Summary
In Chile, when talking about "SEC electrical certification", different concepts are often mixed: the declaration of an installation, the license of the authorized installer and the certification of electrical products. They are not the same.
For an electrical installation, the best-known codes are the SEC electrical procedures: TE1, TE2, TE3, TE4, TE6 and TE7. Each one corresponds to a different type of installation or commissioning, and must be entered by authorized installers or professionals through the platforms of the Superintendence of Electricity and Fuels.
This guide summarizes what each one means, when it is used and what mistakes to avoid when regularizing, expanding, energizing or commissioning an electrical installation.
What is meant by "SEC certification"
In everyday language, many people say "I need to certify my electrical installation" or "I need to get the SEC." Technically, the correct thing to do is to distinguish between three concepts:
Declaration or communication of a facility: corresponds to the procedure that informs the SEC of the existence, modification, commissioning or energization of a specific installation. In this family are the codes TE1, TE2, TE3, TE4, TE6 and TE7.
Registration certificate: It is the document that is issued when the declaration process is completed. The SEC indicates that this certificate is a public instrument and corresponds to an electronic document with an advanced digital signature. It can also be validated by entering the registration form and the verification code.
Electrical installer license: accredits the person who has the powers to execute or declare certain types of electrical installations. It does not certify a specific facility; certifies the professional or authorized installer.
Therefore, before asking for "an SEC certification", it is advisable to identify what is really needed: declare an installation, validate a certificate, verify a product or check if an installer is authorized.
Quick map of SEC electrical certifications and procedures
| Code | Usual name | What does it apply to? | Main use |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE1 | Interior electrical installation | Indoor consumer facilities | Declare new, expanded or regularized interior electrical installations. |
| TE2 | Public lighting | Public lighting works | Report the commissioning of public lighting installations. |
| TE3 | electric fence | Energized Electric Fences | Declare electric fence installations. |
| TE4 | Residential generators / distributed generation | Distributed generation systems, such as solar PV, NCRE, cogeneration and certain cases with BESS | Communicate the commissioning of residential generators or systems associated with the applicable regime. |
| TE6 | Electric vehicle charging infrastructure | Chargers and recharging systems for electromobility | Put electric vehicle charging infrastructure into service. |
| TE7 | PMGD | Small Distributed Generation Means | Energize PMGD facilities connected to distribution networks. |
TE1: Declaration of interior electrical installation
The TE1 It is probably the best-known SEC electrical procedure. It corresponds to the declaration of an interior electrical installation.
In practical terms, it is used for electrical consumer installations in homes, commercial premises, buildings, industries, offices, warehouses or other facilities where there is an internal electrical network that must meet technical and safety requirements.
A TE1 may be necessary in new works, regularizations, extensions or important modifications. It is also usually requested for municipal procedures, supply requests, reception of works or technical support of an existing installation.
The important point is this: the TE1 is not just an administrative role. It must represent an installation that was designed, executed and technically supported in accordance with current regulations. If the installation is poorly executed, the certificate does not correct the risk; It only leaves formal traceability of what was declared.
TE2: Commissioning of public lighting works
The TE2 corresponds to the commissioning of public lighting works. Applies when installations intended for public lighting are executed, such as streets, squares, paths, urban spaces, open common areas or projects where the installation is part of a public lighting network.
This procedure should not be confused with the simple installation of luminaires within a private area. TE2 is associated with public lighting works and may involve poles, panels, conduits, protections, circuits, certified luminaires, measurement, plans and technical background.
In this type of installation, in addition to the electrical network being safe, it is important to verify that the installed equipment corresponds to suitable and certified products when applicable.
TE3: Electric fence installation declaration
The TE3 corresponds to the declaration of an electric fence installation. This procedure applies to energized fences used as a perimeter security system.
Its objective is that the installation is carried out under safe conditions for people, animals, users, maintainers and third parties. In this type of systems, appropriate equipment, signage, mounting conditions, power supply, protections and project documentation must be considered.
The common mistake is to treat an electric fence as a minor accessory. From a safety point of view, it is an electrical installation that can generate risk if it is poorly selected, poorly installed or poorly maintained.
TE4: Commissioning of residential generators
The TE4 corresponds to the commissioning of residential generators, according to the SEC's Sustainable E-Declarator platform.
Although the name may lead one to think only of homes, in practice this procedure is related to distributed generation projects for self-consumption and grid connection under the corresponding regime. In this universe, solar photovoltaic systems, distributed generation with NCRE, efficient cogeneration and BESS storage systems may appear, depending on the type of installation and the applicable technical requirements.
The TE4 does not replace the TE1. In many projects, TE1 supports the indoor consumer installation, while TE4 supports commissioning of the associated generation or storage system.
TE6: Commissioning of electric vehicle charging infrastructure
The TE6 corresponds to the commissioning of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Applies to charger installations in homes, buildings, parking lots, shopping centers, public facilities, electroterminals, fleets, service stations or other areas where charging points are installed.
