On refurbishment projects, defensible data is not something that can be assembled at the end of the project from whatever records happen to exist. It is, however, the result of a discipline applied consistently from the first survey reconciliation through to practical completion. Consequently, the cost record that supports the final account settlement is only as strong as the process that built it.

In practice, Reltic maintains a continuous, auditable record across the full lifecycle of refurbishment works. Subsequently, every contractor valuation is verified against the quantity baseline, every provisional sum expenditure is recorded against its defined scope and every change and variations instruction is documented and priced at the point it is issued. Furthermore, this record is structured so that it can be opened by any independent construction cost consultant and followed without explanation – which is precisely what is required when a final accounts and disputes process begins.