RAIC Doc 9

Placeholder page for the supporting reference Canadian Standard Form of Contract Doc 9, part of the Examitect reading list for the ExAC.

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RAIC Doc 9 at a glance

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Full titleCanadian Standard Form of Contract between Architect and Consultant, Document Nine
PublisherRoyal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC)
Current edition2022 Digital Edition (revised 2022-08)
Earlier editionsPrevious print editions circulated under earlier RAIC numbering; the 2022 release is the current digital form
Length23 pages for the main agreement, plus a 4-page Supplementary Agreement form for amendments
LanguagesPublished by the RAIC in both English and French (the source preview is the English version)
Primary audienceArchitects engaging sub-consultants on projects where the architect is the prime consultant
ExAC relevancePrimary resource on Examitect's ExAC study plan for Section 4, Bidding and Contract Negotiations, objective 9.2 (Understand the types of construction contract)
Where to accessSold through the RAIC's contract documents store; many firms already hold a licence. A watermarked preview is published for educational reference.

Why RAIC Doc 9 matters for the ExAC

RAIC Doc 9 is a primary resource on Examitect's ExAC study plan for one specific objective: Section 4, Bidding and Contract Negotiations, 9.2 (Understand the types of construction contract). It sits alongside CHOP Chapters 3.3 and 6.5, CCDC 2 (2020), and RAIC Doc 6 for that same objective.

The reason it earns a spot is practical. An Intern Architect working through the IAP (Internship in Architecture Program) is rarely the one negotiating Doc 9, but they are often the person who has to read it, summarize it for a project manager, or chase a sub-consultant deliverable that the contract requires. The ExAC tests whether you recognize what Doc 9 is, which articles control common project decisions, and how it interacts with the Prime Contract.

You will not see questions asking you to recite Article numbers. You will see scenarios where a sub-consultant requests an out-of-scope service, refuses to attend a site meeting, or asks for additional fees after a design change. The right answer points back to a Doc 9 clause.

ExAC sections

See the ExAC sections table below for study-plan coverage.

What RAIC Doc 9 is

RAIC Document 9 is the standard form of contract used in Canada when an architect (acting as the prime consultant) engages another professional to perform a portion of the work. That other professional is called the Consultant and is usually a structural, mechanical, electrical, or civil engineer, but it can also be a specialty consultant such as a code, acoustic, or landscape professional.

The document is built to sit underneath a Prime Contract, typically RAIC Doc 6 or a similar client-architect agreement. The defined term "This Part of the Project" (Article A4) carves out the slice of the project the Consultant is responsible for, and a back-to-back clause (Article A9) pushes the obligations of the Prime Contract down into the consultant relationship so that the same duties and rights flow through the chain.

Inside RAIC Doc 9: articles, conditions, schedules

The document has three layers: the Agreement (Articles A1 through A26), the General Conditions (GC0 through GC13), and the three Schedules. Recognize the shape and you can navigate any scenario question quickly.

PartWhat it covers
Articles A1 to A11Names, dates, addresses, the identification of the Prime Contract, This Part of the Project, sub-consultants engaged by the Consultant, and the back-to-back flow-down of obligations (A9).
Articles A12 to A17Fee structure (lump sum, percentage, time-based, or other), phase apportionment of a fixed or percentage fee, reimbursable expenses, retainer, and the invoicing cycle.
Articles A18 to A26Notices, the threshold for triggering GC 4.2 cost-overrun review, professional liability and general liability insurance limits, limitation of liability, governing law, the entire-agreement clause, and the currency clause.
DefinitionsAdditional Services, Consultant, Other Consultants, Prime Contract, Services, and This Part of the Project. All other terms are inherited from the Prime Contract.
GC1 Consultant's Responsibilities and Scope of ServicesCoordination with the Architect and Other Consultants, sub-consultant engagement, communication routing through the Architect, and independent contractor status.
GC2 Additional ServicesHow a service moves from "out of scope" to "billable", which requires prior written agreement between the Architect and the Consultant.
GC3 to GC5The Architect's coordinating role, Construction Budget and Construction Cost Estimate responsibilities, and the Consultant's role during construction.
GC8 to GC10Indemnification, limitations of liability, and insurance (professional liability, general liability, certificates).
GC12, GC13, and Other ConditionsPayment terms, percentage-based fee mechanics, suspension and termination, and miscellaneous clauses.
Schedule A: ServicesThe line-by-line split of who does what on This Part of the Project (filled in by the parties; not pre-printed).
Schedule B: Reimbursable ExpensesThe list of expenses the Consultant can bill at cost, with or without a markup.
Schedule C: Time-Based RatesHourly or daily rates by personnel category for the Consultant and any sub-consultants.

