Mexico City mandates the use of automatic sprinklers for certain occupancies

In December 2024, the Complementary Technical Standard (NTC) of the Construction Regulations of Mexico City was officially published in the Official Gazette of Mexico City. This standard provides the guidance needed to analyze occupancy types and their risks.

This development makes the use of automatic sprinklers mandatory based on the occupancy and risk of the buildings. It also calls for the use of appropriate and certified equipment and materials for the prevention and mitigation of fire risks. As a result of this decree, the installation of fire protection systems will be mandatory in all new construction of buildings in Mexico City and when any remodeling or changes of occupancy occur.

For more than three years, David Morales (FM, Vice President, Principal Code Consultant, Latin America) was actively involved with the committees and stakeholders responsible for drafting, finalizing, and publishing these regulations. The technical acuity provided by David was driven by his knowledge and experience, all supported by FM engineering and research as well as FM Approvals’ ability to offer in-depth, research-based testing standards that subject property loss prevention products to comprehensive testing that confirms product performance in the face of evolving property risks.

FM’s property loss prevention data sheets – the engineering guidelines that support the reduction of property loss due to fire, weather conditions, and equipment failure – are referenced throughout the standard to support the understanding and recommendations for mitigating risks.

FM Approved fire protection solutions – spanning sprinkler, extinguishing and other systems as well as couplings, valves, nozzles and other components – fundamentally provide a selection of tested and certified products that can be relied upon to perform as expected within the occupancies subject to the requirements of the NTC. There are more than 60,000 FM Approved products in the Approval Guide – FM Approvals’ real-time listing of tested and certified products, essential engineering data, and technical information.

When the right products (FM Approved products found in the Approval Guide) are installed and maintained correctly (according to guidelines found in FM’s property loss prevention data sheets), the result is an informed approach to finding solutions that address traditional and emerging risks faced by commercial, industrial, and other occupancies in Mexico City and anywhere around the world. If you would like to learn more about FM Approvals, email information@fmapprovals.com.