Regulatory Compliance and Implementation of Seismic Protection Technologies in Latin America

This paper addresses the implementation of advanced seismic protection technologies, such as seismic isolators and viscous dampers, in critical infrastructures across Mexico and Latin America. Emphasis is placed on the importance of quality control and regulatory compliance to ensure the effectiveness of these technologies. Through case studies, we demonstrate how these solutions have successfully safeguarded buildings, hospitals, bridges, and other essential infrastructure, maintaining their operability during and after severe earthquakes. National and international standards, such as the Complementary Technical Standards for Seismic Design (NTC-Sismo) in Mexico, have been instrumental in ensuring that these devices meet the required performance standards. Rigorous certification tests and the importance of supervision during installation and maintenance of these seismic protection systems are also discussed.