal Contractor on relevant projects, holding direct accountability for the work rather than it being spread across subcontractors.
- Competence and accreditation
Hackitt also called for competence that could actually be demonstrated, not just guidance that people trusted to follow. LFS is independently accredited by BM TRADA, FIRAS and NICEIC for its fire protection work and holds Chartered Building Company status with CIOB, which is a company-level accreditation recognising its commitment to professional standards.
- The Golden Thread
There’s a legal duty to create and maintain the golden thread. The golden thread is an accurate, up-to-date digital record of a building’s safety-critical details, accessible for a building’s whole life. LFS uses OneTrace to manage this for fire door and passive fire protection work. - Resident engagement
The wider reforms that followed Hackitt’s report pushed for residents to be kept informed about safety work happening in their own building. LFS has dedicated customer care teams and structured communications during all works carried out.
- Assurance and transparency
None of this means much if it can’t be proven. So every project ends with certified handovers and reporting that can audited. This ensures actual evidence on file, not just a verbal assurance the work was done properly.
FAQs
- Who is Dame Judith Hackitt?
Hackitt is the former Chair of the Health and Safety Executive who was commissioned by the government to lead the independent review into building regulations and fire safety after the Grenfell Tower fire. Her final report, “Building a Safer Future” was published in May 2018. - What is the Golden Thread in building Safety?
The Golden Thread refers to the up-to-date digital record of a building’s safety-critical information, which duty holders have a legal obligation to create and maintain throughout a building’s life. It was included in Section 88 of the Building Safety Act 2022 as a legal requirement. - Did the Hackitt Report create the Building Safety Act?
The Hackitt Report presented recommendations to the government in May 2018. In December 2018, the government accepted the recommendations and most of them were written into law through the Building Safety Act 2022. - What buildings does the response to the Hackitt report apply to?
It applies to residential buildings in England that are at least 18 metres tall or have 7 storeys, with two or more residential units.
The Hackitt Report was the government’s first major step in changing building safety legislation in England following the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017. Its recommendations form the basis for the Building Safety Act 2022, which has been rolled out in stages. This act shapes how we work at LFS, where safety and compliance are maintained and evidenced through the Golden Thread.
Not sure where your building stands?
A fire door survey tells you exactly what’s compliant, what isn’t and what needs doing, with evidence on file.
