The EU Data Act – From Compliance to Confidence in Construction

The EU Data Act is here. And while most regulatory shifts feel like paperwork, this one’s different. It’s not just about ticking boxes. It’s about reimagining how we work with the information that builds our world. 

While GDPR tackled personal data, the Data Act goes after something bigger: the project data, industrial systems, and operational information that powers every building model, RFI, submittal, and digital twin in construction. This is the data that builds things. 

For architecture, engineering, and construction firms, this matters. It changes how we share information, who can access it, where it lives, and how we prove it’s trustworthy. And honestly? That’s not a bad thing. 

What the Data Act Actually Means 

Here’s the straightforward version: the EU Data Act creates one set of rules across Europe for how non-personal data gets used and shared. Fair access. Real transparency. Systems that talk to each other. 

In practice, that means: 

• No more data hostages:  Teams can access and share information from connected devices and cloud platforms without vendor lock-in or artificial barriers. 
• Everything traceable:  Every project record should have a clear history. Who created it, who changed it, when, and why. 
• Security and governance baked in:  Role-based access, encryption, and retention policies aren’t nice-to-haves anymore. They’re the standard. 
• Data belongs to the project:  Information generated during a build (from BIM models to site sensors) can’t stay locked in isolated systems. It needs to be usable by the people who legitimately need it. 

The big idea? Data is a shared resource, not a private silo. 

 Why AECO Can’t Ignore This 

In our industry, project data drives every decision. And too often, it’s scattered across tools, buried in email threads, or trapped in someone’s shared drive. 

 The Data Act says that’s not good enough anymore. 

• For architects and engineers:  You’ll need structured, interoperable records that move between design tools and document systems without friction. 

• For contractors:  Expect to trace information from early design through site delivery and handover and be able to prove it. 

• For owners and operators:  You now have stronger rights to access your project data after handover. Closeout just got more meaningful. 

• For UK and Irish (and global!) firms:  Even if you’re based outside the EU, working on EU projects or using EU cloud systems brings you into scope. 

This isn’t just regulatory theatre. It’s about transparency, accountability, and trust. The things that win contracts, strengthen insurance terms, and protect reputations. 

The Golden Thread Meets the Data Act 

If you’ve been following the UK’s Building Safety Act, you already know about the Golden Thread. That continuous, auditable record of building information across its entire lifecycle. 

The EU Data Act takes that same principle and applies it to your data infrastructure. It’s not just about what information you keep. It’s about making sure the systems and workflows behind it are traceable and interoperable from the start. 

Together, they’re redefining good governance in construction: 

The Golden Thread keeps people and buildings safe. 

The Data Act ensures the information behind those safety decisions is accurate, accessible, and secure. 

Two sides of the same coin. 

What You Should Be Doing Right Now 

The good news? You don’t need to rip everything up and start over. But you do need to take a clear look at how your project information actually flows. 

Here’s where to start: 

• Map your data ecosystem:  Where does project information live? Who controls it? Is it sitting in disconnected pockets? 

• Reduce fragmentation:  Connect the tools your teams already use (Revit, SharePoint, Outlook, Procore) under one governed structure. 

• Build in traceability:  Use audit trails and permission controls to show who did what, when. Accountability shouldn’t be a mystery. 

• Plan for portability:  Make sure project data can move securely between stakeholders and systems when it needs to. No drama, no data loss. 

 

How Newforma Helps You Get There 

Newforma was built around the same principles the Data Act now requires: interoperability, transparency, and accountability. Not because regulation demanded it, but because good project delivery always has. 

 We connect every project stakeholder providing a single view and creating and, auditable project record. It links emails, models, drawings, and submittals across systems like Autodesk, Outlook, and SharePoint. Everyone sees what they need to see. Nothing gets lost. Everything’s traceable. 

 For firms using Newforma, compliance isn’t a scramble. It’s already built in. 

• Project information is transparent and traceable by default. 

• Teams collaborate confidently without risking security or version chaos.