RAIC documents

Placeholder page for the supporting reference RAIC documents, part of the Examitect reading list for the ExAC.

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RAIC Documents at a glance

Here is the quick reference card to scan before you open Document 6 or Document 9 for the first time.

Full titles on the ExAC listCanadian Standard Form of Contract for Architectural Services (Document Six); Canadian Standard Form of Contract between Architect and Consultant (Document Nine); plus their Supplementary Agreement forms.
PublisherRoyal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC)
Current edition2022 Digital Edition (both Document 6 and Document 9, and both Supplementary Agreement forms)
Earlier editionsDocument 6 had a long-running 2006 Edition that is still found in older project files. Always study the 2022 Digital Edition for the ExAC.
Approximate lengthDocument 6: 32 pages. Document 9: 23 pages. Each Supplementary Agreement: 4 pages.
LanguagesEnglish and French
Primary audiencePractising architects, intern architects, clients, and consultants engaging in architectural services in Canada
ExAC relevanceListed on Examitect's ExAC study plan as a primary resource for Section 4 objective 9.2 (Understand the types of construction contract) under Bidding and Contract Negotiations.
Where to accessThrough the RAIC at raic.org. Check current access terms before purchasing.

Why the RAIC Documents matter for the ExAC

RAIC Document 6 and RAIC Document 9 are listed as primary resources on Examitect's ExAC study plan under Section 4, Bidding and Contract Negotiations, for objective 9.2, Understand the types of construction contract. They sit beside CHOP Chapter 3.3, CHOP Chapter 6.5, and CCDC 2 (2020) for that objective. If a question asks who holds which obligation, how the architect's liability is capped, how Additional Services are triggered, or how a sub-consultant relationship flows from the prime contract, the answer almost always traces back to a clause in Document 6 or Document 9.

The documents also shape the language the ExAC uses for contract questions. Defined terms like Services, Additional Services, Construction Budget, Ready-for-Takeover, Standard of Care, and Limitations of Liability come straight from these contracts. Reading the documents closely helps you recognize the right clause quickly under exam pressure.

Beyond Section 4, the RAIC Documents underpin practice topics in Section 1 and Section 3 wherever scope, fees, insurance, or consultant coordination are tested.

ExAC sections this reference supports

Section 1
Section 3
Section 4

What the RAIC Documents are

The RAIC Documents are the family of standard form contracts published by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) for the architectural profession in Canada. Each document covers one specific relationship in the project delivery chain, and each is written so that the same language and defined terms can be used from coast to coast. The contracts are governed by the laws of the place of the Work, so they are designed to fit alongside provincial regulation rather than override it.

For the ExAC, the two documents to know are Document 6, the Canadian Standard Form of Contract for Architectural Services (between Client and Architect), and Document 9, the Canadian Standard Form of Contract between Architect and Consultant. The companion Supplementary Agreement forms are the RAIC's standard way to amend either contract after signing, or to add Additional Services. All four are 2022 Digital Edition documents developed by the RAIC.

Inside the RAIC Documents family

Document 6 and Document 9 share the same shape: Articles (the project-specific Details), Definitions, a numbered set of General Conditions (GCs), Other Conditions, and Schedules. The supplementary agreements use a shorter version of the same structure. Knowing the shape makes it much faster to find the right clause on study night.

DocumentRelationship it sets upWhat is inside
Document 6
2022 Digital Edition		 Client and Architect (the prime agreement) Articles A1 to A26, Definitions, GC0 Preamble, GC1 Architect's Responsibilities and Scope of Services, GC2 Additional Services, GC3 Client's Responsibilities, GC4 Construction Budget and Cost, GC5 Architect's Role During Construction, GC6 Use of Documents, GC7 Standard of Care, GC8 Indemnification, GC9 Limitations of Liability, GC10 Insurance, GC11 Termination and Suspension, GC12 Payments, GC13 Percentage-Based Fee, GC14 Dispute Resolution, GC15 Miscellaneous, Schedule A (Services), Schedule B (Reimbursable Expenses), Schedule C (Time-Based Rates).
Document 9
2022 Digital Edition		 Architect and Consultant (a sub-agreement under the prime) Articles A1 to A12, Definitions, GC0 Preamble, GC1 Client's Responsibilities and Scope of Services, GC2 Additional Services, GC3 Architect's Responsibilities, GC4 Construction Budget and Cost, GC5 Architect's Role During Construction, GC8 Indemnification, GC9 Limitations of Liability, GC10 Insurance, GC12 Payments, GC13 Percentage-Based Fee, Other Conditions, Schedule A (Services), Schedule B (Reimbursable Expenses), Schedule C (Time-Based Rates), Additional Documents.
Document 6 Supplementary Agreement
2022 Digital Edition		 Amends an existing Document 6 contract Four pages. Articles SA1 to SA8 cover the project identification, the amendments to Articles, General Conditions, or Schedules (SA6), the agreement for Additional Services under GC2 (SA7), and the supersession clause (SA8).
Document 9 Supplementary Agreement
2022 Digital Edition		 Amends an existing Document 9 contract Four pages. Same SA1 to SA8 structure as the Document 6 supplementary, adapted for the Architect and Consultant relationship.

