Electronic Construction Log (ECL) – what is it and how can you switch to digital management?

Electronic Construction Log – what is it and how can you switch to digital management?

The digitalisation of the construction sector in Poland is now a reality. From 2023, developers and management staff will have the option to move away from traditional paper-based documents in favour of digital solutions. A key element of this reform is the EDB system, developed by the General Office of Building Control.

For many participants in the investment process, however, a question arises: the construction log – what exactly does this mean in its virtual form, and how can it be efficiently implemented on site? In this article, we explain how the new format works, the legal requirements and the practical benefits of digital document management.

What is an electronic works log and what is it used for?

A traditional site log is an official document in which the progress of works and any circumstances relevant to assessing their correctness are recorded.

The electronic construction log is its official, virtual version, maintained in a dedicated government application. It has full legal force and replaces the previous yellow paper form. The application allows authorised persons – the site manager, the supervisory inspector, the designer or the surveyor – to make entries in real time.

Why is it worth switching to cloud-based documentation?

The introduction of a digital logbook eliminates a number of problems that the industry has struggled with for decades:

• No risk of damage or loss: Paper forms were prone to damage on site or getting lost in the field. An online construction logbook is securely stored on servers.
• Access from anywhere: The client or inspector does not need to physically visit the site to check the latest entries or the progress of the work.
• Transparency and legal certainty: Every entry in the Electronic Construction Log system is signed with an electronic signature (Trusted Profile, e-ID or qualified signature) along with the exact date and time, which rules out the possibility of retroactive manipulation.

How do you set up a digital investment register in practice?

Transitioning to a digital construction site log (electronic construction log) is straightforward and is carried out through the e-Budownictwo portal. The procedure involves several steps:

1. Application by the investor: The investor creates an account in the Electronic Construction Site Log system and submits an application for the issuance of the log after obtaining a final decision granting the relevant construction permit or after submitting the required notification of construction works.
2. Assignment of roles: The investor adds the relevant participants in the construction process to the system, including the appointed site manager, construction supervision inspector, and designer, and assigns them the appropriate access rights.
3. Making entries: The site manager takes over the electronic log and records the commencement of works, subsequent stages of construction, and inspections and acceptances.

It is worth noting that electronic construction site logs are becoming the standard solution, with regulations providing for the gradual phasing out of paper-based logs in favour of full digitalisation.

Digitisation of site documentation – the e-Construction Log system and the everyday work of the teams

Although the state-run electronic site logbook addresses formal and legal issues, it does not replace day-to-day operational communication between the site manager, foremen and site workers.

Hundreds of pieces of information are generated every day on site: reports on work completed, timesheets, requests for materials and equipment records. For full digitalisation to deliver real savings, it is worth integrating the official system with mobile management tools.

Digital site logbooks represent a revolutionary step towards modern construction practices in Poland. The elimination of paper, instant access to data and legal certainty mean that digital document management is becoming the industry standard.

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