The paper construction log is becoming a thing of the past: you’ll receive a new copy by the end of 2031 at the latest, and starting in 2032, new construction projects will be managed exclusively in the EDB. Check whether you need a qualified digital signature, who can make entries, and why the mobile app is useful. SimplySign is becoming the standard on Polish construction sites.
Electronic Construction Log (EDB) It is an information and communications technology system operated by the General Office of Building Supervision, accessible via:
The system has been in operation since January 27, 2023, and its rules are governed by Chapter 5a of the Construction Law (Articles 47a–47v). The EDB replaces the traditional paper construction log. Its main advantages include: centralized data storage, the impossibility of „losing” the log, easy access for construction supervision authorities, and automatic verification of the credentials of those involved in the construction process.
| Deadline | What's Changing |
|---|---|
| January 27, 2023 | Launch of the EDB system — the construction log can be maintained electronically (on a voluntary basis for now) |
| December 31, 2031 | The last day for issuing construction logs in paper form (Section 47v of the Construction Law) |
| January 1, 2032 | New construction logs are available exclusively in EDB (exception: restricted areas) |
If your construction site uses a paper logbook, you can continue using it until the work is completed or switch to maintaining it in EDB at any time (Article 47k). This is a one-way process—once a logbook is maintained electronically, it cannot be converted back to paper.
In the Electronic Construction Log, entries may be made by parties involved in the construction process who hold the appropriate certifications. The main groups include:
Entries may also be added by a surveyor and employees of supervisory authorities (Article 47e of the Construction Law).
This is one of the key advantages of EDB: Unauthorized users cannot make entries — The system will not allow her access to the critical sections of the log.
The answer is simpler than the guidebooks suggest.
For EDB itself, a qualified electronic signature is not required at all, but it is one of the ways to access the system. You log in via login.gov.pl (trusted profile, e-dowód, online banking, or a qualified electronic signature), and entries are not signed—the logged-in account confirms the author and date.
In electronic documents related to construction (applications submitted via e-Budownictwo, construction plans), the regulations allow for three types of signatures:
A qualified electronic signature (QES) is not required for EDB — but the documents don't end with the log.
The answer lies beyond the EDB itself. A site manager’s or supervising inspector’s day doesn’t end with entries in the logbook. Waiting on their desk (or in their backpack at the construction site) are also:
A single qualified digital signature covers it all. Trusted Profile for EDB + a separate tool for contracts + a certificate for KSeF = a mess of tools and time wasted managing multiple authentication methods.
Article How to use the SimplySign mobile signature to sign PDFs on a computer shows how intuitively this works in practice.
SimplySign This is a mobile, cloud-based qualified electronic signature from Certum. It doesn't require a cryptographic card or a reader—it works through a smartphone app. This is a key advantage when working in the field.
Imagine a typical day for a construction manager: in the morning at the construction site, a meeting with the client in the afternoon, and in the evening, issuing an invoice and signing the stage acceptance report. SimplySign handles all these signatures from a single application:
As authorized partner Certum, podpisano.pl offers SimplySign with full implementation support—from obtaining certification through installation to on-site training.
Below is the complete process for a construction manager or inspector who has not yet worked with EDB:
Experience shows that construction managers encounter similar challenges when implementing EDB. Here are the most common ones:
This is one of the most common concerns—and, as it happens, an unfounded one. The EDB mobile app allows you to adding entries offline: They are saved locally with the actual date of creation and synchronized once the connection is restored. You do not sign the entry, so a lack of coverage does not prevent you from working with the log. An internet connection at the time of signing is only required for documents signed using the SimplySign method (where the signature is generated in the cloud)—sign the protocol or contract after leaving the site or via an LTE modem.
Older licenses, especially those issued before the registries were digitized, may not yet be in e-CRUB. In that case, submit an application for registration through your professional association (PIIB or IARP — the Polish Chamber of Architects). In practice, registration in e-CRUB is a prerequisite for working in EDB as a participant in the construction process—without it, the system will not verify your credentials.
