Housing Modules for Mining: Regulations, Certifications and Requirements in Argentina
Everything you need to know about the regulations applicable to housing modules in mining camps in Argentina: workers' insurance, labor resolutions, CE certifications and operator HSE.
What regulations govern mining camps in Argentina?
The legal framework for temporary camps in Argentina is distributed across several concurrent regulations that, taken together, form the minimum enforceable standard. There is no single law that exclusively governs mining camps, but the sum of labor, health and safety regulations and operator requirements configures a clear standard.
Decree 351/79 — Regulation of Law 19,587
This decree regulates the Workplace Health and Safety Law and establishes the basic conditions for accommodation, food and sanitary facilities in industrial establishments. Its provisions apply to temporary camps in mining areas.
Resolution 523/95 of the Ministry of Labor
It is the most relevant specific regulation for camps. It sets the minimum conditions for housing workers in isolated or remote places:
- Dormitories with a minimum surface per person
- Sanitary facilities with minimum ratios
- Dining hall separated from the dormitory area
- Permanent drinking water
- Effluent disposal system
Law 24,557 — Workplace Risks
It requires the presence of a first-aid infirmary in any establishment with more than 25 workers. In mining and oil camps, the workers' insurers (ART) verify this requirement during authorization audits. Without an authorized infirmary module, many operators cannot start operations.
Sectoral collective agreements
AOMA (mining) and ASIMRA (oil services) have collective agreements that incorporate specific clauses on accommodation, food and service conditions in camps. These clauses are usually more demanding than the legal minimums, especially regarding room quality, the surface-per-person ratio and recreation facilities.
The certifications that matter for the modules
CE certification (Conformité Européenne)
CE certification indicates that the product complies with European Union safety standards. For housing modules, CE certification covers the modular structure (Flat Pack, Folding, Expandable), the steel doors and the windows. It is the most internationally recognized construction-quality standard.
ISO 1496
International standard that regulates containers for intermodal transport, including their dimensions, structural strength and stacking conditions. Modules that comply with ISO 1496 are certified to stack up to 3 levels without structural risk.
GB/T 9074 and GB 50011
Standards from China's technical standards system (the country of manufacture for most folding modules on the market). GB/T 9074 applies to fittings and fixings. GB 50011 regulates the seismic design of buildings: modules certified to this standard reach Grade 10, the highest level of anti-seismic resistance. Essential for projects in San Juan and Mendoza, areas of high seismic activity.
Class A fireproofing (GB 8624 standard)
It classifies the fire resistance of construction materials. Class A indicates non-combustible or very-low-flammability materials. For industrial camps where the fire risk is significant, this certification is a requirement of the ART and of the operators themselves.
What the international operators ask for
The large Vaca Muerta operators (YPF, Chevron, TotalEnergies, Shell) and the major San Juan mining projects (Barrick, McEwen, Lundin/BHP) have their own HSE standards that in many cases exceed the legal minimums.
What they usually ask for in their camp specification:
- Complete technical documentation for each module (detailed drawings, material certificates, structural calculation report)
- Manufacturer's certificates of origin and quality
- CE certifications or international equivalents
- Documented seismic resistance per standard
- Preventive maintenance plan for the camp
- Cleaning and disinfection protocol
Working with certified modules is not just an administrative requirement: it eases the HSE audit process and reduces the approval times to start the accommodation.
What about the infirmary authorization?
The authorization of the infirmary as a health space is one of the points that generates the most questions. The process varies by province and project type:
In San Juan, the authorization must be processed before the provincial Ministry of Health. In Neuquén, before the Health Secretariat. The general requirements include minimum surface, natural or mechanical ventilation, adequate lighting, hot and cold water, and the figure of an authorized medical or paramedical officer.
The infirmary modules we supply have the construction conditions necessary to meet these requirements. Processing the authorization is the responsibility of the camp operator, but we can provide the module's technical documentation that the procedure requires.
Summary: regulatory compliance checklist
For a camp of more than 25 workers in Argentina:
- Dormitories with minimum surface (Decree 351/79)
- Bathrooms and showers per ratio (Res. 523/95: 1/15 toilets, 1/10 showers)
- Separate authorized dining hall (Decree 351/79)
- Infirmary with a medical officer (Law 24,557)
- Permanent drinking water
- Effluent system per local environmental regulations
- Emergency communications (operator requirement)
- Module certifications documented for the ART audit
Our housing modules carry CE · ISO 1496 · GB/T 9074 certification and Grade 10 seismic resistance (GB 50011). View catalog or quote your camp.
