Ex-lawmaker Neal takes pride in sprinkler law

Like many Nevadans, former state Sen. Joe Neal sat in front of his television Friday watching firefighters put out the Monte Carlo blaze.

The words he enjoyed hearing most were "no injuries."

"I guess we did some good and lasting work," he said.

It was Neal who, along with fellow Democrat Bill Hernstadt, introduced in 1981 the bill requiring Nevada high-rise buildings to install sprinkler systems in all rooms. The bill came three months after the disastrous Nov. 21, 1980, fire at the MGM Grand, now the site of Bally's, in which 87 people died and hundreds were injured.

Despite that tragedy, Neal said his bill didn't exactly catch fire at the Legislature. Hernstadt was the only lawmaker who would sign on as a co-sponsor, he recalled.

But then on Feb. 10, 1981, an arson fire at the Las Vegas Hilton killed eight people.

Neal's bill suddenly had plenty of support. Gov. Bob List introduced his own bill and portions of it were combined with Neal's measure. Soon the bill was unanimously approved.

"Sprinklers have worked very well since 1981 in putting fires out and saving lives," Neal said.

Little of Friday's fire, however, actually occurred inside the Monte Carlo, where sprinklers are located.

Calling it an exterior fire, Clark County Fire Chief Steven Smith said flames traveled indoors only after firefighters broke out some windows on upper floors to better reach the fire with their hoses. Sprinkler systems were then triggered, Smith said.

The sophistication of fire safety systems varies from structure to structure, depending on the building's age. Generally new code provisions don't apply to existing structures. Neal's bill, however, was an exception that required all high-rise buildings to be retrofitted with sprinklers.

In the newest buildings, when sensors detect fire or heat, occupants are alerted by audible and visual-strobe alarms. Mechanical defenses such as ceiling sprinklers are activated, as well as dampers in the air-handling system that deprive a fire of fresh oxygen and keep smoke-laden air from traveling to other areas of the building. Fire systems also takes control of elevators so occupants don't board them and become trapped.

Modern buildings are designed to allow trained personnel such as employees or firefighters to override the automatic defenses and issue customized orders to the equipment, if needed.