The high-yield clauses to know cold are the Definitions, GC1, GC2, GC4, GC5, GC9, GC10, and GC12. Those are the conditions that turn up most often in scenario questions about scope creep, budget overruns, construction administration authority, and insurance coverage.

Key RAIC Document terms every ExAC candidate should know

These defined terms appear in capitalized and italicized form throughout Document 6 and Document 9. Learn them once and the rest of each contract reads much faster.

TermWhat it means in the RAIC Documents
ServicesThe work the Architect agrees to perform under the contract, defined in detail in Schedule A. Split between basic Services and Additional Services.
Additional ServicesServices not in Schedule A at signing, but later added in writing under GC2. Typically billed at the Schedule C time-based rates.
Construction BudgetThe maximum amount, including contingency allowances, that the Client is prepared to spend on the Construction Cost. Stated in Article A7.
Construction Cost EstimateThe Architect's estimate of probable Construction Cost. GC4 governs what happens when the estimate or lowest compliant bid exceeds the Construction Budget by less than or more than 15 percent.
Ready-for-TakeoverA defined milestone date for the substantial handover of the project. Used to set the insurance maintenance period and other end-of-project obligations.
Standard of CareThe level of skill and diligence a reasonably competent architect would apply in similar circumstances. Set out in Document 6 GC7.
Limitations of LiabilityThe contractual cap on the Architect's liability for damages, set under GC9. Often the most negotiated clause in either contract.
Schedule A, ServicesThe schedule attached to Document 6 or Document 9 listing the specific Services the Architect or Consultant has agreed to perform.
Schedule B, Reimbursable ExpensesThe schedule listing categories of out-of-pocket expenses the Client agrees to reimburse, including travel, printing, and disbursements.
Schedule C, Time-Based RatesThe schedule that records hourly rates for personnel employed by the Architect or Consultant. Used for Additional Services and any time-based fee.
Prime ContractIn Document 9, the Document 6 contract between the Client and the Architect. The Consultant assumes obligations toward the Architect that mirror the Architect's obligations to the Client under the Prime Contract.
Supplementary AgreementThe RAIC's standard form for amending a Document 6 or Document 9 contract after signing, or for agreeing to Additional Services. Each form is four pages long.

How the RAIC Documents compare to other ExAC references

The RAIC Documents are the contract spine of the ExAC reading list for Section 4 objective 9.2. They work in tandem with CHOP and the CCDC contracts. Use this comparison to decide what to read for which kind of question.

ReferenceWhat it coversHow the RAIC Documents relate
RAIC Document 6The contract between the Client and the Architect, including Definitions, General Conditions, and Schedules.The prime architectural services agreement. The starting point for every other contract on the project.
RAIC Document 9The contract between the Architect and a Consultant (structural, mechanical, electrical, civil, or specialty).The downstream agreement. Obligations flow from Document 6 (the Prime Contract) into Document 9.
CHOPThe Canadian Handbook of Practice. The reference standard for how architects run a practice in Canada.CHOP explains how to scope, fee, and administer the relationships that Documents 6 and 9 set up. Read them together.
CCDC 2 (2020)The standard stipulated price contract between Owner and Contractor. Agreement, Definitions, and General Conditions.Different relationship. CCDC 2 governs the construction contract; Document 6 governs the architect's contract with the same Client.
CCDC 24 (2016)Prequalification of Contractors plus model administration forms.Different role. CCDC 24 is used during bidding and construction administration; it does not replace Document 6 or 9.
Document 6 and 9 Supplementary AgreementsThe RAIC's standard four-page forms for amending Document 6 or Document 9.Use these forms instead of marking up the original contract. Article A25 of Document 6 says any amendment should be made using the supplementary form.
NBC 2020 and NECBThe national model building and energy codes.Different topic. The codes carry technical compliance rules; the RAIC Documents are the contract framework.

