On March 9, 2026, Exempt Decree No. 12 issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (MINVU) was published in the Official Gazette, approving and declaring NCh2369:2025, issued by the National Institute of Standardization (INN), as an Official Standard of the Republic of Chile for the seismic design of industrial structures and facilities.

This new version updates the existing design criteria, replacing and rendering obsolete the previous NCh2369:2003 standard, which had served as the main technical reference in this field for more than two decades.

According to the INN, the updated standard aims to incorporate the latest advances in seismic engineering and align Chilean practice with more demanding international standards, strengthening the technical framework applicable to the design of industrial structures and installations in Chile.

Provisions excluded from the Official Standard declaration

The decree expressly establishes that sections 4.6.2, C.4.6.2 and C.11.6 are excluded from the declaration as an Official Standard, and therefore are not mandatory under the decree.

In particular:

• Section 4.6.2: requires that the seismic-resistant design of structures, equipment and anchorages be reviewed and approved by independent specialist professionals separate from the original designers.
• Section C.4.6.2: notes that independent review of industrial structural design has historically been a common practice in Chile and a requirement in many international codes.
• Section C.11.6: addresses the seismic design of large mobile equipment, such as gantry cranes, considering challenges such as lateral stability, support uplift, and the need for coordination between equipment suppliers and seismic specialists throughout the project lifecycle.

Entry into force

The new standard will enter into force six months after its publication in the Official Gazette, allowing time for implementation by designers, structural engineers, industrial operators and other relevant stakeholders.