KLAS-TV Channel 8 News Las VegasSchool Sprinklers: Balance Between Safety, Money
Lisa Conner, CCSD Building Inspector
Walt Rulffes, CCSD SuperintendentThe section of Martin Middle School that burned Tuesday was not equipped with a fire sprinkler system, and as many as 70 other Clark County schools face the same shortfall.
Clark County schools built before 1994 did not have to have fire sprinkler systems in place. Sprinklers only have to be installed in older schools if the school is significantly remodeled.
Wednesday afternoon Eyewitness News investigated why Martin Middle School was not equipped with a fire sprinkler system.
When the school was built in the late 50s, fire codes did not require fire sprinklers in schools. But a fire code update in 1994 requires that schools have sprinkler systems in place. So why didn't Martin Middle School have such a system in place?
Eyewitness News asked the school district's building inspector for an explanation. Lisa Conner said, "1994, in the uniform building code, is the first time that schools were required to be sprinkled."
Reporter Brian Allen asked, "Okay, that was 11 years ago though, correct?"
Conner replied, "Correct."
Allen continued, "And nothing has been done on Martin Middle School until this point?"
Conner replied, "No sir."
Allen inquired, "And why is that?"
Conner replied, "We had not done any major rehab work at that school to date thus not requiring us to bring it up to current codes."
Conner told Eyewitness News the majority of rehab work done to Martin Middle School over the last 11 years has been cosmetic in nature. Only construction, which constitutes a major redesign to the school, would trigger the new fire code, and the installation of fire sprinklers.
How many other schools in the Clark County School District do not have fire sprinklers? The superintendent's office believes the number is as high as seventy.
For the school district, it's a balance between safety and money.
Superintendent Rulfes told Eyewitness News schools perform monthly fire evacuation drills making sure students know how to get out of a burning building.
It's still too early to determine the exact cause of the 3-alarm fire at Roy W. Martin Middle School. The fire department is waiting for the school blue prints before their investigation can begin. More>>
Roy Martin Middle School has more than 45 years of history and administrators say the school will continue to educate students for many more years to come. More>>
