Supporting Reference

RAIC Document 9, the Architect-Consultant Contract for the ExAC

RAIC Document 9 is the standard form of contract you use when you engage a sub-consultant on a project where you hold the Prime Contract with the client. On Examitect's ExAC study plan it is a primary reference for Section 4 question 9.2 (Understand the types of construction contract), alongside CHOP, CCDC 2, and RAIC Document 6.

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RAIC Document 9 overview

Document 9 at a glance

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
Length23 pages for the main agreement, plus a 4-page Supplementary Agreement form for amendments
LanguagesEnglish and French (RAIC publishes both)
Primary audienceArchitects engaging sub-consultants on projects where the architect is the prime consultant
ExAC relevancePrimary reference on Examitect's ExAC study plan for Section 4 question 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 Document 9 matters for the ExAC

RAIC Document 9 is the standard form of contract used in Canada when an architect acting as prime consultant engages another professional, called the Consultant, to perform part of the work. That professional is usually a structural, mechanical, electrical, or civil engineer, but it can also be a specialty consultant: code, acoustic, or landscape. The document is built to sit underneath a Prime Contract (typically RAIC Document 6), and a back-to-back clause in Article A9 flows obligations from that Prime Contract down into the consultant relationship.

Document 9 and its Supplementary Agreement are listed on Examitect's ExAC study plan as primary references for question 9.2, alongside RAIC Document 6. The ExAC does not ask you to recite article numbers. It presents scenarios where a sub-consultant requests out-of-scope work, refuses a site meeting, or asks for more fees after a design change, and tests whether you can identify the controlling clause.

How to study Document 9 for the ExAC

  • Read Document 9 alongside Document 6 to trace how obligations flow down from the Prime Contract to the Consultant.
  • Sketch the structure on one page: Articles A1 to A26, Definitions, General Conditions GC0 to GC15, and Schedules A, B, and C.
  • Tab the high-yield clauses: A4 (scope), A9 (flow-down), A12 and A13 (fee), A18 (notices), GC1, GC2, GC9, GC10, GC12.
  • Compare Document 9 against CCDC 2 so you can tell quickly which contract governs which relationship on a typical project.
  • Practise scenario questions where a sub-consultant refuses a task or submits an out-of-scope invoice.
  • Skim the four-page Supplementary Agreement so you recognize how a signed Document 9 gets formally amended.

ExAC sections Document 9 supports

  1. Section 4

    Primary reference on Examitect's ExAC study plan for question 9.2 (types of construction contract). Document 9 vocabulary and General Conditions also surface across all Section 4 practice categories.

  2. Section 1

    Not on the primary list. Document 9 fee mechanics reinforce how engineering coordination fees get carved out during schematic design and design development, and appear in cost management questions.

  3. Section 3

    Not on the primary list. Engaging a specialty consultant (energy modeller, envelope specialist) under Document 9 is the practical backdrop for several sustainability and construction documents questions.

Inside Document 9: articles, conditions, schedules

The document has three layers: the Agreement (Articles A1 through A26), the General Conditions (GC0 through GC15), and the three Schedules. Recognize the shape and you can navigate any scenario question quickly.

