CO · Expiry & renewal tracking
Don't let your premises' fire brigade inspection certificate expire
Buildings and commercial and industrial establishments in Colombia must ask the fire brigade for the annual inspection and test of their fire protection systems (Article 42 of Ley 1575 de 2012). The certificate is valid for at most one year and renovations invalidate it (Article 213 of Resolución 661 de 2014).
Fire brigades are the bodies competent to carry out fire-prevention and life-safety inspections in public and private buildings, and particularly in commercial and industrial establishments open to the public, and they report compliance with safety rules to the competent authority (Article 42 of Ley 1575 de 2012, the General Fire Brigades Law, as amended by Article 7 of Ley 1796 de 2016). These inspections include the annual inspection and test of fire protection systems under the rules in force and planned technical inspections on fire and life safety, and everyone must allow the fire brigade's inspections on their premises (Article 42).
The Administrative, Operational, Technical and Academic Regulation of Colombia's Fire Brigades, adopted by Resolución 661 de 2014 of the National Fire Brigades Directorate, sets the procedure: public and private buildings and commercial and industrial establishments must request the Life Safety and Fire Protection inspection in writing from the fire brigade of their municipality, attaching their tax registration (RUT) and proof of payment for the service; the fire brigade schedules the visit within no more than fifteen calendar days and hands over a copy of the inspection record with findings and improvement requirements (Article 207 of the annex). The report may set a deadline for corrections of no more than 30 calendar days from delivery of the record (Article 210).
Once the requirements are met, the fire brigade issues the inspection certificate and a badge that must be displayed in a visible place (Article 211), and does not issue partial, temporary or provisional certificates (Article 212). The Inspection Certificate is valid for no more than one (1) year, and renovations, extensions or other changes to the architectural layout invalidate it and require a new inspection to be requested immediately (Article 213). If aspects posing a high risk to human life are found, the fire brigade informs the mayor within no more than one business day and checks that the risk has been reduced (Articles 214 and 215). The regulation provides for fees to be charged for inspections (Article 216 of the annex).
At a glance
| What it is | Annual inspection and test of fire protection systems and technical fire and life-safety inspections (Article 42 of Ley 1575 de 2012, as amended by Article 7 of Ley 1796 de 2016) |
|---|---|
| Who carries it out | The local fire brigade (Article 42; Article 207 of the annex to Resolución 661 de 2014) |
| Who requests it | Public and private buildings and commercial and industrial establishments, in writing, with the RUT and proof of payment (Article 207(1)) |
| Certificate validity | No more than one (1) year; architectural changes invalidate it (Article 213) |
| Procedure deadlines | Visit scheduled within no more than fifteen calendar days (Article 207(2)); corrections within no more than 30 calendar days of the record (Article 210) |
| Evidence | Inspection certificate and badge displayed in a visible place (Article 211) |
Each fire brigade sets its own procedure and forms within the regulation (Article 208 of the annex to Resolución 661 de 2014); confirm local requirements with your municipality's fire brigade.
Who is responsible?
The owner or manager of the building or establishment must request the inspection from the municipal fire brigade and meet the requirements in the record (Articles 207 and 210 of the annex to Resolución 661 de 2014), and everyone must allow inspections on their premises (Article 42 of Ley 1575 de 2012). If renovations or extensions change the architectural layout, a new inspection must be requested immediately (Article 213).
If the deadline passes
The certificate is valid for no more than one year (Article 213 of the annex to Resolución 661 de 2014), and the regulation provides no grace period or provisional certificates (Article 212). Article 42 of Ley 1575 de 2012 does not set its own sanction. While carrying on a business activity, the safety conditions set by police rules must be met, and the police may check them at any time (Article 87 and paragraph 1 of Ley 1801 de 2016). If the inspection finds a high risk to human life, the fire brigade reports it to the mayor so that appropriate action is taken (Article 214).
A renovation restarts the clock
The certificate does not only expire with time: renovations, extensions or changes to the architectural layout invalidate it and require a new inspection immediately (Article 213 of the annex to Resolución 661 de 2014). Check the expiry date whenever building work is planned.
Tracking it with ExpirySuite
- Add each site or establishment as a record and enter as the expiry date the one stated on the inspection certificate or, if none is stated, one year after it was issued.
- Email reminders arrive 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before and on the day; since the visit may be scheduled up to fifteen days after the request and corrections may take up to 30 days, request the inspection at the first reminder.
- The site manager can upload the new inspection certificate through a secure link that is valid for 14 days and needs no account; then update the expiry date.
- Assign the site manager or the maintenance team as the responsible person; if the date passes without a certificate, managers get further reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.
Frequently asked questions
- How often must the fire brigade inspection take place?
- Ley 1575 de 2012 provides for the annual inspection and test of fire protection systems (Article 42, as amended by Article 7 of Ley 1796 de 2016), and the inspection certificate is valid for no more than one year (Article 213 of the annex to Resolución 661 de 2014).
- How is the inspection requested?
- In writing to the municipality's fire brigade, attaching the RUT and proof of payment for the service; the fire brigade schedules the visit within no more than fifteen calendar days (Article 207 of the annex to Resolución 661 de 2014).
- What happens if the inspection finds non-compliance?
- The record lists findings and improvement requirements, and the report may set a correction deadline of up to 30 calendar days from delivery of the record (Articles 207 and 210); the certificate is issued only once the requirements are met (Article 211).
- Does a renovation affect the certificate?
- Yes. Renovations, extensions or other changes to the architectural layout invalidate the current certificate, and a new inspection must be requested immediately (Article 213 of the annex to Resolución 661 de 2014).
Sources
- Ley 1575 de 2012, General Fire Brigades Law of Colombia, Article 42 (Régimen Legal de Bogotá, District Legal Secretariat; in Spanish)
- Ley 1796 de 2016, Article 7, amending Article 42 of Ley 1575 de 2012 (Régimen Legal de Bogotá, District Legal Secretariat; in Spanish)
- Resolución 661 de 2014 of the National Fire Brigades Directorate, annex: Administrative, Operational, Technical and Academic Regulation of Colombia's Fire Brigades, Articles 207 to 216 (PDF, Régimen Legal de Bogotá; in Spanish)
- Ley 1801 de 2016, National Code of Security and Citizen Coexistence, Article 87 (Régimen Legal de Bogotá, District Legal Secretariat; in Spanish)
Last checked: Oct 11, 2026 · This page summarises official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Check the linked sources for current rules and fees.
Made for annual fire protection system inspection and test (fire brigade) (Colombia)
A ready template for annual fire protection system inspection and test (fire brigade) (Colombia) with sensible validity defaults, so you enter less and track more.
Reminders on time
Email alerts at 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before each annual fire protection system inspection and test (fire brigade) (Colombia) expires, plus overdue escalation to managers.
Assign an owner
Give each annual fire protection system inspection and test (fire brigade) (Colombia) an owner and let employees update their own via a secure link — no login needed.