Glossary

DOE (dossier des ouvrages exécutés), definition and guide for architects and maîtres d'œuvre

The DOE (dossier des ouvrages exécutés) is the as-built file describing a building exactly as it was constructed. It is handed over to the client at reception and serves as the reference for any later intervention on the works. The DOE contains the conformed as-built drawings, the operating and maintenance manuals, and the warranties for the equipment and materials installed.

What the DOE means in practice

The DOE is the technical record of the delivered building. It documents what was actually installed, not what was originally specified: site changes, ductwork routes and service runs are marked up on the conformed drawings (as-built drawings). Without a DOE, the client operates a building whose exact contents are unknown.

The DOE gathers several families of documents: conformed drawings and schematics (architecture, structure, mechanical, electrical), operating and maintenance manuals for equipment, technical data sheets and test certificates, conformity certificates, and warranty attestations from suppliers and manufacturers. Each trade (lot) contributes its part of the file.

The DOE is produced by the contractors on each lot, then collected, checked and compiled by the maîtrise d'œuvre, usually the OPC coordinator or the conducteur de travaux. It is handed over at reception or within the contractual deadline set in the works contract. Delivery of the DOE frequently conditions release of the retention sum.

Legal and contractual framing of the DOE

The DOE is not defined by a single article of the Code civil: it is a contractual deliverable required by the works contract. On public contracts, the CCAG Travaux requires delivery of the documents needed to operate the works. On private contracts, the NF P03-001 standard and the contract particulars (CCAP) set its contents and delivery deadline.

The DOE must be distinguished from the DIUO (dossier d'intervention ultérieure sur l'ouvrage), which falls under SPS safety coordination and covers the safety of future interventions. The DOE documents the works; the DIUO protects whoever will work on them later.

The DOE plays a direct role in the event of a defect claim. Decennial liability (loi Spinetta, article 1792 of the Code civil) binds the builders for 10 years after reception: a complete DOE establishes what was actually built and allows responsibility to be assigned during an expert assessment. A missing or incomplete DOE weakens both the client and the maîtrise d'œuvre.

How Builddar handles the DOE

Builddar is the construction quality operating system. Its document management system (DMS) centralizes the DOE files by lot and by version: conformed drawings, manuals, data sheets and warranty attestations are attached to the relevant works and time-stamped. The automatic reminder system chases each subcontractor for missing documents, with no manual follow-up from the conducteur de travaux.

At reception, the DOE is assembled from items already collected throughout the project, not reconstructed under deadline pressure. Data is hosted in the European Union. The mobile capture app records photos and documents directly on site. For architects, Builddar works one project at a time (€49–79 per seat per month); subcontractors access it for free.

Frequently asked questions about the DOE

The DOE (dossier des ouvrages exécutés) is the as-built file describing a building exactly as it was constructed. It is handed over to the client at reception and gathers the conformed as-built drawings, the operating and maintenance manuals, technical data sheets, test certificates, conformity certificates and the warranty attestations for installed equipment. It is the reference for operating and maintaining the building and for any later intervention.
The DOE is produced by the contractors on each lot (trade), who supply the documents for their own works. The maîtrise d'œuvre, usually the OPC coordinator or the conducteur de travaux, collects, checks and compiles these items into a single file. The DOE is then handed over to the client at reception or within the deadline set in the contract.
The DOE documents the works as built: conformed drawings, manuals, warranties. The DIUO (dossier d'intervention ultérieure sur l'ouvrage) gathers the information needed for the safety of people who will work on the building later, and falls under SPS safety coordination. The two files are separate, complementary and required at reception depending on the contract.
The DOE is a contractual deliverable required by the works contract. On public contracts, the CCAG Travaux requires delivery of the documents needed to operate the works; on private contracts, the NF P03-001 standard and the CCAP set its contents and delivery deadline. Its delivery frequently conditions release of the retention sum.
Decennial liability binds the builders for 10 years after reception under the loi Spinetta and article 1792 of the Code civil. In a defect claim, the DOE establishes what was actually built and allows responsibility to be assigned during an expert assessment. A complete DOE protects both the client and the maîtrise d'œuvre.

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