Part of Document 9What it covers
Articles A1 to A11Identification and flow-down
 Names and addresses of the Architect (A2) and Consultant (A3), This Part of the Project (A4), the Prime Contract (A5 to A7), the copy of the Prime Contract as Appendix 1 (A8), the back-to-back flow-down of obligations (A9), Schedule A reference (A10), and sub-consultants the Consultant intends to engage (A11).
Articles A12 to A17Fee and payments
 Fee structure choices: fixed fee, percentage-based fee, time-based rates per Schedule C, or another agreed basis (A12). Phase apportionment of a fixed or percentage fee (A13). Reimbursable Expenses per Schedule B (A14). Retainer payable on execution and credited at the end (A15). Invoicing cycle (A16).
Articles A18 to A26Administration and risk
 Notices (A18), Construction Budget threshold for triggering GC4 cost-overrun review (A19), professional liability insurance limits and duration (A20), client-arranged project-specific professional liability insurance per the Prime Contract (A21), limitation of liability cap (A22), general liability insurance limits (A23), governing law (A24), entire-agreement clause (A25.1), amendment procedure requiring the Supplementary Agreement form (A25.2), and currency (A26).
Definitions
 Additional Services, Consultant, Other Consultants, Prime Contract, Services, and This Part of the Project. All other defined terms are inherited from the Prime Contract.
GC0Preamble
 Defines what "Refer to Prime Contract" means: the corresponding General Condition of the Prime Contract applies, reading "Consultant" for "Architect" and "Architect" for "Client". GC6, GC7, GC11, GC14, and GC15 all use this device.
GC1Consultant's Responsibilities and Scope of Services
 Coordination with the Architect and Other Consultants, sub-consultant engagement, communication routing through the Architect (not direct to the Client), and independent contractor status.
GC2Additional Services
 How a service moves from out of scope to billable. Requires prior written agreement between the Architect and the Consultant before work starts.
GC3, GC4, GC5Architect's and Consultant's roles
 The Architect's responsibilities as coordinating professional (GC3), the Construction Budget and Construction Cost Estimate provisions (GC4), and the Consultant's role and authority during construction (GC5).
GC8, GC9, GC10Liability and insurance
 Indemnification (GC8), the cap on the Consultant's liability to the Architect (GC9), and professional liability and general liability insurance requirements including the certificate cycle (GC10).
GC12, GC13Payment mechanics
 Payment terms and invoicing cadence (GC12), and how a percentage-based fee is calculated and adjusted as the Construction Cost Estimate is refined (GC13).
Schedule AServices
 The line-by-line split of who does what on This Part of the Project. Ships as pre-printed discipline checklists (A1 Electrical, A2 Mechanical, A3 Structural) that the parties review line by line and code. This is the lever for most "is this in scope" questions.
Schedule BReimbursable Expenses
 The list of expenses the Consultant can bill at cost, with or without a markup agreed in advance.
Schedule CTime-Based Rates
 Hourly or daily rates by personnel category for the Consultant and any sub-consultants, used when work is billed on a time basis.

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

Key Document 9 terms every ExAC candidate should know

The definitions below come from the contract or from the General Conditions. Recognize them on sight; the ExAC uses them without redefinition.

TermWhat it means in Document 9
Prime ContractThe contract between the Architect and the Client (identified in Article A5). Document 9 sits underneath it and flows its obligations down.
This Part of the ProjectThe elements, systems, or components of the Project for which the Consultant is responsible (Article A4). The scope carve-out.
ConsultantThe party engaged by the Architect under this Document 9, identified in Article A3. Usually a structural, mechanical, electrical, or civil engineer.
Other ConsultantsAny other professionals engaged by the Client or the Architect for the same project, outside this Document 9.
Additional ServicesServices added after signing by written agreement of both parties (GC2). Must be authorized in writing before work starts.
Flow-down / back-to-back (A9)The Consultant takes on toward the Architect the same obligations the Architect takes on toward the Client under the Prime Contract, and vice versa for rights.
Schedule A: ServicesThe list of what the Consultant performs and what the Architect retains, attached to and forming part of the contract.
Limitation of LiabilityThe cap on the Consultant's liability to the Architect (GC9 and Article A22): the lesser of the insurance coverage available under Article A20 or A21 when the claim is made, or the amount stated in Article A22.
Professional liability insuranceClaims-made coverage carried by the Consultant under GC10 and Article A20, maintained continuously and, where commercially available, extended past Ready-for-Takeover.
Ready-for-TakeoverThe defined milestone inherited from the Prime Contract, used as the reference point for trailing insurance coverage requirements.
RetainerAn up-front fee paid on execution (Article A15), credited against the Consultant's final invoice.
Supplementary AgreementThe separate four-page RAIC form required to amend a signed Document 9 (Article A25.2). Side emails do not suffice.

How Document 9 compares to other ExAC contract references

Three contracts get tested in close rotation on the ExAC. Knowing which one governs which relationship is half the battle on a scenario question.

ContractWho signs itWhat it controls
RAIC Document 9Architect and ConsultantThe sub-consultant agreement. Sits underneath Document 6. The back-to-back clause (A9) mirrors the architect's obligations to the client down to the consultant's obligations to the architect.
RAIC Document 6Client and ArchitectThe Prime Contract. Sets scope, fee, and obligations for the architect's services to the client. Document 9 flows its obligations downward from Document 6.
CCDC 2Owner and ConstructorThe stipulated price construction contract. The architect administers it under Document 6. Document 9 is separate and governs the consultant team, not the constructor.
CHOPn/a (handbook)The Canadian Handbook of Practice. Explains how an architect uses Document 6, Document 9, and CCDC 2 in practice. Read alongside the contracts, not instead of them.
CHINGn/a (textbook)Building Construction Illustrated. Covers building systems and assemblies. Almost no contract content, so not relevant to Document 9 questions.

Document 9 only makes sense once you have read Document 6, because Document 9 inherits its definitions and key obligations from the Prime Contract. Always read the two together.

