Today, in the U.S.A., ASTM lists more than 75 standards to test Passive Fire Protection Systems, ISO in Europe lists more than 100, and Mexico has only one, NMX-C-307-1-ONNCCE-2016, "'Construction industry-buildings-fire resistance of elements and components- specifications and testing methods-part 1: structural elements first published in Mexico in 1982.The adoption of the non-enforceable NMX C307 standard has been slow, and Civil Protection, which is in charge of safeguarding the safety of all Mexicans, in their letter No. DGVIN/274/2017, addressed to the Instituto Nacional de Proteccion Contra el Fuego, A.C. - INFPAC - indicated that 'it is not within their scope to create a norm of passive and active fire protection, as there is already a standard: NOM-002-STPS for fire protection at workplaces... Fires in work centers are less than 4% of the total fires, most being housing properties fires, 66% of them.
The Directorate-General for Standards, DGN, has been slow to encourage the adoption of SFRM standards and the only SFRM standard that it has approved is NMX-C-307-1-ONNCCE-2016, which leaves 74 ASTM standards, which make passive protection creditable to the attractive discount of the insurance premium, unlisted in their regulatory catalogue and this regulatory gap of information in SFRM Systems does not allow Mexican Architects and Engineers to design, specify, and inspect them effectively.
In his book, engineer Max R. Schmidt explains each requirement of Mexico's Construction Code Fire Provisions and their correspondences to ASTM Standards so that the Project is rigorously evaluated and the specification of the SFRM is specified and done correctly and how investors in the construction industry, unaware of the benefits they have if they spend wisely in passive fire protection systems that can provide Certificates of Compliance creditable to a discounted insurance premium per ASTM or equivalent standards.
Investors, an engine in this economy, should know that if they comply with the creditable design of Certified Passive Fire Protection Systems, they will receive a discounted premiums, because insurance companies credit them if certified by a third-party entity.
There are few in Mexico who understand the field of Passive Fire Protection and its multiple applications:
1. Architectural (walls, floors, ceilings, fire-cutter seals, doors, windows, etc.).
2. Industrial (structural profiles, equipment, LP gas storage tanks, cable trays, etc.).
In Mexico, the Instituto Nacional de Protección Contra el Fuego, A.C., has specialists of Certified Passive Protection who know how to specify its different uses and applications, both for architectural and industrial life safety and property protection. for a discount on the fire damage insurance premium.
The reliable economic and security benefit that investors derive from protecting life from a fire in a property with a third party Certified Passive Systems is reason enough to invest in them. He will sleep with the confidence that, in the unfortunate event of a fire, the chances of survival have potentially increased and damage will be brought down. Well-specified and implemented with a quality approval and control programs, they will be 100% effective.
The Institute rewards investors who use Certified Passive Fire Protection Systems with the dual benefit they grant:
1. Safeguarding life
2. Discounted insurance premiums during the buildings service life.
