• How does RIBA Agreements Online work?
• Copyright protection
• User decision process
• Paying for and receiving your Agreement
• Order and payment enquiries
• Key changes to the RIBA Agreements
• Which RIBA Agreement to choose
• Licence Agreement

RIBA Agreements Online enables you to pick the most appropriate Agreement for your needs.

The Conditions, Notes and Guides relevant to each Agreement are provided in locked PDF format only. Other components when downloaded are in both PDF and RTF (rich text format) formats except the Supplementary Agreements which are in RTF only as users will need to edit them in use.

PDF versions cannot be edited and are completed by hand in the same way as printed versions. RTF versions can be edited to reflect project-specific issues and completed electronically, and/or they can be customised to match the corporate house style of the practice or the client and to suit the user's practices.

You will need to create a separate addendum sheet for any amendments to the Conditions.

RIBA Agreements and their components in print or locked PDF format are copyright-protected as literary works. However, a licence is given to copy 'the signed and completed document for distribution and retention as agreed by the parties'.

Otherwise, reproduction of the whole or any substantial part by any means is an actionable infringement.

Components in RTF format can be modified, but you must agree to comply with a copyright licence agreement before the components can be downloaded.

Simply select ‘Create your Agreement’ if you wish to purchase a complete set of components for an Agreement, or select ‘Schedule of Services’ if you only require additional Schedule of Services, Supplementary Agreements or Client Guides.

Step 1

Select which RIBA ‘Conditions’ are required.
A list of the various Conditions is shown and you simply choose which Conditions you require using the radio button. Only one set of Conditions can be selected.

Step 2

Enter the project specific data
Here you will need to enter the data that is specific to the project for which you are preparing the Agreement. You will need to enter the following information:

• The project name
• The client’s name
• Initials of the signatory to the contract on behalf of your client
• Yours or your company’s role on the project (Architect or Consultant)
• Your company name
• Initials of the signatory on behalf of you or your company

Step 3

Select components required to accompany the Conditions.
Here you will have the option of downloading the components which accompany the Conditions that you have requested. If you have previously downloaded these documents and saved them to your PC, then you will not have to download them again, unless you wish to do so.

If you have downloaded the accompanying components previously, and therefore only require the Conditions, the price that you will be charged is discounted by £5.

Step 4

Select any additional Schedule of Services or Supplementary Agreements required.
These documents are only available electronically and you can order as many as you require. For each additional document that you order there will be a charge of £5. Once you have purchased these documents you will be able to save them to your PC, therefore alleviating the need to purchase again.

Step 5

Summary of selections
This step will list the Conditions and components that you have ordered, together with a summary of the project details that will be automatically entered onto the Conditions that you have selected. Please note that once you have purchased the Conditions you will not be able to amend or edit this information. Therefore, please ensure that the data you enter is correct before you purchase your online copies. If you enter this data incorrectly then you will have to purchase a new set of Conditions.

Once completed, your RIBA Agreement Online document will be added to your shopping basket with any other items purchased from RIBA Bookshops. Follow the steps to sign in to an existing account or create a new account and proceed to checkout. Please ensure the email address registered within your RIBA Bookshops profile is current (see ‘My Account’) before you proceed to checkout.

Once the checkout process is complete you will be directed to a page to download your Agreement. A link to download your agreement will also be sent by email to the address registered within your RIBA Bookshops account.

Payment can be made by credit/debit card, cheque or charged to your RIBA Bookshops account. To open an account apply here

For any order and payment enquiries contact the RIBA Bookshops Customer Service team on +44 (0)20 7256 7222 or email sales@ribabookshops.com

The Conditions are consistent with architects’ codes of professional conduct and are written in the present tense (as is the NEC Professional Services Agreement). The Conditions for every agreement have a common arrangement in 9 clauses (as in SFA/99).

The changes from the 1999 series of RIBA Forms occur in the Conditions or Model Letters and in S-Con-07 in the Memorandum of Agreement and the Project Data .

