Prior to completion the Contractor must notify the Board of the date on which completion will occur. An independent tester jointly appointed by the Contractor and the Board will inspect the building and notify the parties of any outstanding matters. When any such matters are completed, the independent tester will issue a certificate stating that the building is complete. The Board can use the building from this date and will begin to pay the Contractor for it and this date is called the Actual Completion Date. Where the project has multiple phases, the Contract provides appropriate drafting to allow for sign off of individual phases and phased services commencement.
The building does not have to be perfect for the independent tester to declare it complete. He is likely to issue a list of "snagging matters", minor flaws that the Contractor must rectify shortly after completion whilst causing minimal disturbance to the operation of the facility. If these snagging matters are not rectified within the relevant timescale, the Contract allows the Board to deal with them and pass the relevant costs on to the Contractor.