The RIAS (Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland) has developed a new standard form of appointment appropriate for use on small projects. It is aimed specifically at projects in the residential domestic market such as new houses and domestic alterations and extensions. The form is compliant with current consumer legislation and written in plain English. An interesting feature has been the decision to replace the traditional RIBA Plan of Work with a description of Architects Services more appropriate to the consumer market.

The form is available in PDF format, downloadable free from the RIAS website to Practice Services subscribers and ready for the architect to complete. It is also available in hard copy from the RIAS Bookshops for £7.05. Digital availability is something of a first for the RIAS as the RIBA, JCT and SBCC have yet to make standard forms available on line.

The form meets a need, recognised for some time, to provide a simple document that is appropriate to both architectural practices and their domestic clients yet contains sufficient detail in the conditions to avoid the most likely disputes.

The RIAS has been assisted in the development of the form by ECAN (Edinburgh Chartered Architects Network), a group of small-scale practitioners whose workload is mainly in this sector (contact Charlie Girdler 0131 455 7773).

The RIAS Director of Practice, 'Gus Macdonald says "This is an excellent addition to the standard forms of appointment available to architects. There about 700 architects practices in Scotland who do this type of work. The RIAS would very much commend this form to them and their clients as a means of ensuring that there are no misunderstandings as to the scope of the services to be provided and the fees to be charged."