The TE6 is especially relevant because the charging of electric vehicles can introduce new power demands, long charging cycles, requirements for protections, channeling, selectivity, coordination with existing panels and operating conditions that were not always considered in the original installation.
It is not enough to install "one more plug". A charging infrastructure must be evaluated as a relevant electrical load, with safety, capacity, protection and maintenance criteria.
TE7: Energization of PMGD facilities
The TE7 corresponds to the energization of PMGD facilities. A PMGD is a Small Medium of Distributed Generation.
This procedure is aimed at larger-scale generation projects than a typical residential or commercial self-consumption installation under net billing. It involves connection criteria, operation, protections, coordination with the distribution company and compliance with specific technical requirements.
In simple terms: TE4 is associated with distributed generation for self-consumption under the applicable regime; TE7 relates to PMGD projects connected to distribution.
Do not confuse: installation procedure, installer license and SEC Seal
SEC Electrical Installer License
The electrical installer license allows you to prove to the SEC that a person has the skills to carry out the type of installation required. Licenses have classes, such as A, B, C and D, so it is not enough for a person to "know electricity": they must have a current license appropriate to the type, power and complexity of the installation.
SEC seal for electrical products
The SEC Seal does not certify a complete installation. Certifies that an electrical or fuel product with mandatory certification complies with the safety standard in force in Chile. This applies, for example, to equipment, appliances, luminaires, chargers, inverters or other products subject to mandatory certification.
Registration certificate
The registration certificate is the documentary result of a declaration completed before the SEC. In practice, it is the document that many people call "the SEC certificate."
How to know which procedure corresponds
A simple way to orient yourself is to start by the nature of the project:
- If it is a interior electrical installation for consumption, normally the TE1.
- If it is about public lighting, it is necessary to analyze TE2.
- If it is a energized electric fence, corresponds TE3.
- If it is about distributed generation, solar PV, NCRE, efficient cogeneration or BESS under applicable self-consumption/connection regime, should be reviewed TE4.
- If it is about chargers or charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, it is necessary to review TE6.
- If it is a PMGD connected to distribution network, falls within the scope of TE7.
- If the doubt is about who can execute or declare the project, the authorized installer license.
- If the question is about a purchased equipment, charger, luminaire, inverter or electrical product, it should be checked if applicable. SEC seal or product certification.
Applied example
Let's assume an industrial building that incorporates a new electrical room, general panels, feeders, chargers for electric vehicles, a photovoltaic system with inverters and a BESS.
In that case, it is not enough to think about "getting an SEC certificate." Several fronts could be crossed:
- Installation inside the building may require TE1.
- Electric vehicle charging infrastructure may require TE6.
- The photovoltaic system, depending on its connection regime, may require TE4.
- The BESS can be part of the analysis of the associated generation or storage system, depending on the case.
- Installed equipment may require SEC seal or applicable authorization/certification.
- The installer or professional must have the proper license for the technical scope of the project.
This example shows something important: certifications are not chosen out of habit, but because of the actual scope of the project.
Common mistakes when talking about SEC certifications
- Call TE1 to any electrical certification. TE1 is very important, but it does not cover all cases.
- Thinking that the certificate corrects a bad installation. Safety is resolved from the design, execution, selection of materials, protections, grounding, measurements, tests and technical documentation.
- Confuse the installer license with the installation certification. A person may be authorized, but each facility must be declared according to the corresponding procedure.
- Treat an electric vehicle charger as a minor load, without reviewing capacity, protections, channels, panels and operating regime.
- Look only at panels or inverters in distributed generation, without reviewing the connection point, protections, coordination with the existing installation, regulatory compliance and documentation.
Why these certifications are important
SEC electrical procedures make it possible to organize the technical information of an installation, provide formal traceability, facilitate inspection, support commissioning and reduce risks for people, equipment and infrastructure.
They also help avoid reprocessing. A project declared incorrectly, with incomplete documents or with a procedure that does not correspond, can end up stopped, observed or executed with deficiencies that are difficult to correct later.
In electrical engineering, certification should not be seen as the last administrative step. It must be the consequence of a well-designed, well-executed, well-documented and technically verifiable project.
The correct question is not only "what certificate do I need", but what type of installation do I have, what electrical risk does it introduce, what regulations apply, who is authorized to declare it and what technical documentation supports its commissioning.
If you need to review, regularize, design or document an electrical installation for SEC declaration, check out our service. engineering and electrical projects. The services of electrical studies, initial verification tests, BESS engineering and grounding.
Sources consulted
- ChileAtiende: Declaration of facilities through E-Declarador.
- SEC: validate registration certificate.
- ChileAtiende: electrical installer license.
- SEC: online electrical procedures.
- ChileAtiende: certification of electrical and fuel products.
- SEC: Sustainable E-Declarer.
- Ministry of Energy: PMGD.
- SEC: scope of electrical installer licenses.