Glossary

DIUO, definition and guide for maîtres d'œuvre

The DIUO (dossier d'intervention ultérieure sur l'ouvrage) is the French file that records the technical measures needed to work safely on a building after it is delivered, for its upkeep, maintenance, and future repairs. It is compiled and kept current by the coordonnateur SPS (the health and safety coordinator) throughout the project. It is handed to the client at reception and stays with the building for its entire life.

What the DIUO means in practice

The DIUO documents how to work safely on the building ten or twenty years after delivery, without endangering the people who do it. It records roof access, anchor points, façade-cleaning provisions, the maintenance conditions for technical equipment, and any permanent fixtures designed for future interventions.

The coordonnateur SPS opens the DIUO at design stage and feeds it until reception. The maître d'œuvre supplies the technical data and drawings it contains. On any project subject to SPS coordination, the DIUO is not optional, its absence exposes the client to liability.

The DIUO is not the DOE (dossier des ouvrages exécutés). The DOE describes what was built; the DIUO describes how to work safely on what was built. Both files are handed to the client at reception and are complementary, not interchangeable.

Legal basis of the DIUO

The DIUO is required by the French Code du travail, under the health and safety coordination rules introduced by the law of 31 December 1993 transposing the European directive on temporary or mobile construction sites. Compiling the file is the duty of the coordonnateur SPS appointed by the client.

The DIUO is mandatory for building or civil-engineering operations subject to SPS coordination, that is, as soon as more than one company or subcontractor works on the same site. It is delivered to the client when the works are completed and must be kept and passed on at each transfer of ownership.

The DIUO is separate from decennial liability (loi Spinetta, article 1792 of the Code civil), which covers defects affecting the soundness or fitness of the structure. The DIUO belongs to labour law and to the safety of future workers, not to the warranty the builder owes the client on the quality of the works.

How Builddar handles the DIUO

The DIUO and the DOE are centralised in document management (DMS), linked to the zones, trades, and reserves they relate to. Drawings, maintenance notices, and technical data produced during the project are filed as they are created, with version control, instead of being assembled in a rush at reception.

At reception, the maître d'œuvre hands over a complete, traceable file: every item in the DIUO is timestamped and stored with the project history. EU data stays hosted in the European Union. Setting up a firm template takes about 20 minutes.

Frequently asked questions about the DIUO

The DIUO (dossier d'intervention ultérieure sur l'ouvrage) is the French later-intervention safety file. It records the technical measures needed to work safely on a building after delivery, for upkeep, maintenance, and repairs. It is compiled by the coordonnateur SPS and handed to the client at reception of the works.
The DIUO is compiled and kept current by the coordonnateur SPS (health and safety coordinator), appointed by the client from the design stage. The maître d'œuvre and the contractors supply the drawings, notices, and technical data it needs. The coordonnateur SPS hands the finished file to the client when the works are completed.
The DIUO contains everything needed to work safely on the building after delivery: roof and height access, anchor points and fall-protection devices, façade-cleaning provisions, the maintenance conditions for technical equipment, and the matching drawings. It documents the permanent fixtures designed for future interventions.
The DOE (dossier des ouvrages exécutés) describes what was built: as-built drawings, notices, and data sheets for the installed equipment. The DIUO describes how to work safely on the finished building for its future maintenance. The two files are distinct and complementary, and are handed to the client together at reception.
Yes. The DIUO is required by the French Code du travail for any building or civil-engineering operation subject to SPS coordination, that is, as soon as more than one company works on the same site. Its absence exposes the client to liability, and the file must be passed on at every transfer of ownership of the building.