Regulatory Guide · For Foreign Companies
Key Chilean regulations for HVAC projects: DS 594 (worker thermal comfort), OGUC (building ventilation), NCh standards, and ASHRAE adoption. What international firms need to know before designing HVAC in Chile.
International firms entering the Chilean market — whether opening a manufacturing facility, a regional office, a hotel, or a data center — often assume that ASHRAE or ISO standards will govern HVAC design, as they do in North America, Europe, or Australia. In Chile, the primary regulatory framework is different: it is anchored in national decrees (DS 594), the construction ordinance (OGUC), and Chilean national standards (NCh).
International standards like ASHRAE 62.1, ASHRAE 90.1, and NFPA 96 are accepted as technical references — and often required for LEED certification or Bomberos approval — but they do not replace Chilean law. Understanding this layered framework is essential before submitting permit documents or commissioning a Chilean facility.
This guide covers the four key Chilean regulations, maps them to their international equivalents, explains the permit and inspection process, and answers the most common questions from international engineering teams working in Chile for the first time.
Chilean regulations overview
Ministry of Health · Mandatory for workplaces
Decree Nº 594 of the Ministry of Health (MINSAL) is the primary regulation governing workplace conditions in Chile, including thermal comfort. It sets maximum operative temperatures by work intensity (sedentary work: max 27°C; light work: max 30°C; moderate work: max 26°C), minimum ventilation rates (0.14 m³/s per occupant for non-industrial premises), and prohibits direct air supply that causes cold drafts on workers. DS 594 applies to all enclosed workplaces regardless of whether they are Chilean or foreign-owned.
Building ventilation minimums · Permit requirements
The Ordenanza General de Urbanismo y Construcción (OGUC) sets ventilation and climate control requirements at the building permit (permiso de edificación) stage. Articles 4.1.10 and 4.5 specify minimum air changes by occupancy type (residential, office, retail, healthcare, industrial). HVAC system designs submitted with the building permit must meet OGUC minimums, and the system must be commissioned and reported to the municipality (DOM) before the final occupation certificate (recepción final) is issued.
NCh 1993, NCh 898, NCh 440 — ventilation and combustion
The Instituto Nacional de Normalización (INN) publishes the NCh standards that are the Chilean equivalents of ISO/ASHRAE/NFPA standards. Key HVAC-related NCh standards: NCh 1993/1 (general ventilation); NCh 898 (food service premises — ventilation and extraction); NCh 440 (gas installations, including flue venting for gas heating). When Chilean regulations refer to "applicable standards," NCh standards are the default; ASHRAE or NFPA standards are referenced when a Chilean NCh equivalent does not exist for the application.
ASHRAE · NFPA · ISO · LEED
Chile has no equivalent to ASHRAE 62.1 (ventilation for acceptable indoor air quality) or ASHRAE 90.1 (energy efficiency in buildings) as national legislation. However, both are widely accepted as technical references by inspectors, the SEREMI de Salud (regional health authority), and the Cuerpo de Bomberos (fire department) when Chilean NCh standards do not cover the specific application. NFPA 96 is routinely used for food service extraction design. LEED and EDGE certifications are recognized by the Ministry of Energy and some municipalities for building permit fast-tracks.
| Requirement | Chilean Regulation | International Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Workplace thermal comfort | DS 594 (MINSAL) | ASHRAE 55 |
| Building ventilation minimums | OGUC Art. 4.1.10 | ASHRAE 62.1 |
| Food service extraction | NCh 898 + OGUC | NFPA 96 |
| Energy efficiency (buildings) | Calificación Energética de Edificios (CEE) | ASHRAE 90.1 / LEED EA |
| Gas appliance venting | NCh 440 | ANSI Z223 / EN 1443 |
| Clean room environments | MINSAL Resolution 510/99 | ISO 14644-1 (cleanroom classes) |
| Industrial ventilation | DS 594 + DS 78 | ACGIH Industrial Ventilation |
DS 594
Primary workplace thermal comfort regulation
OGUC
Building ventilation minimums (permit stage)
NFPA 96
Food service extraction — accepted by Bomberos
LEED
Green building certification recognized in Chile
Step-by-step permit process
DOM · OGUC compliance · Engineer seal
Any new construction or major renovation in Chile requires a building permit from the Dirección de Obras Municipales (DOM). The permit submission must include HVAC plans stamped by a registered Chilean civil or mechanical engineer, demonstrating compliance with OGUC ventilation minimums. Foreign engineering credentials are not directly recognized — designs must be countersigned by a Chilean professional engineer (PE) registered with the Colegio de Ingenieros de Chile.
