The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) has published its new RIAI Construction Contract 2025.
The RIAI Construction Contract 2025 has been developed by the RIAI in agreement with the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) and the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI).
The two new construction contracts and collateral agreement forms replace the 2017 editions of RIAI Articles of Agreement. The new contracts are the outcome of continuous advocacy on behalf of the RIAI to shift to a more collaborative form of contracting within the construction industry. The contracts are designed to achieve better quality and sustainable outcomes reflecting the more complex layers brought about through planning, design, construction and use.
The 2025 Editions represent the culmination of a significant period of dialogue in a fundamental review of the RIAI form of contract. The RIAI ‘Yellow’ and ‘Blue’ forms of contract are accepted by clients and industry as the appropriate form of contract for private works of varied types and scales. The 2025 Editions are considered by the Liaison Committee as fair and fit for industry use in these times.
L-R: Dermot Durack, SCSI fellow and director at Quigg Golden; Damien Owens, Engineers Ireland director general; Niall Meagher FRIAI, chair of the Contract Drafting Group; Sean Mahon FRIAI, RIAI president; Andrew Brownlee, CIF CEO; Eddie Comerford, ACEI member; and Kathryn Meghen, RIAI CEO.
RIAI president Sean Mahon FRIAI said: “The RIAI Construction Contract is considered the industry standard and is supported by the constituent bodies of the Liaison Committee for the Construction Industry. It is based on extensive consultation and research and reflects a more collaborative way of delivering our built environment. With the ongoing need to deliver homes and essential infrastructure to support our society and economy, including workplaces and production sites, this contract has been designed to deliver a more efficient and collaborative process for all stakeholders."
Dermot Durack, a fellow of the SCSI and Chair of CIArb Ireland, said: “The modernisation of the RIAI Contract template, with its focus on reducing the need for user amendments and recognising the realities of sub-contracting and contractor design is a positive step forward. SCSI is pleased to endorse the contract, and I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our chairperson of the Liaison Edits Subcommittee, Mark McGreevy as well as our other quantity surveying representatives Aiden O’Neill and Joe Boyle.
Paul Sheridan, director, main contracting at the CIF, said: "The CIF welcomes the publication of the new form of RIAI blue and yellow form of contract. The new form reflects the modern and contemporary practices in our industry today and introduces new innovative provisions that will provide greater clarity and balance around the duties and obligations of the contractual parties. We extend our thanks to the Liaison Committee, along with the chair of the Edits Committee, Mark McGreevy, who was supported by the excellent work of Danyal Ibrahim MRIAI. We hope that the new form will be adopted quickly and widely by clients and their construction teams."
Main changes
The main structural changes to the RIAI Construction Contract 2025 include organisation of the clauses within logical clause groupings and placing the former ‘Appendix’ to the front as ‘Contract Particulars’ where it is more convenient and visible both at contract formation and in contract working reference.
Whilst the appearance of the RIAI Construction Contract 2025 may seem to depart significantly in terms of structure from previous forms, the reader will recognise the wording, clause structure, and balance of the previous editions of the RIAI ‘Yellow’ and ‘Blue’ forms.
The RIAI Construction Contract 2025 has provisions to reflect current industry practice in a balanced manner reflective of the spirit of the RIAI Suite of Contracts. These include selected subcontractors (i.e. selected prior to formation of the main contract) whilst retaining the provision for traditional nominated subcontractors (ie nominated pre- or post-contract formation on instruction), recognition of Contractor’s Design, Contractor’s Professional Indemnity Insurance and a limitation on contractor’s liability clause.
The new editions have also added details regarding the timing of events by adding specific timescales for notices, which is now accepted within the industry to assist both parties in achieving contract certainty.
The RIAI Construction Contract has been developed by the RIAI in consultation with the constituent bodies of the Liaison Committee for the Construction Industry – the Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland (ACEI), the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), Engineers Ireland (EI) and the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI). The RIAI thanks the representatives of the bodies for their expertise and commitment to collaborating on the contract.
The 2025 Editions and associated forms are available in paper copy from the RIAI Bookshop and as online digital fillable forms using the RIAI Documents Online platform (available to RIAI members only) which may be downloaded in PDF format and subsequently printed in hardcopy if required.