The Ministry of Health announced on March 31 that no activity, including gas stations, has been exempted from the requirement to present an electrical certification when obtaining or renewing a sanitary operating permit.
This clarification comes after false information was published by the media outlet CR Hoy. The Ministry said that gas stations must have an electrical certification, but unlike other industries, current regulations since October 2022 do not require them to obtain an additional technical assessment related to the classification of hazardous zones.
According to the Ministry, this distinction is due to gas stations operating in environments specifically designed with safety devices and procedures that reduce exposure to risks. The regulation differentiates between types of industries based on their processes and potential risk for creating flammable atmospheres. In certain cases where there is a higher risk due to substances handled or exposure to heat, pressure, or vapors, an extra evaluation involving hazardous zone classification is required in addition to electrical certification.
The Ministry stated: “We categorically deny the information published by CR Hoy which claims that ‘Salud exime a gasolineras de clasificar áreas peligrosas de sus instalaciones para certificación eléctrica.’ This provision does not imply any preferential treatment nor a relaxation of requirements for gas stations.”
The statement emphasized that each economic activity must meet requirements according to its specific level of risk and operational conditions. The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment “to protecting public health, ensuring people’s safety and rigorously applying current regulations with technical criteria proportional to each type of activity.”
