H-2230.1 _______________________________________________
SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1821
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 52nd Legislature 1991 Regular Session
By House Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Representatives R. Meyers, Ferguson, Schmidt, Zellinsky, Sheldon, Winsley, D. Sommers, Bowman, Paris, Miller, Riley, R. Johnson, Brough, Silver, Roland, Cooper, Horn, Chandler and Moyer).
Read first time March 6, 1991.
AN ACT Relating to the fraudulent installation of fire protection sprinkler systems; adding a new section to chapter 9.45 RCW; and prescribing penalties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 9.45 RCW to read as follows:
(1) Any person who willfully or maliciously constructs, installs, or maintains a fire protection sprinkler system in any structure knowing it to be inoperable or who willfully and knowingly impairs the effective operation of a fire protection sprinkler system, so as to threaten the safety of any occupant or user of the structure in the event of a fire, shall be guilty of a class C felony.
(2) Any person who constructs, installs, or maintains a fire protection sprinkler system in any occupancy, except an owner-occupied single-family dwelling, without first obtaining a fire sprinkler contractor's license from the state of Washington, shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
(3) For the purpose of this section, "fire protection sprinkler system" means an assembly of underground and/or overhead piping or conduit beginning at the connection to the primary water supply, whether public or private, that conveys water with or without other agents to dispersal openings or devices to extinguish, control, or contain fire and to provide protection from exposure to fire or other products of combustion.
(4) For the purpose of this section, "install" means the initial placement of sprinkler systems equipment or the extension, modification, or alteration of equipment after the initial placement. Install or installation shall include the work from a street or main water access throughout the entire building.