How to study the RAIC Documents for the ExAC

  • Read Document 6 and Document 9 end to end once. Each is short, under 35 pages. You want to know where the Articles, Definitions, General Conditions, and Schedules live before you go deep.
  • Tab the high-yield clauses: GC1 (scope), GC2 (additional services), GC3 (client responsibilities), GC4 (budget and cost), GC5 (architect's role during construction), GC9 (limitations of liability), GC10 (insurance), and GC12 (payments).
  • Cross-reference each General Condition with the matching CHOP chapter. CHOP explains how an architect lives the obligations the contract sets out.
  • Read Document 6 and Document 9 side by side. The structure is similar but the obligations mirror each other across the prime and sub-consultant relationships.
  • Walk through the four-page Supplementary Agreement forms. Identify which Articles or General Conditions are being amended and whether the change triggers an Additional Service under GC2.
  • Test recall with scenario-based practice questions tied to Section 4 objective 9.2. The ExAC tests application, not recitation.

ExAC sections the RAIC Documents support

Examitect's ExAC study plan lists primary and supplementary resources for each category. Here is where the RAIC Documents show up on that plan.

ExAC sectionHow the RAIC Documents show up on Examitect's study plan
Section 1
Design and analysis		Useful background for scope and fee questions. The contract definitions reinforce the language used in CHOP chapters cited as primary resources for cost management and project programming.
Section 2
Codes		Not a primary resource. Section 2 is covered by the NBC 2020 and NECB.
Section 3
Sustainability and final project		Useful background. Document 6 GC6 (Use of Documents) and the construction document phase definitions reinforce CHOP chapters on document coordination and specifications.
Section 4
Construction and practice		Primary resource for objective 9.2, Understand the types of construction contract, under Bidding and Contract Negotiations. Both Document 6 and Document 9, with their Supplementary conditions, are listed.

Tips for Intern Architects reading the RAIC Documents

The RAIC Documents are short legal forms written for working architects, not students. If you are early in your internship under the Internship in Architecture Program (IAP) or its provincial equivalent, here is how to read them efficiently.

Tip 1, start with the Articles. The Articles (A1 to A26 in Document 6, A1 to A12 in Document 9) are the project-specific blanks. Reading them first shows you what a signed contract actually records about a real job: client, place of work, fee structure, insurance limits, governing law.

Tip 2, learn the Definitions before the General Conditions. Defined terms appear capitalized and italicized throughout. If you skim past them, you will miss the precise meaning the contract assigns to ordinary-looking words like Services, Architect, or Construction Cost. The Definitions sit right after the Signatures page.

Tip 3, read Document 6 and Document 9 in parallel. Document 9 mirrors Document 6 from the consultant's side. GC1 of Document 6 talks about what the Architect owes the Client. GC1 of Document 9 talks about what the Architect owes the Consultant. Reading them together makes the "flow-down" idea click.

Tip 4, find a real signed Document 6 at your office. Most firms keep a recent example on hand. Reading a contract that was actually negotiated, with Articles filled in and a few Supplementary Agreements attached, teaches you more in an hour than a clean form does in a week.

Tip 5, watch the GC4 budget tolerances. GC4 distinguishes between an overrun of less than 15 percent and an overrun of more than 15 percent, and the consequences differ. Scenario questions about cost overruns often hinge on whether the deviation crosses that threshold.

Tip 6, never amend a contract by editing the form. Article A25 of Document 6 makes this explicit: amendments after signing should be made using the Supplementary Agreement form. The exam will reward you for knowing the right instrument, not just the right outcome.

Tip 7, internalize GC9 and GC10 together. Limitations of Liability (GC9) and Insurance (GC10) interact. The liability cap is only meaningful if the insurance policy matches it. Read both clauses, and the Insurance Articles, as a single block.