Restricted areas (designated by decision of the Ministry of National Defense, the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Head of the Internal Security Agency, or the Head of the Military Intelligence Agency) are subject to an exception—a paper construction log will remain available there even after 2031.
| Criterion | Qualified Electronic Signature (QES / SimplySign) | Trusted Signature (Trusted Profile) | Personal Signature (e-dowód) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Login and Entries in the EDB |  Optional (login via login.gov.pl) |  Yes (trusted profile) | Yes (e-dowód) |
| Signing Agreements with the Investor | Yes (in writing) |  No (documentary form) | No (documentary form) |
| Signing of Acceptance Protocols | Yes | (if written form is required) | |
| KSeF — Authentication | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobility on the Construction Site | Very good (app) | Goods (mObywatel application) |  Requires a card reader |
| Recognition throughout the EU (eIDAS) | Yes (Article 25 of Regulation 910/2014) | Not | Not |
| Cost | Starting at several hundred zlotys per year | Free | Free (e-dowód) |
| Who is it best for? | A professional who handles multiple construction sites and documents | Small construction projects, occasional posts | Rarely used in the field |
For more information on the differences between a trusted signature and a qualified signature, see the guide: Trusted Profile vs. Qualified Digital Signature — Which to Choose.QES is also recognized in all EU countries pursuant to the regulation eIDAS (Article 25 of EU Regulation 910/2014) — this is an additional benefit for companies working on cross-border projects or hiring subcontractors from the European Union. Learn more: eIDAS and Cross-Border Recognition of Qualified Signatures.
If your company manages multiple construction sites at the same time and your HR staff signs contracts with subcontractors, it’s worth taking a broader view: a single qualified digital signature powers both the EDB and the entire document workflow. When it comes to employment contracts with construction crews, we recommend reading this article Electronic personnel files and employment contracts with a qualified digital signature.
EDB is the new reality for everyone in the construction industry. Paper-based construction logs are becoming a thing of the past, and the digital log in the GUNB system offers better control, security, and accessibility of documentation. Choosing the right signature is a decision that will affect not only the EDB but also your company’s entire document workflow.
A qualified digital signature is not required for EDB — You log in using QES, a trusted profile, an e-ID, or online banking, and you do not sign the entries. For professionals managing multiple construction projects and documents However, the QES (SimplySign) remains irreplaceable — You can handle contracts, minutes, applications, and KSeF all with a single tool. You will receive the paper construction log by December 31, 2031, at the latest. — Starting January 1, 2032, new logs will be maintained exclusively in the EDB (except in restricted areas); any paper log you have already started must be completed or transferred to the EDB. The system confirms the manager's permissions in the e-CRUB registry — You don't need to submit any documents, but if you're not listed in the registry, you won't be able to work in EDB.As authorized partner Certum We help construction managers, contractors, and developers select and set up a qualified digital signature ready for the entire workflow of construction documents—contracts, acceptance reports, applications, and invoices.
📞 Call us: +48 22 417 05 55 — We can provide advice at our offices in Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław, and Radom, or online.
🛒 Check out the offer: SimplySign — a mobile qualified digital signature, ready for use on construction sites and in the office.
For more information about the EDB system, visit the official website e-dziennikbudowy.gunb.gov.pl and the website e-budownictwo.gunb.gov.pl.
No. You do not submit any electronic signature to EDB itself: you log in via login.gov.pl (using a trusted profile, an e-ID with a qualified signature, or online banking), and the logged-in account confirms the authorship of the entry. A qualified digital signature, however, is the most convenient tool for a construction company’s other documents—contracts, reports, applications in e-Budownictwo, and invoices in KSeF—because it handles them all with a single certificate.
The EDB system has been operational since January 27, 2023, and for now, it is optional—the construction log can still be maintained on paper. Paper logs will be issued until December 31, 2031, at the latest; starting January 1, 2032, new logs will be maintained exclusively in the EDB (with the exception of restricted areas). You may either complete a previously issued paper logbook in its current form or transfer it to the EDB. These deadlines were extended by the amendment to the Construction Law of December 4, 2025.
e-CRUB is the Central Register of Persons Holding Construction Licenses—a database maintained by GUNB that lists the licenses of construction managers, inspectors, and designers. The EDB system verifies the licenses of construction process participants based on this register. If your qualifications are not listed there, submit an application for registration through your professional chamber—without this, you will not be granted participant status in the EDB.
Yes. The EDB mobile app allows you to add entries offline—they are saved with the actual date they were created and sync once you’re back online. These entries do not require an electronic signature, so you don’t need a network connection for them. However, the SimplySign cloud-based signature requires an internet connection when signing documents (e.g., minutes)—be sure to schedule this after leaving an area without coverage.
Yes—SimplySign is a single mobile qualified digital signature that works wherever QES is accepted: for contracts (in writing), acceptance reports, invoices in KSeF, HR documents, and other PDF or XML files requiring a signature. No signature is required for EDB itself—all you need is an account and to log in via login.gov.pl. This is the main argument in favor of QES for construction companies: a single tool handles the rest of the document workflow.
There is no such requirement—restricted areas, as designated by a decision of the Ministry of National Defense, the Minister of the Interior, the Head of the Internal Security Agency (ABW), or the Head of the Military Intelligence Agency (AW), are subject to an exception: a paper construction log will continue to be issued there even after 2031.
