When building in Mexico, fire protection is not optional — it is a legal requirement. Under NOM-002-STPS-2010, Mexico’s national workplace safety regulation for fire prevention, employers and builders must ensure that facilities are equipped with reliable fire prevention, containment, and protection systems.
For construction teams, this means integrating tested passive fire protection solutions, such as intumescent coatings, into their designs. These coatings expand when exposed to heat, forming an insulating char that protects structural elements, slows heat transfer and prevents collapse — buying precious time during a fire emergency.
NOM-002-STPS-2010: The Foundation for Fire Safety in Mexico
Published by the Secretaría del Trabajo y Previsión Social (STPS), NOM-002-STPS-2010 establishes the minimum safety standards for preventing and mitigating fires in all workplaces, from industrial plants to commercial towers. It requires buildings to incorporate both active and passive systems capable of withstanding fire for a defined period, enabling occupants to evacuate safely.
The regulation also requires ongoing maintenance and inspections to verify that each fire protection measure remains effective. Facility managers must document system inspections, equipment testing and corrective actions as part of their compliance obligations. Importantly, NOM-002-STPS-2010 treats passive systems, such as fire-resistant coatings, as integral components of building safety rather than optional add-ons.
Why Intumescent Coatings Are Essential for Compliance
Intumescent coatings are among the most practical and verifiable methods for achieving the fire-resistance performance required by NOM-002-STPS-2010. Applied to steel, wood, concrete, or spray polyurethane foam (SPF), these coatings expand at high temperatures, forming a carbon-rich barrier that insulates the substrate from heat.
They are particularly valuable in Mexico’s mixed-material construction sector, where concrete remains the dominant building material, but combustible elements such as insulation and wood framing are increasingly common. An intumescent coating applied over these materials ensures that the entire assembly contributes to the building’s fire protection rating.
IFTI’s DC315 and DC360 products are ideal examples.
- DC315 functions as an alternative thermal and ignition barrier for spray foam insulation, tested to NFPA 286, NFPA 285, ULC S-145, ASTM E119 and ASTM E84, and verified under ICC-ES ESR-3702 and CCMC 14036-R.
- DC360 is a Class A intumescent coating suitable for wood, gypsum and concrete, offering strong adhesion and durability on the substrates most common in Mexican construction projects.
The Role of Documentation and Inspection
NOM-002-STPS-2010 places equal emphasis on documentation and verification. Builders and employers must keep complete records of their fire protection systems, including product data sheets, installation certificates, and inspection reports. These documents form proof of compliance required during audits or after incidents.
IFTI’s coatings simplify this process through third-party-tested assemblies and bilingual documentation. Each product is supported by technical data sheets, safety information and recognized international test reports that align with the reporting framework required by Mexican regulators.
Building Fire-Code-Compliant Projects Across Mexico
Mexico’s construction industry is evolving rapidly, blending concrete structures with modern materials that demand additional protection. Using intumescent coatings not only satisfies the performance expectations of NOM-002-STPS-2010 but also demonstrates a proactive approach to safety and accountability.
IFTI’s DC315 and DC360 systems enable builders to meet regulatory obligations efficiently while maintaining design and material flexibility. From warehouses and manufacturing plants to commercial offices and mixed-use towers, these coatings provide tested fire resistance to support long-term safety compliance.
At IFTI, we help developers, engineers and contractors working in Mexico integrate verified fireproofing solutions into their projects. To request technical documentation in English or Spanish, contact our team.