Doc 9 also has a companion four-page form, the RAIC Document 9 Supplementary Agreement, used to amend a signed Doc 9 contract. Article A25.2 says any amendment must be made using that form. Side emails or change notes do not amend the contract.

Key RAIC Doc 9 terms every ExAC candidate should know

The definitions below come from the contract itself or from the General Conditions. Recognize them on sight.

TermWhat it means
Prime ContractThe contract between the Architect and the Client (identified in Article A5). Doc 9 sits underneath it.
This Part of the ProjectThe elements, systems, or components of the Project for which the Consultant is responsible (Article A4).
ConsultantThe party engaged by the Architect under this Doc 9, identified in Article A3.
Other ConsultantsAny other professionals engaged by the Client or the Architect for the same project, outside this Doc 9.
Additional ServicesServices added after signing by written agreement of both parties (GC2).
Flow-down (A9)The back-to-back principle: the Consultant takes on toward the Architect the same obligations the Architect takes on toward the Client.
Schedule A: ServicesThe list of what the Consultant performs and what the Architect retains, attached to the contract.
Limitation of LiabilityThe cap on the Consultant's liability (GC9 and Article A22), often tied to fees or insurance limits.
Professional liability insuranceClaims-made coverage carried by the Consultant under GC10 and Article A20, maintained continuously past Ready-for-Takeover.
Ready-for-TakeoverThe defined milestone (inherited from the Prime Contract) used as the reference point for trailing insurance coverage.
RetainerAn up-front fee paid on execution (Article A15), credited against the Consultant's final invoice.
Supplementary AgreementThe separate RAIC form used to amend a signed Doc 9 (Article A25.2).

How RAIC Doc 9 compares to other ExAC references

Three contracts get tested in the same family: Doc 6, Doc 9, and CCDC 2. Knowing which one governs which relationship is half the battle.

ContractWho signs itWhat it controls
RAIC Doc 6Client and ArchitectThe Prime Contract. Scope, fee, and obligations for the architect's services to the client.
RAIC Doc 9Architect and ConsultantThe sub-consultant agreement. Flows obligations down from Doc 6 to the engineer or specialist.
CCDC 2 (2020)Owner and ContractorThe stipulated price construction contract. The architect is named as the Consultant administering the work.
CHOPn/a (handbook)The Canadian Handbook of Practice. Explains how an architect uses Doc 6, Doc 9, and CCDC 2 in practice.
CHINGn/a (textbook)Building Construction Illustrated. Background on how buildings go together; almost no contract content.

Doc 9 only makes sense once you have read Doc 6, because Doc 9 inherits definitions and obligations from it. Read them as a pair.

How to study RAIC Doc 9 for the ExAC

A six-step approach that has worked for candidates we've coached.

