CL · Expiry & renewal tracking
Never let a boiler or autoclave at your plant miss its three-yearly inspection
Boilers, autoclaves and steam equipment in service are inspected and tested every three years, and also on installation and after any repair or conversion (Health Ministry Decree 10, Articles 43 and 63). An authorised professional on the health authority's list does it, with the authority notified 72 hours in advance.
Decree 10 of 2012 of Chile's Ministry of Health, published in the Official Gazette on 19 October 2013, approves the Regulation on boilers, autoclaves and equipment using steam. It applies to steam, heating and thermal-fluid boilers, fixed or mobile; to autoclaves and equipment working with steam at a gauge pressure of 0.5 kg/cm2 or more; and to the steam distribution network. It does not apply to boilers in locomotives or vessels, or to domestic hot-water heating boilers serving a single house (DS 10, Article 1). Every boiler and autoclave must be entered in the register of the Regional Ministerial Health Secretariat before it operates and must have a logbook (Articles 3 and 5).
Steam boilers, autoclaves and steam equipment undergo internal and external inspection, hydrostatic test, safety-valve test, steam accumulation test and inspection of the distribution network: on completion of installation, after any repair, strengthening or conversion and, for those in service, every three years (Articles 42 and 43). Heating and thermal-fluid boilers undergo internal and external inspection, checks of relief or safety valves and thermostats and inspection of the heating circuit, under the same every-three-years rule (Articles 62 and 63). Bench-top autoclaves with a steam chamber of up to 50 litres are exempt from the hydrostatic, safety-valve and accumulation tests (Article 43).
The inspections and tests are carried out by an authorised professional on the health authority's list (Articles 73 to 75). The owner or user notifies the health authority at least 72 hours in advance of the place, day and time of the tests; otherwise the technical report is invalid (Articles 76 and 77). The professional delivers the technical report within 8 working days, and the owner or user sends a copy to the health authority within 15 working days of the inspection (Articles 44, 64 and 77).
At a glance
| Rule | Decree 10 of 2012 of the Ministry of Health, Regulation on boilers, autoclaves and equipment using steam |
|---|---|
| Equipment | Steam, heating and thermal-fluid boilers; autoclaves and steam equipment from 0.5 kg/cm2; steam distribution network (Article 1) |
| Frequency | Every three years for equipment in service (Articles 43 and 63) |
| Also | On completion of installation and after any repair, strengthening or conversion, before returning to service (Articles 43 and 63) |
| Who does it | An authorised professional on the health authority's list (Articles 73 to 75) |
| Advance notice | To the health authority, at least 72 hours before the tests (Article 76) |
| Technical report | Delivered by the professional within 8 working days; copy to the health authority within 15 working days (Articles 44, 64 and 77) |
| Enforcement | The health authority, with sanctions under Book Ten of the Health Code (Article 85) |
Inspection of the steam distribution network or heating circuit is also required when the installation shows evident damage as a direct result of an earthquake or other unforeseen mechanical stress, and special tests when the health authority or the authorised professional considers them necessary (Articles 43 and 63).
Who is responsible?
The owner or user of the boiler, autoclave or equipment must ensure that inspections and tests are carried out when and as the regulation requires and must send a copy of the technical report to the health authority (DS 10, Articles 44 and 64). The owner or user must also give the 72-hour advance notice (Article 76) and keep the logbook available to the health authority and the authorised professional (Article 5).
If the deadline passes
The health authority enforces the regulation and sanctions breaches under Book Ten of the Health Code (DS 10, Article 85). A technical report issued without the 72-hour advance notice is invalid (Article 77), so a poorly coordinated inspection may have to be repeated.
Each unit has its own date
The three-year rule applies to each boiler, autoclave or piece of equipment in service, and a repair, strengthening or conversion requires a new inspection before returning to service (DS 10, Articles 43 and 63). The regulation does not expressly say from which date the three years run; record the date of the last full inspection entered in the logbook and update it after each repair.
Tracking it with ExpirySuite
- Add each boiler or autoclave with its register number and record as the expiry date the day three years after the last inspection and test entered in its logbook.
- Email reminders arrive 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before expiry and on the expiry day, leaving time to book the authorised professional and give the health authority 72 hours' notice.
- The authorised professional can upload the technical report through a secure link that is valid for 14 days and needs no account.
- Assign a responsible person, such as the maintenance manager; if the inspection is overdue, managers get further reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.
Frequently asked questions
- How often must a boiler be inspected in Chile?
- Boilers, autoclaves and steam equipment in service undergo the regulatory inspections and tests every three years, as well as on completion of installation and after any repair, strengthening or conversion (DS 10, Articles 43 and 63).
- Who can carry out the inspection?
- An authorised professional who meets the requirements of Article 73 and is on the health authority's list (DS 10, Articles 73 to 75).
- Must the health authority be notified?
- Yes. The owner or user notifies the health authority at least 72 hours in advance; without that notice the technical report is invalid (DS 10, Articles 76 and 77).
- What happens to the technical report?
- The professional delivers it in duplicate within 8 working days and the owner or user sends a copy to the health authority within 15 working days of the inspection (DS 10, Articles 44, 64 and 77).
Sources
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 boiler and autoclave periodic inspection and tests (Chile)
A ready template for boiler and autoclave periodic inspection and tests (Chile) 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 boiler and autoclave periodic inspection and tests (Chile) expires, plus overdue escalation to managers.
Assign an owner
Give each boiler and autoclave periodic inspection and tests (Chile) an owner and let employees update their own via a secure link — no login needed.