CL · Expiry & renewal tracking
Never miss the quarterly check of your warehouse fire systems
Hazardous-substance warehouses must keep a review programme for their fire detection and suppression systems, with a validity log: function checks every three months, mechanical and electrical tasks every six and a full verification every year (DS 43 of 2015, Article 51). Extinguishers are maintained under DS 594.
Supreme Decree 43 of 2015 of the Ministry of Health, the Hazardous Substances Storage Regulation, sets the safety conditions for installations storing substances classified under NCh 382:2013 (Articles 1 and 2). Hazardous-substance warehouses must have a manual extinguisher-based fire-fighting system under DS 594 of 1999 and, all of them, an automatic fire detection system designed to NFPA 72 or another internationally recognised standard; in addition, depending on the class of substance, an automatic suppression system designed by a qualified professional with a signed design or calculation report. Warehouses holding more than 500 tonnes, with exceptions, need an external wet standpipe system with at least 60 minutes' autonomy, and those storing more than 2,500 tonnes of more than one class need automatic suppression, replaceable by a manual system operated 24 hours a day by trained staff (Article 51).
The same Article 51 requires the fire detection and suppression systems to have a review programme, with a validity log, at a minimum frequency on three levels. Every three months: functional check of the automatic detection and alarm systems, replacement of pilot lights and fuses and battery maintenance; inspection of tanks, valves, pumps and fittings of the fire-water supply and a check of its automatic and manual operation; checks of equipped fire hose stations and internal hydrants; and checks of nozzles, sprinklers, test valves, manual controls and charge levels of the fixed suppression systems.
Every six months: operating and greasing valves, adjusting packing glands, checking motors and the electrical supply of the fire-water system, and greasing and testing internal hydrants. Every year: a full verification of the detection and alarm installation with a final test on each power source, annual maintenance of motors and pumps per the manufacturer, filter cleaning, battery tests, dismantling and testing hoses, and review of the fixed sprinkler, water spray, powder and foam systems. Extinguishers and manual systems are maintained under DS 594 (Article 51). Systems installed after the regulation took effect must also undergo a full check against the design and calculation report (Article 51). Enforcement rests with the Regional Ministerial Health Secretariats (Article 192).
At a glance
| Rule | Supreme Decree 43 of 2015 (Ministry of Health), Hazardous Substances Storage Regulation, Article 51 |
|---|---|
| Who | Warehouses for hazardous substances classified under NCh 382:2013 (Articles 2, 4 and 51) |
| Every three months | Detection and alarm function; fire-water supply inspection; hose stations and hydrants; nozzles, sprinklers and charges of fixed systems (Article 51) |
| Every six months | Valves, packing glands, motors and electrical supply of the fire-water system; greasing and testing internal hydrants (Article 51) |
| Every year | Full verification of detection and alarm; motor and pump maintenance; hose testing; fixed suppression systems (Article 51) |
| Record | Review programme with a validity log (Article 51) |
| Extinguishers | Maintained under DS 594 of 1999 (Article 51) |
| Enforcement | Regional Ministerial Health Secretariats, under Book Ten of the Health Code (Article 192) |
The regulation describes these frequencies as minimum ("periodicidad mínima") and does not say who must carry out the reviews or require external certification; it lists the tasks and requires the programme and its validity log (Article 51). The design of the automatic suppression system must, however, be by a qualified professional with a signed design or calculation report (Article 51).
Who is responsible?
The regulation places the duties on the warehouse or storage installation, that is, on the company operating it, which must have the review programme and keep the validity log (Article 51). The record of the staff's annual training on safety equipment and operating procedures is kept available to the Health Authority (Article 13), and the Emergency Plan must list the detection and response equipment available (Article 190).
If the deadline passes
The review programme and its validity log are a requirement of the regulation (Article 51), enforced by the Regional Ministerial Health Secretariats under Book Ten of the Health Code (Article 192). Installations storing more than 10 tonnes of flammable substances or 30 tonnes of other classes need a Health Authorisation to operate (Article 5), so a missed review is a direct finding in any inspection of that authorisation. The regulation sets no grace period: an overdue quarterly check is a breach as soon as the interval is exceeded.
Three cycles on the same equipment
Article 51 layers quarterly, half-yearly and yearly tasks on the same systems. The practical approach is to record the date of the last review of each cycle per warehouse: the three-month cycle sets the pace, and the half-yearly and yearly tasks are added at the second and fourth quarterly review. Extinguisher maintenance, the emergency plan and gas tank inspection are covered in their own guides.
Tracking it with ExpirySuite
- Add one record per warehouse for the quarterly cycle with the date of the last review and expiry three months later; if you wish, create separate records for the half-yearly and yearly tasks so that none exceeds its minimum interval.
- Email reminders arrive 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before expiry and on the expiry day.
- The maintenance contractor or safety officer can upload the review report through a secure link that is valid for 14 days and needs no account.
- Assign a responsible person, such as the warehouse manager or risk prevention officer; if the review is overdue, managers get further reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.
Frequently asked questions
- How often must fire detection and suppression systems in a hazardous-substance warehouse be reviewed?
- DS 43 sets a minimum frequency on three levels: tasks every three months, every six months and every year, all within a review programme with a validity log (Article 51).
- What is checked every three months?
- The operation of the automatic detection and alarm systems, with replacement of pilot lights and fuses and battery maintenance; the inspection of the fire-water supply and its automatic and manual operation; the equipped hose stations and internal hydrants; and the condition of nozzles, sprinklers, test valves, manual controls and charges of the fixed suppression systems (Article 51).
- Do all warehouses need automatic fire detection?
- Yes. All hazardous-substance warehouses must have an automatic fire detection system designed to NFPA 72 or another internationally recognised standard; automatic suppression depends on the class of substance and is mandatory, unless replaced by a manual system operated 24 hours a day, when more than 2,500 tonnes of more than one class are stored (Article 51).
- Do extinguishers follow the same frequency?
- No. Extinguishers and manual suppression systems are maintained under DS 594 of 1999 of the Ministry of Health (DS 43, Article 51).
Sources
Last checked: Oct 14, 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 fire detection and suppression review, hazardous substance storage (Chile)
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Reminders on time
Email alerts at 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before each fire detection and suppression review, hazardous substance storage (Chile) expires, plus overdue escalation to managers.
Assign an owner
Give each fire detection and suppression review, hazardous substance storage (Chile) an owner and let employees update their own via a secure link — no login needed.