  1. Read Doc 9 alongside Doc 6. Open both side by side and trace how an obligation in Doc 6 (for example, the architect's duty to coordinate consultants) shows up again in Doc 9 as the Consultant's duty to the Architect.
  2. Map the structure on one page. Sketch the document on a single sheet: Articles A1 to A26, Definitions, General Conditions GC0 to GC13, and Schedules A, B, and C. You will reach for that page during practice questions.
  3. Tab the high-yield clauses. A4, A9, A12, A13, A18, GC1, GC2, GC9, GC10, GC12. These come up the most.
  4. Compare with CCDC 2. CCDC 2 is owner-to-contractor; Doc 9 is architect-to-consultant. Scenario questions hinge on which contract governs which relationship.
  5. Practice scenarios. When you read a question about a sub-consultant who refuses a task, identify which Doc 9 clause settles it before you look at the options.
  6. Skim the Supplementary Agreement. Spending fifteen minutes on the four-page amendment form pays off when a question hinges on whether a change is binding.

ExAC sections RAIC Doc 9 supports

On Examitect's ExAC study plan, Doc 9 appears once, but the structural ideas it teaches show up across all four sections.

ExAC SectionHow Doc 9 shows up
Section 1: Design and analysisIndirect. The scope and fee mechanics in Doc 9 reinforce how engineering coordination fees get carved out of an architect's total fee proposal during schematic design and design development.
Section 2: CodesNot listed. Codes are tested through the NBC and NECB.
Section 3: Sustainability and final projectIndirect. Engaging a specialty consultant (energy modeller, envelope specialist) on a sustainability scope is a Doc 9 conversation in practice, even when the ExAC question is framed as a CHOP question.
Section 4: Construction and practicePrimary resource for 9.2 (Understand the types of construction contract). Listed alongside CHOP, CCDC 2, and RAIC Doc 6.

Tips for Intern Architects reading RAIC Doc 9

You are not signing this contract yet, but you are the one who has to live with it on site and on Teams. These are the small habits that pay off on the ExAC and in the office.

Tip 1, learn the document by its articles, not by paragraph numbers. ExAC scenarios refer to ideas (scope, fee, notices, insurance), not to clause numbers. Internalize that A4 is the scope carve-out, A12 is the fee structure, A18 is the notices rule, and you will move faster on exam day.

Tip 2, recognize the flow-down before you reach for an exception. Article A9 is the default. Most "who is responsible" scenarios resolve back to it. If you cannot find a specific clause that says otherwise, the answer is usually whatever the Prime Contract says, applied one link down.

Tip 3, treat Schedule A as the lever. Almost every "is this in scope" question on a real project is answered by reading Schedule A. The same is true on the ExAC. When you see a scenario where a sub-consultant declines to do something, the schedule (or its absence) is usually the answer.

Tip 4, watch for written-versus-verbal traps. GC2 requires Additional Services to be authorized in writing in advance. Article A25.2 requires amendments to use the Supplementary Agreement form. ExAC distractors often hide a verbal instruction in the fact pattern. The right answer is almost always "get it in writing first".

Tip 5, know who routes the communication. GC1 requires that the Consultant include the Architect in all communications with the Client, the Constructor, and Other Consultants, unless the Architect authorizes otherwise. Direct consultant-to-client communication is a common scenario trap.

Tip 6, remember insurance is claims-made and trailing. Article A20 calls for claims-made professional liability insurance maintained continuously and, where commercially available, for at least three years past Ready-for-Takeover. A common distractor swaps in occurrence-based coverage or ends the insurance at construction completion.

Tip 7, link Doc 9 to your project log. If you keep an IAP log book, note which projects used Doc 9 and which clause came up on the file. Real examples build recall far faster than re-reading the document.

Common ExAC scenarios where RAIC Doc 9 is the answer

If you see one of these patterns, your starting point is Doc 9.

  • An architect needs to engage a structural engineer on a project where they hold a Doc 6 Prime Contract with the client.
  • A mechanical sub-consultant emails the client directly to negotiate a change in scope and copies the architect.
  • A specialty consultant is asked to attend three extra coordination meetings beyond the scope listed in Schedule A.
  • The Construction Cost Estimate exceeds the Construction Budget by more than the percentage stated in Article A19.
  • A sub-consultant submits an invoice for time billed before formal authorization of an Additional Service.
  • Two parties want to amend a signed consultant agreement with a one-page side letter rather than a Supplementary Agreement.
  • A claim is brought against the sub-consultant two years after Ready-for-Takeover; the question is whether insurance still responds.

