Project handbook

The project handbook is prepared by the contractor and sets out responsibilities, procedures, and lines of communication for construction. This is a separate document to the construction phase plan which is a requirement of the CDM regulations and relates only to health and safety.

The project handbook might include:

• A comprehensive project directory listing relevant personnel, e-mail and postal addresses and telephone numbers and describing their role in the project.
• Contractor organisation charts, identifying roles and responsibilities.
• Lists of third parties including: stakeholders, statutory authorities, statutory utilities, adjacent property owners and occupants, emergency services and any other local or national bodies with an interest in the project.
• Personnel to deal with media relations and complaints.
• Head office and site operating procedures (such as purchasing arrangements and PAYE arrangements).
• Valuation dates for measurement, off-site inspections and payment.
• Meetings schedules and reporting systems.
• Records, archiving and document control strategies (including archiving strategy and security against fire or theft).
• Document distribution procedures.
• Site instructions and change order procedures.
• Cost control and reporting.
• Programme reporting and adjustment procedures.
• Commissioning and handover procedures.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.

• Building log book.
• Building owner's manual.
• Building user's guide.
• CDM planning period.
• Construction phase plan.
• Handover to contractor.
• Health and safety file.
• Office manual.
• Project directory.
• Project execution plan.
• Site layout plan.
• Site waste management plan.