Standard Agreement for the appointment of an Architect (S-Con-07)
The schedule of Role Specifications includes Project Manager, Lead Consultant, Lead Cost Consultant, Contract Administrator/Employer’s Agent, Lead Designer, Designers and CDM Co-ordinator

S-Con-07 replaces SFA/99, CE/99, PM/99 and PS/99. DB1 is discontinued

S-Con-07 is suitable for any professional commission or construction project where detailed contract terms are necessary and for projects using most procurement methods, including design and build. It can also be used for larger domestic projects, where the risks are not dissimilar to other projects but the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 will be relevant to a domestic client.
The 'core' Conditions set out in explicit terms the obligations of the parties including the rules for the application of particular clauses and are designed to provide a fair balance of risk between architect/ consultant and client, whether or not the client has any experience of building projects.
The Conditions are in 2 parts. Part A of the Conditions is applicable for all clients. Part B is used in conjunction with Part A where the Client is acting for business or commercial purposes or is a Public Authority; the agreement will be a 'construction contract' to which the HGCR Act 1996 applies

Supplementary Schedule for a Contractor’s Design Services (SupCD-07)
For use with S-Con-07 where the commission is to prepare a design for a Contractor’s Development project or Contractor’s Proposals for a design and build project.
Replaces DB2

Concise Agreement for the appointment of an Architect (C-Con-07)
Replaces SW/99.

C-Con-07 is suitable for a professional commission or construction project with simple contract terms where the client is acting for business or commercial purposes.
The obligations are similar to those under S-Con-07 and include the relevant statutory obligations, although, some of the rules or procedural requirements do not appear. It is, of course, implicit that 'normal standards' are consistent with the requirements of the architect/ consultant's professional code of practice.
In deciding to use these Conditions the parties should carefully consider whether they are compatible with the complexity of the Project, the proposed procurement route and whether the 'missing' provisions will increase their individual risks.
Where the client is a Public Authority, a draft Appendix is available to include provisions relating to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and to corrupt gifts and payments.

Domestic Project Agreement for the appointment of an Architect (D-Con-07)
Replaces 2005 Edition

D-Con-07 is suitable for use where the client requires work to his/her home. If the client has elected to use these Conditions in his/her own name, ie not as a limited company or other legal entity, the client will be a "consumer" to whom the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 apply

Agreement for the appointment of a Sub-Consultant (SubCon07)
Replaces SC/99

SubCon-07 is for the appointment by a consultant of another consultant or a specialist as sub-consultant, where the first consultant is unable, for whatever reason, to perform part of the Services under the head agreement with the client. Or, where the consultant is appointed by the client as the sole consultant and responsible for the whole of the design and management process – the one stop shop. The Agreement is not for use where the intention is for the client to appoint consultants or specialists directly.

The contents and format of the RIBA Agreements and their constituent parts are © Royal Institute of British Architects, 2007 and are protected as literary works. Copying of part or all of the contents in any form is prohibited other than in accordance with the following permissions.

RIBA Conditions of Appointment – eg Standard, Concise, Domestic and Sub-Consultant – will be sent to you in pdf format. Each set of Conditions will be sent as a ‘locked’ document with the Project Name, Clients Name and your Company Name encrypted into them. Each set of Conditions purchased is to be used for the project in question only and may not be copied or used for other projects. You cannot amend or alter the content of the Conditions, except by a separate amendment sheet, and it is a breach of copyright and licence terms if the RIBA Conditions are copied and used on multiple projects. Where an agreement has been concluded, it is in order for the signed and completed document to be photocopied for distribution and retention as agreed by the parties.

For all other documents which will be sent to you as rtf’s, you can edit or amend as necessary in pursuance of your business requirements.

The licence to download the RIBA Agreements and their constituent parts does not permit incorporation of the material in any other work or publication, whether in hard copy or electronic or any other form. In particular (but without limitation) no part of the RIBA Agreements may be distributed or copied for commercial purpose, without the prior written consent of the copyright owner.

If copyright material is re-used without the permission of the copyright owner, it constitutes a copyright infringement. Under UK law, copyright infringement is a criminal offence and legal proceedings can be taken.

Disclaimer

The RIBA Agreements Online website, and its content, are provided on an ‘as is’ basis without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of performance, fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy, omissions, completeness, currentness and delays.

Improvements and/or changes may be made to the content of the RIBA Agreements and their constituent parts and to the features, functionality or content of this website at any time without notice.

RIBA Publishers shall not be liable for:

1. Any loss, injury, claim, liability, or damage of any kind resulting from, arising out of or any way related to:
   • any errors in or omissions in this website and the content;
   • the unavailability of this website, the content, or any part thereof;
   • your use of this website or the content; or
   • your use of any equipment or software in connection with this website or the content.
2. For any special, direct, indirect, incidental, punitive or consequential damages of any kind whatsoever (including, without limitation, lawyers' fees) in any way due to, resulting from, or arising in connection with the use of or inability to use this website or the content.