---
title: "Site order book"
subject: "Construction Management"
chapter: 8
key: "semester_8/construction_management:site-order-book"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/construction_management/site-order-book
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Site order book

Construction Management · Chapter 8: Site Management

- Asked in: 2079 Jestha, 2 marks; 2075 Bhadra, 3 marks; 2079 Shrawan; 2078 Chaitra; 2065 Baisakh (old course) (asked 5 times)
- Video: [How to Maintain Site Order Book at Construction Site | What is Site Order Book? | By CivilGuruji](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzXMd6RajOQ) — The Institute of Construction Managment 
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/construction_management/site-order-book
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/construction_management/chapter-8

## Question

What is a site order book? Explain.

## Short answer

A site order book is a serially numbered bound book kept at site in which the engineer writes orders and instructions to the contractor and the contractor replies. Entries are dated and signed, cannot be erased, and serve as legal evidence for disputes, delays, and variations.

## Answer

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.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. A site order book is:
   A. A bound, numbered book in which written orders to the contractor and replies are entered
   B. A record of measurements
   C. A register of wages
   D. A list of materials
   Answer: A. Orders are dated and signed by the giver and acknowledged by the contractor. (Key point: Definition)

2. Which is a feature of the site order book?
   A. Pages may be torn off
   B. Entries in ink with no cutting or erasing, pages numbered
   C. Kept by the contractor at home
   D. Entries in pencil
   Answer: B. Numbered pages, no tearing, ink entries preserve integrity. (Key point: Features)

3. Why is the site order book important?
   A. It is a legal record and evidence in disputes or claims
   B. It fixes wages
   C. It replaces drawings
   D. It estimates quantity
   Answer: A. It avoids verbal orders and helps fix responsibility and support extension of time claims. (Key point: Importance)

## Related in Construction Management

- [Differentiate site order book and measurement book](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Asob-vs-measurement-book) — Construction Management, chapter 8

## Related in other subjects

- [Book store process model](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fsoftware_engineering%3Abook-store-process-model) — Software Engineering, chapter 2