The Electronic Construction Log — What Changes from 2026

The Electronic Construction Log — What Changes from 2026

For decades, the construction log was the paper heart of every project — it was where the site manager, the supervision inspector and the designer recorded the progress of works, entries on acceptances and any events relevant to safety. Today this document is undergoing a digital revolution. The electronic construction log (EDB) is gradually replacing its paper counterpart, and from 2026 the electronic form is becoming the standard for an ever-wider range of projects. In this article we explain what the EDB is, how the transition from paper to the digital version works, what obligations and deadlines come with this change, and what investors and construction professionals actually gain.

What the electronic construction log (EDB) is

The electronic construction log is the digital equivalent of the traditional paper log that has until now been kept on every project requiring a permit. Under current regulations, this document serves the same legal function as the paper version — it is the official record of the course of construction works and of all events and circumstances arising during their execution. The difference lies in the form and the way it is kept: instead of handwritten entries in a stamped notebook, participants in the construction process make entries in a dedicated IT system, using an account and electronic authentication.

The EDB is kept via an official system provided by the administration, available both in a web browser and in a mobile app. This means entries can be made directly from the construction site, and all authorised participants in the process have access to the documentation — the investor, the site manager, the investor's supervision inspector and the designer exercising author's supervision.

From paper to the digital version — what the change involves

Moving from a paper log to an electronic one is not merely a change of medium. It is an entirely new way of working with construction documentation. In the paper model the log was a physical object that had to be kept on site, protected from destruction and made available during inspections. In the electronic model all entries are stored in the cloud, marked with a timestamp and the identity of the person making the entry, and their integrity is technically secured.

Obligations and deadlines — what changes from 2026

The direction of change is clear: the electronic form is becoming the target solution, and the option of keeping a paper log is being gradually restricted. From 2026, for an ever-wider range of projects started on the basis of new decisions, the obligation to keep the log in electronic form is becoming the rule. Under current regulations, logs previously started in paper form may be continued until the completion of the given project, whereas new projects should be documented digitally.

• The EDB is set up before works begin, once the investor has obtained access to the system.
• The investor designates the participants in the construction process in the system and grants them the appropriate permissions.
• The site manager and the supervision inspector make entries on an ongoing basis, as the work progresses.
• Entries concerning significant events, acceptances and inspections should be recorded without undue delay.
• After the construction is completed, the log is closed, and its content remains secured in the system.

How it works in practice — step by step

Getting started with the electronic construction log is simpler than it might seem. The whole process is based on a single IT system, in which each participant operates within the scope of their permissions. Below we present a typical course — from setting up the log to the daily keeping of entries.

• 1.

  The investor logs into the system using electronic authentication and requests the setting up of a log for the project.

• 2.

  Participants in the construction process are assigned to the log, along with the scope of their permissions.

• 3.

  The site manager begins keeping entries, documenting the start and progress of the works.

• 4.

  The supervision inspector and the designer add entries within the scope of their competences, including remotely.

• 5.

  Entries can be supplemented with attachments, e.g. photos from the construction site, directly from a mobile device.

• 6.

  Once the work is finished, the log is formally closed and archived in the system.

Benefits for investors and professionals

Digitising the construction log is far more than meeting a formal requirement. For the investor it means complete, well-ordered and always-available documentation of the project, which can be accessed at any time — even years later, for example when selling the property or in the event of a dispute. For construction professionals it is a tool that organises daily work and reduces formalities.

• Full transparency — the investor sees the progress of works and the entries in real time.
• Data security — no risk of destroying or losing a paper document.
• Time savings — no need to be physically present to make or read an entry.
• Credibility — every entry is marked with the date and the author's identity.
• Easier inspections — supervisory bodies gain access to the documentation without delay.

It is worth remembering that these benefits fully emerge only when the log is kept diligently and on an ongoing basis. The electronic form makes documentation discipline easier, but it does not replace a professional approach on the part of the team running the construction.

What to pay attention to during implementation

Although the system is intuitive, moving to the EDB requires a few simple organisational preparations. The most common challenges concern not the technology itself, but organising the roles and habits of the team. It is good practice to establish, right at the start of the project, who is responsible for entries and to what extent, and to ensure that all participants have active electronic authentication.

It is also important to manage permissions deliberately — granting them only to people genuinely involved in the construction process and updating them in the event of changes in the team. This keeps the documentation credible, and responsibility for individual entries is unambiguously assigned.

Summary