Common ExAC scenarios where the RAIC Documents are the answer

These question types come up across ExAC sittings. If you see one, your first instinct should be to ask "what does Document 6 or Document 9 say."

  • The client asks the architect to take on coordination of a tenant fit-out that was not in Schedule A. What is the correct instrument for adding the work and how is it paid?
  • The lowest compliant bid comes in 18 percent over the Construction Budget. What clause governs the architect's next step?
  • A structural engineer engaged under Document 9 misses a coordination item that surfaces during construction. Whose obligation flows where, and on what authority?
  • The client wants to delete the construction phase services to save fees. Which Articles and General Conditions need to be amended, and which form should be used?
  • An invoice is unpaid 45 days after issuance. What does Document 6 say about interest on overdue accounts?
  • The Ready-for-Takeover date is achieved but the client asks the architect to continue carrying professional liability insurance. What does GC10 require by default?
  • A sub-consultant claims the architect owes obligations beyond the Prime Contract. How does Document 9 limit the consultant's rights to those that flow from the Prime?

Every scenario above traces back to a clause in Document 6 or Document 9. Knowing where the answer lives is half the battle.

How Examitect reinforces the RAIC Documents

Reading the RAIC Documents gets you the words. Recognizing the right clause under exam pressure takes practice. Examitect's question bank draws on Document 6 and Document 9 for Section 4 objective 9.2 questions, and each answer explanation points back to the specific Article or General Condition, so you can re-read just the few paragraphs you need rather than the whole contract.

You also get scenario-based questions that put the contracts into real project situations, full-length mock exams that mirror ExAC pacing, and free study notes for every section. Try a few sample questions first, then check pricing when you want the full bank.

RAIC Documents and ExAC FAQ

The RAIC Documents are the standard form contracts published by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) for use by Canadian architects. The ExAC reading list focuses on Document 6 (Canadian Standard Form of Contract for Architectural Services, between client and architect) and Document 9 (Canadian Standard Form of Contract between Architect and Consultant), along with their supplementary agreements.

Yes. Examitect's ExAC study plan lists RAIC Document 6 and RAIC Document 9, along with their supplementary conditions, as primary resources for Section 4 objective 9.2, Understand the types of construction contract, under Bidding and Contract Negotiations.

Document 6 is the contract between the client and the architect. Document 9 is the contract between the architect and a consultant (such as a structural, mechanical, or electrical engineer). Document 6 sets the prime agreement; Document 9 flows obligations from the prime agreement down to each sub-consultant.

The 2022 Digital Edition is the current version of both Document 6 and Document 9, published by the RAIC. Earlier editions exist (Document 6 had a widely used 2006 Edition) but the 2022 Digital Edition is the one to study.

A Supplementary Agreement is the RAIC's standard form for amending a Document 6 or Document 9 contract after it has been signed, or for adding additional services. Document 6 Supplementary Agreement and Document 9 Supplementary Agreement are both 2022 Digital Edition forms and are referenced on Examitect's ExAC study plan.

They cover different relationships. RAIC Document 6 is between client and architect; CCDC 2 is between owner and contractor. Both are tested under Section 4 objective 9.2, and a typical project carries one Document 6, several Document 9 sub-consultant agreements, and one CCDC 2 construction contract.

Read each document end to end once, then tab the Definitions, GC1 to GC5, GC9, GC10, and GC12. Cross-reference each general condition with the matching CHOP chapter. Apply the documents to scenario practice questions so you can spot the right contract clause under exam pressure.

Yes. The RAIC publishes Document 6, Document 9, and their supplementary agreements in both English and French.

Keep exploring

Other ExAC reference books.

The RAIC Documents sit alongside the six primary references on Examitect's ExAC study plan. Continue with the rest.

CHOP

Canadian Handbook of Practice. The practice reference that explains how to live the obligations the RAIC Documents set out.

CHING

Building Construction Illustrated. The visual reference for assemblies, materials, and detailing across Sections 1 and 3.

NBC 2020

National Building Code of Canada. The primary reference for every category in ExAC Section 2.

NECB

National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings. Supports envelope and energy questions in Section 2.

RSMeans

Construction cost data. Used for elemental estimating and cost-management questions in Section 1.

Yardsticks

Hanscomb Yardsticks for Costing. Canadian elemental cost data by building type and region.