Site order book

A site order book (SOB) is a bound book with serially numbered pages, kept at the site, in which the engineer or the client's representative writes orders and instructions to the contractor, and in which the contractor writes remarks or replies. Each entry is dated and signed by the person who makes it, and acknowledged by the contractor.

Contents

• Instructions about the work: changes, additional work, quality defects, safety.
• Orders to correct, remove or redo faulty work.
• Instructions to stop or start work, or to order materials or tests.
• Dates, inspection notes and the contractor's replies.

Features

• Pages are numbered; no page may be torn out; entries are made in ink with no cutting or erasing.
• The book is usually in duplicate or triplicate with carbon copies, one of which goes to the engineer's file.
• It is kept in the site office, available for inspection by senior officers.

Importance

• It is a legal record of instructions and serves as evidence in any dispute or claim.
• It avoids verbal orders and misunderstandings.
• It helps to fix responsibility for delays and defects.
• It supports extensions of time and variation orders.