In London construction, anchor installations are no longer treated as isolated fixing activities. Under the building safety regime, they form part of the permanent safety evidence required to demonstrate that structural attachments have been designed, installed and verified correctly. Where anchors support façade systems, services, plant or temporary works, the absence of records is no longer a minor documentation issue; it is a direct compliance risk that can delay Gateway approvals, handover or occupation.
Under the Building Safety Act 2022 and the Building Safety Regulator framework, anchor records sit within the Golden Thread of information. This means that every anchor installation must be traceable from design intent through to installation, testing and verification, with clear evidence of competence and compliance with standards such as BS 8539:2012+A1:2021. In practice, this shifts anchors from a subcontractor activity to a regulated evidence package.
This article defines exactly what anchor records must be kept, how they are structured within a compliant evidence set and why incomplete or missing records are now one of the most common causes of compliance challenges on London projects.
Anchor records under the building safety regime are the documented evidence demonstrating that anchors have been designed, installed, tested and verified in accordance with applicable standards and regulatory requirements. Under the Building Safety Act 2022, these records form part of the Golden Thread of information, meaning they must be accurate, complete, traceable and accessible throughout the lifecycle of the building.
In practice, anchor records provide a continuous evidence chain linking design assumptions, base material verification, installation methods, testing outcomes and competence of personnel, in line with standards such as BS 8539:2012+A1:2021. Their purpose is not only to confirm that anchors have been installed, but to demonstrate that they perform safely under the intended load conditions and can be verified as compliant at Gateway stages, during audits and throughout occupation.
1. Anchor Records Are Part of the Golden Thread, Not Site Paperwork
Anchor records are not standalone documents produced for internal QA purposes. Under the building safety regime, they form part of the Golden Thread of information and are therefore required to be accurate, up to date, secure and accessible throughout the lifecycle of the building.
In higher-risk buildings, this information is used to demonstrate that structural fixings perform as intended and do not introduce hidden or unquantified risk. Anchor records provide evidence of how loads are transferred into base materials, whether the selected fixing methods are suitable, and whether installation has been carried out in accordance with design assumptions. They also demonstrate that works have been properly supervised and verified.
Without a complete record set, it is not possible to demonstrate that installed systems are safe, regardless of whether the physical installation appears satisfactory.
2. Design Records: What Was Intended
The first layer of anchor records relates to design intent. These records establish the basis on which anchors have been selected and designed for a specific application, forming the technical foundation of compliance.
This typically includes the specification of anchor type and size, together with design calculations or manufacturer-generated outputs. Reference to ETA or EAD documentation is required to demonstrate that the product is suitable for the intended use. Load cases must be clearly defined, including tension, shear and any combined loading scenarios, alongside the required edge distances and spacing. Assumptions about the base material, such as concrete strength or masonry type, must also be explicitly stated.
Under BS 8539:2012+A1:2021, the responsibility for anchor design must be clearly allocated. Where anchors are installed into existing structures, verification of the base material becomes a critical element of the design record, as assumptions can no longer be relied upon without evidence.
3. Installation Records: What Was Done on Site
Design intent alone is insufficient to demonstrate compliance. The Building Safety Regulator expects clear evidence that anchors have been installed in accordance with both the design and the manufacturer’s instructions.
Installation records must therefore capture what has actually been carried out on site. This includes the location of installed anchors, the method used, and key parameters such as embedment depth. For mechanical anchors, torque values must be recorded, while for chemical anchors, the resin type and curing conditions must be documented. Hole preparation, including cleaning procedures, must also be evidenced.
Crucially, installation records must identify who carried out the work. Increasingly, photographic evidence is expected, particularly for safety-critical installations or where access will be restricted following completion.
These records must demonstrate alignment with both manufacturer guidance and BS 8539 requirements. Without this, it cannot be shown that the installation achieves the intended performance.
4. Competence Records: Who Carried Out the Work
Competence is a fundamental requirement under the building safety regime and applies directly to anchor installation and testing.
