CL · Expiry & renewal tracking
Never let a month pass without your lifts being serviced
Lifts, goods lifts and escalators must be serviced at least once a month by a maintainer listed in the Law 20.296 register (LGUC, Article 159 bis; OGUC, Article 5.9.5, item 3). The owner contracts the maintenance and receives a report and a copy of the maintainer's registration certificate at each visit.
Law 20.296 added Article 159 bis to Chile's General Urban Planning and Construction Law (DFL 458 of 1975): vertical, inclined or funicular lifts, goods lifts and escalators or moving walks in private or public buildings must be installed and maintained according to the manufacturer's technical specifications and the General Urban Planning and Construction Ordinance (OGUC). Owners are responsible for maintenance and must sign the relevant contracts, and maintenance is carried out by maintainers with a current listing in the register kept by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (LGUC, Article 159 bis; Law 20.296, Articles 1 and 3).
Item 3 of OGUC Article 5.9.5 sets the frequency: maintenance takes place at least once a month. Inside each lift car, or in a visible place for other installations, there must be an annual chart recording the maintenance date, the company and the name of the technician who did it. The maintainer must be listed in the Maintainers category of the Law 20.296 register, its current registration certificate forms part of the contract, and it must hand over a copy of that certificate at every service.
Maintenance covers the tasks in the manufacturer's annual maintenance plan plus any preventive or corrective work needed. At each visit the maintainer gives the owner or administrator a report tracking the annual plan, detailing the work done and, where relevant, listing the components that must be replaced and the deadline for doing so (OGUC, Article 5.9.5, item 3). These reports are what the certifier reviews at the periodic certification, which is covered in a separate guide.
At a glance
| Rule | General Urban Planning and Construction Law, Article 159 bis (added by Law 20.296) and OGUC, Article 5.9.5, item 3 |
|---|---|
| Which installations | Vertical, inclined or funicular lifts, goods lifts and escalators or moving walks in private or public buildings (LGUC, Article 159 bis) |
| Frequency | At least once a month (OGUC, Article 5.9.5, item 3) |
| Who does it | A person or company with a current listing in the Maintainers category of the Law 20.296 register (OGUC, Article 5.9.5, item 3) |
| What it covers | The tasks in the manufacturer's annual maintenance plan and any preventive or corrective work needed (OGUC, Article 5.9.5, item 3) |
| Record on the unit | Annual chart with date, company and technician, inside the car or in a visible place (OGUC, Article 5.9.5, item 3) |
| Paperwork per visit | Maintainer's report and a copy of its current registration certificate (OGUC, Article 5.9.5, item 3) |
| Responsible | The owner, who must sign the maintenance contract (LGUC, Article 159 bis) |
Monthly maintenance is separate from periodic certification, which takes place every 1 or 2 years depending on building use and transport capacity; among other things the certifier checks that there is a maintenance contract with a registered maintainer, that the maintenance reports for the period are available and that the annual plan has been followed (OGUC, Article 5.9.5, item 4).
Who is responsible?
Owners are responsible for maintenance and must sign the relevant contracts (LGUC, Article 159 bis; OGUC, Article 5.9.5, item 3). The maintainer gives its reports to the owner or the administrator, as applicable, and the owner or administrator must carry out the actions, works or repairs the maintainer specifies (OGUC, Article 5.9.5, item 3). In buildings under the condominium regime, the administrator is the one who must prove certification (OGUC, Article 5.9.5, item 4).
If the deadline passes
The Municipal Works Department (DOM) may check at any time that buildings with lifts, goods lifts and escalators or moving walks have the maintenance and certification required by Article 5.9.5; if they do not, the final paragraph of LGUC Article 159 bis applies, which refers to the fines in Articles 20 and 21 of that law against the owner (OGUC, Article 5.2.9; LGUC, Article 159 bis). If services were missed or not done on time, the certifier may only certify after checking that the installation can keep operating, must record this in a written report attached to the certificate and must file a copy with the DOM within 30 days so that LGUC Articles 20 and 21 can be applied (OGUC, Article 5.9.5, item 4).
Imminent risk: the installation is taken out of service
If operation poses an imminent risk to people, the maintainer records this in its report with details of the faults or defects; the owner or administrator must take the installation out of service, post an "INSTALACIÓN NO OPERATIVA" (installation not operational) notice in a visible place and not use it until the repairs are done and the maintainer agrees to put it back in service (OGUC, Article 5.9.5, item 3).
Tracking it with ExpirySuite
- Add each lift, goods lift or escalator and record as the expiry date the date of the next monthly service under the contract or the annual chart in the car.
- Email reminders arrive before the date and on the day itself; with a monthly cycle, the 7-day and 1-day reminders are the most useful.
- The maintainer can upload each service report and its current registration certificate through a secure link that is valid for 14 days and needs no account.
- Assign a responsible person, such as the building administrator; if a service is overdue, managers get further reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.
Frequently asked questions
- How often must a lift be serviced in Chile?
- At least once a month, following the annual maintenance plan specified by the manufacturer (OGUC, Article 5.9.5, item 3).
- Who may carry out the maintenance?
- A person or company with a current listing in the Maintainers category of the Law 20.296 register kept by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development; it proves this with its current registration certificate, which forms part of the contract (OGUC, Article 5.9.5, item 3; LGUC, Article 159 bis).
- What must the maintainer hand over at each visit?
- A report tracking the annual maintenance plan and detailing the preventive or corrective work done, listing any components to be replaced and the deadline where relevant, plus a copy of the certificate proving its registration is current (OGUC, Article 5.9.5, item 3).
- Who is responsible for contracting maintenance?
- The owner, who must sign the relevant contract or contracts (LGUC, Article 159 bis; OGUC, Article 5.9.5, item 3).
Sources
- Decreto 47 de 1992, Ministerio de Vivienda y Urbanismo, Ordenanza General de Urbanismo y Construcciones: artículos 5.2.9 y 5.9.5 (LeyChile, BCN)
- Ley 20.296, instalación, mantención e inspección periódica de los ascensores: artículos 1 (artículo 159 bis de la LGUC) y 3 (LeyChile, BCN)
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.
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