Tips for Intern Architects reading Document 9

You may not be signing Document 9 yet, but you are the one chasing deliverables from the sub-consultants it governs. These habits pay off on the ExAC and in the office.

Tip 1: learn the document by idea, not by article number. ExAC scenarios describe situations (out-of-scope request, unauthorized communication, insurance lapse). Internalize that A4 is the scope carve-out, A9 is the flow-down, A12 is fee structure, A18 is notices, and you will move faster on exam day than if you try to memorize numbers in order.

Tip 2: default to the flow-down before looking for an exception. Article A9 is the default rule. Most "who is responsible" scenarios trace back to it. If you cannot find a specific clause in Document 9 that says otherwise, the answer is usually whatever the Prime Contract says, applied one link down the chain.

Tip 3: treat Schedule A as the primary 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 a sub-consultant declines a task, look to Schedule A (or its absence) before reaching for any General Condition.

Tip 4: watch for the written-versus-verbal trap. GC2 requires Additional Services to be authorized in writing before work starts. Article A25.2 requires amendments to use the Supplementary Agreement form. ExAC distractors often place a verbal instruction in the fact pattern. The correct answer is almost always "get it in writing first."

Tip 5: know who routes the communication. GC1 requires the Consultant to include the Architect in all communications with the Client, the Constructor, and Other Consultants, unless the Architect authorizes otherwise. Direct consultant-to-client contact without the architect is a common scenario trap.

Tip 6: remember that insurance is claims-made and trailing. Article A20 requires 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 coverage at construction completion. Neither is correct under Document 9.

Tip 7: link Document 9 to your IAP log book. If you are tracking hours and experiences under the Internship in Architecture Program (IAP), note which projects used Document 9 and which clause came up on the file. Real examples build recall faster than re-reading the document before the exam.

Common ExAC scenarios where Document 9 is the answer

If you see one of these patterns in a question, your starting point is Document 9.

  • An architect needs to engage a structural engineer on a project where they hold a Document 6 Prime Contract with the client, and needs to know which form governs that engagement.
  • A mechanical sub-consultant emails the client directly to negotiate a change in scope, copying the architect. The question asks whether this communication is appropriate under the consultant agreement.
  • A specialty consultant is asked to attend three extra coordination meetings beyond the scope listed in Schedule A. The question asks whether these are Additional Services and how they must be authorized.
  • The Construction Cost Estimate exceeds the Construction Budget by more than the percentage stated in Article A19. The question asks what this triggers in the consultant relationship.
  • A sub-consultant submits an invoice for time billed before formal written authorization of an Additional Service. The question asks whether the invoice is valid under Document 9.
  • Two parties want to amend a signed consultant agreement with a one-page side letter rather than the RAIC Supplementary Agreement form. The question asks whether the amendment is binding.
  • A claim is brought against the sub-consultant two years after Ready-for-Takeover and the question turns on whether the consultant's professional liability insurance still responds under Article A20.

How Examitect reinforces Document 9

Reading a contract once is not enough. Examitect builds Document 9 into the same study flow as CHOP, CCDC 2, and Document 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 puts Document 9 against a Document 6 clause. Each answer explanation cites the article or General Condition it came from, so when a question trips you up, you know exactly which clause to re-read.

Try one of the free practice questions and see where Document 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, mock exams, and study notes. Plans and pricing are on the pricing page.

FAQ

RAIC Document 9 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 Document 9 to engage sub-consultants (structural, mechanical, electrical, civil, and specialty consultants) on projects where the architect is the prime consultant under RAIC Document 6 or a similar prime contract.

Yes. Examitect's ExAC study plan lists RAIC Document 9 as a primary reference for Section 4, Bidding and Contract Negotiations, objective 9.2 (Understand the types of construction contract). It sits alongside CHOP Chapters 3.3 and 6.5, CCDC 2, and RAIC Document 6 for that objective.

RAIC Document 6 is the standard form of contract between client and architect. RAIC Document 9 is the standard form of contract between architect and consultant. Document 9 is structured to flow obligations down from the Prime Contract (typically Document 6) so the consultant takes on toward the architect the same duties 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 Document 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 Document 9 contract. Article A25.2 of Document 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.

Keep exploring

Other ExAC reference books.

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

RAIC Document 6

The client-architect Prime Contract. Read Document 6 first; Document 9 makes sense once you know what flows down from it.

CHOP

Canadian Handbook of Practice. Explains how architects use Document 6, Document 9, and CCDC 2 together on real projects.

CCDC 2

The standard stipulated price construction contract between owner and contractor. The Construction Contract referenced in Document 6 and administered by the architect.

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. 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 for Section 1.

Yardsticks

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

CHING

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

All ExAC references

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