The requirement for a Building Log Book was created in 2002 by the Department of the Deputy Prime Minister (now known as the Department for Communities and Local Government). The Log Books were detailed as a requirement within the new Building Regulations document Part L2, The Conservation of Fuel and Power. In 2006 this document underwent some general revisions and was split into L2A and L2B sub-documents, the former for new non-domestic dwellings and the latter for existing non-domestic dwellings. NB Similar documents for domestic dwellings are covered by L1A and L1B.
The initial version of these documents went to considerable lengths to describe the content for the Log Books; however, the current version of these documents simply refers to C.I.B.S.E. TM31 as the requiredbasis for providing a Building Log Book.
NB CIBSE based Building Log Books should not be confused with BREEAM Building User Guides - these are a totally different document where the Project Manager is the only party who has access to all the information they need to contain.
The C.I.B.S.E. TM31 based log book has itself been updated over the years; however, it is fundamentally the same document as at the outset. Its compilation is designed to be a collaborative exercise with input from many members of the project team and also by the end user. Consequently, the primary method of issuing the document is electronically for subsequent updating, expansion and ongoing use.
Our approach to the production of the Log Books is based on the condition that we are also producing the associated Mechanical and Electrical Operating and Maintenance Manual. Consequently, the additional information we require from our clients is minimal.
The draft Log Book would be produced alongside the draft Operating and Maintenance Manual and issued at the same time for comment/approval by the project team. As with our draft Manuals, the draft Log Books will be issued electronically with the first two pages containing instructions for commenting, details of how the final copies will be presented and, most importantly, a list of the additional information required by each member of the project team (main contractor, designer, client).
The handing over of the Log Book at project completion is a legal requirement, consequently (and fortunately for the services contractor), it is often necessary to issue the document "as is" should the project team fail to either provide comment or "their info" in an acceptable timeframe. The responsibility for completing and reissuing the document then falls to the remainder of the project team.
The cost for a Building Log Book is, as with our Operating and Maintenance Manuals, dependent upon the scope and diversification of services on the project. A cost for the Building Log Book will be identified on all our quotations for Operating and Maintenance Manuals, but as a general rule of thumb, the cost for the Log Book should be approximately 40% of the cost of the O&M Manuals.