SEREMI de Salud · Workplace inspection
Once the facility is operating with workers, the SEREMI de Salud (Regional Ministry of Health) may inspect for DS 594 compliance. D&Z Building provides a DS 594 compliance report with each project, documenting the operative temperatures achieved at each workstation, the ventilation rates installed, and the noise levels measured. This document is the primary defense in a SEREMI inspection and is required to obtain the health operating license (resolución sanitaria) for food service and healthcare facilities.
NFPA 96 · Suppression systems · Kitchen certification
The Cuerpo de Bomberos (Chilean Fire Department) reviews kitchen extraction systems and fire suppression systems. For commercial kitchen hood systems, Bomberos expects NFPA 96 compliance including 18-gauge stainless steel ducts, minimum face velocities at the hood, and an integrated suppression system (Ansul or equivalent). D&Z Building manages this process and has established relationships with Bomberos companies in the Santiago and Valparaíso regions.
DOM · As-built inspection · HVAC commissioning report
Before the building can be legally occupied, the DOM conducts a final inspection and issues the recepción final. The HVAC system must be commissioned and operational. D&Z Building provides a commissioning report (informe de puesta en marcha) documenting measured airflows, temperatures, and pressures at all terminals, signed by the responsible engineer. Some municipalities also require a noise measurement report for systems near residential areas.
Local expertise
Need a Chilean PE to countersign your HVAC design and manage the permit process?
FAQ
Foreign engineers cannot independently sign HVAC designs for Chilean building permits. Designs must be countersigned by a Chilean professional engineer (PE) registered with the Colegio de Ingenieros de Chile. The most common approach for international firms is to engage a local engineering firm (like D&Z Building) to review, adapt, and sign the HVAC design for submission. The foreign engineer can contribute the design; the Chilean PE takes legal responsibility for regulatory compliance.
DS 594 and ASHRAE 55 address the same topic (thermal comfort) but from different angles. ASHRAE 55 uses a probability-based model (Predicted Mean Vote) and allows adaptive comfort for naturally ventilated spaces. DS 594 is prescriptive: it sets absolute temperature limits by work intensity category (sedentary, light, moderate, heavy), without PMV models. For a foreign firm, the safest approach is to design to DS 594 limits and document it; ASHRAE 55 calculations can supplement the DS 594 compliance report for discussions with sophisticated clients or LEED submissions.
Chile uses the metric system (SI) for all engineering purposes. Airflows are in m³/s or m³/h, temperatures in °C, pressures in Pa or kPa, power in kW, and energy in kWh or MJ. Equipment ratings from US manufacturers (BTU/h, CFM, °F) must be converted. Chilean construction documents, permits, and commissioning reports must be in SI units. D&Z Building prepares all documentation in SI units and can adapt US/Australian manufacturer datasheets for Chilean permit submissions.
LEED certification does not replace Chilean legal requirements — it is an additional overlay. A LEED-certified building must still comply with DS 594, OGUC, and NCh standards. Where LEED requirements (e.g., ASHRAE 62.1 ventilation rates or ASHRAE 90.1 energy efficiency levels) exceed Chilean minimums, the more demanding LEED requirement governs. The Ministry of Energy's "Camino a la Carbono Neutralidad" policy recognizes LEED and EDGE certifications, and some municipalities offer expedited permitting for certified projects.
For international clients and multinational projects, D&Z Building provides: (1) Design reports in Spanish (required for permits) plus English summaries; (2) DS 594 and OGUC compliance certification signed by a registered Chilean PE; (3) Commissioning reports in SI units suitable for both Chilean DOM submission and LEED documentation; (4) Equipment datasheets from Chilean distributors; and (5) A regulatory compliance matrix mapping the project's design parameters against DS 594, OGUC, NFPA 96 (where applicable), and LEED EA credits.
The building permit process (permiso de edificación) from submission to approval takes 30–90 business days depending on the municipality and project complexity. Santiago municipalities (Providencia, Las Condes, Vitacura) tend to be faster (30–45 days for straightforward projects); municipalities outside Santiago can take longer. Once the permit is approved, construction can begin without waiting for the final occupation certificate. D&Z Building coordinates with the architect of record and the DOM to minimize permit review cycles.