It is not sufficient to demonstrate that work has been completed; it must also be shown that it has been carried out by individuals with the appropriate knowledge, training and experience. This includes the ability to install anchors correctly, perform testing procedures and interpret the results.
Competence records typically include evidence of training, such as manufacturer or CFA courses, alongside formal qualifications such as NVQs where applicable. Records of supervision and company-level competency systems also form part of the evidence set.
If competence cannot be demonstrated, testing results may be challenged and the validity of the installation called into question.
5. Testing and Verification Records: Proof of Performance
Testing provides direct evidence that anchors achieve the required performance in the actual substrate. It is therefore one of the most critical components of the record set.
Records must clearly define the type of test carried out, whether proof testing, suitability testing or investigation works. The load applied, the calibration status of the test equipment and the measured displacement must all be recorded. Pass or fail criteria must be defined in advance, and the outcome of each test must be documented together with a clear interpretation.
Where testing is required under BS 8539 or project specifications, results must be traceable either to individual anchors or to representative samples that are clearly defined.
Testing data must be robust, verifiable and directly linked to both the installation and design records. Without this link, the evidence chain is incomplete.
6. Inspection and Sign-Off Records
Inspection forms the final verification stage and provides assurance that installation and testing have been carried out correctly.
Inspection records should document pre-installation checks, observations during installation, and the witnessing of tests where required. Any non-conformances must be recorded, together with the actions taken to address them. Final acceptance records must confirm that the installation meets the specified requirements.
Sign-off must be clear and attributable, identifying who carried out the inspection, what was verified and the basis on which compliance has been accepted. This information is essential for demonstrating compliance at handover.
7. Traceability: Linking All Records Together
A complete set of records is only meaningful if it is fully traceable. One of the most common failures in anchor documentation is the inability to link design, installation, testing and inspection records together.
Each anchor installation must be identifiable and traceable across all stages. This is typically achieved through unique reference numbers, marked drawings or location plans, and increasingly through digital QA systems.
Without traceability, individual records cannot be connected to specific installations, and their value as evidence is significantly reduced.
8. How Anchor Records Are Used by the Building Safety Regulator
The Building Safety Regulator does not inspect anchors directly. Instead, it assesses the evidence that demonstrates compliance.
Anchor records may be reviewed at Gateway 2 to confirm that design intent is appropriate, at Gateway 3 to verify that works have been completed in accordance with that design, and during audits or investigations.
Where records are incomplete or unclear, this can lead to delays in approvals, requests for additional testing or even intrusive investigations. In some cases, it may result in disputes regarding liability or prevent sign-off altogether.
The quality of the record set therefore directly affects the ability to achieve regulatory approval.
9. Why Missing Records Create Real Risk
In the current regulatory environment, missing anchor records represent a significant risk rather than a minor administrative issue.
They create uncertainty about structural performance and prevent verification of safety. This exposes dutyholders to enforcement action, commercial risk and potential programme delays.
The fundamental question has shifted. It is no longer sufficient to state that anchors have been installed; it must be demonstrated, through evidence, that they have been installed correctly and are capable of performing as required.
10. Practical Compliance Approach for London Projects
Effective management of anchor records requires a structured approach from the outset of the project. Responsibilities for design, installation, testing and verification must be clearly defined, and standardised methods for recording and reporting must be established.
Digital systems are increasingly used to manage records and maintain traceability, while QA procedures ensure that information is captured consistently. Where appropriate, independent verification can provide additional assurance.
Anchor records should be treated as a core compliance deliverable, integrated into the Golden Thread, rather than as a secondary output produced at the end of the works.
Conclusion
Under the building safety regime, anchor records are no longer optional technical documentation. They form part of the regulated evidence required to demonstrate that structural fixings are safe, compliant and suitable for their intended use.
Projects that fail to manage anchor records effectively risk delays, additional costs and regulatory challenge. Those that embed them within the Golden Thread from the outset are able to demonstrate compliance with clarity and confidence.
Image © London Construction Magazine Limited
|
Expert Verification & Authorship: Mihai Chelmus
Founder, London Construction Magazine | Construction Testing & Investigation Specialist |