How Examitect reinforces RAIC Doc 9

Reading a contract once is not enough. Examitect builds Doc 9 into the same study flow as CHOP, CCDC 2, and Doc 6 so you see the same idea from several angles: a scenario about scope, a recall question about a defined term, a comparison question that pits Doc 9 against a Doc 6 clause.

Try one of the free practice questions and see where Doc 9 shows up in the Section 4 mix. If you want a full study path through Bidding and Contract Negotiations, the topic page walks through every objective with linked questions, mocks, and notes. Plans and pricing are on the pricing page.

RAIC Doc 9 and ExAC FAQ

RAIC Document 9 is the Canadian Standard Form of Contract between Architect and Consultant, published by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. The current version is the 2022 Digital Edition. Architects use Doc 9 to engage sub-consultants (structural, mechanical, electrical, civil, and specialty consultants) on projects where the architect is the prime consultant under RAIC Doc 6 or a similar prime contract.

Yes. Examitect's ExAC study plan lists RAIC Doc 9 as a primary resource for Section 4, Bidding and Contract Negotiations, objective 9.2 (Understand the types of construction contract). It sits alongside CHOP, CCDC 2, and RAIC Doc 6 for that objective.

RAIC Doc 6 is the standard form of contract between client and architect. RAIC Doc 9 is the standard form of contract between architect and consultant. Doc 9 is structured to flow obligations down from the Prime Contract (typically Doc 6) so the consultant takes on the same duties toward the architect that the architect takes on toward the client.

Article A9 is the back-to-back, or flow-down, clause. It states that, except where the contract says otherwise, the architect takes on toward the consultant all obligations that the client takes on toward the architect under the Prime Contract, and the consultant takes on toward the architect all obligations that the architect takes on toward the client. This is one of the most testable Doc 9 ideas on the ExAC.

Article A12 lets the parties choose a lump sum, a percentage-based fee, time-based rates per Schedule C, or another agreed structure. Article A13 splits a fixed or percentage fee across the design and construction phases. Reimbursable expenses are billed per Schedule B, and invoices flow monthly unless the parties agree otherwise.

The Supplementary Agreement is a short, four-page companion form used to record amendments to a signed Doc 9 contract. Article A25.2 of Doc 9 requires that amendments be made using this form. The ExAC can test the idea that informal email changes are not binding amendments to the consultant agreement.

The RAIC sells the 2022 Digital Edition through its contract documents store. Many firms hold a licence already. For ExAC study, the watermarked preview the RAIC publishes for educational reference is enough to learn the structure and key clauses.

No. Focus on the agreement articles around scope, fee, and notices (A4, A9, A12, A13, A18), the high-yield General Conditions (GC1, GC2, GC9, GC10, GC12), and the three schedules. Recognize the structure of the document so you can navigate a scenario question quickly.

Other ExAC reference books

Doc 9 makes the most sense when you read it alongside these.

CHOP

The Canadian Handbook of Practice. Explains how architects use Doc 6, Doc 9, and CCDC 2 in real projects.

CHING

Building Construction Illustrated. Background on how buildings go together. Tested across Sections 1 and 3.

NBC 2020

National Building Code of Canada. The primary code reference for Section 2.

NECB

National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings. Paired with the NBC on Section 2 energy questions.

RSMeans

Cost Data for North American construction. Primary cost reference on Examitect's ExAC study plan.

Yardsticks

Yardsticks for Costing. Canadian benchmark cost data, primary alongside RSMeans on Section 1 cost objectives.

RAIC Doc 6

The client-architect prime contract. Read Doc 6 first; Doc 9 makes more sense once you know what flows down.

All ExAC references

The full Examitect ExAC reading list with primary and supplementary resources for every category.