HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 5906

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Commerce & Labor

                       Appropriations

Title:  An act relating to electrical inspection standards.

Brief Description:  Modifying electrical inspection standards.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce (originally sponsored by Senators Moore, Newhouse, Wojahn, Amondson and Hochstatter).

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Commerce & Labor, March 31, 1993, DP;

Appropriations, April 3, 1993, DP.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives Heavey, Chair; G. Cole, Vice Chair; Lisk, Ranking Minority Member; Chandler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Conway; Horn; King; Springer; and Veloria.

Staff:  Jim Kelley (786-7166).

Background:  By state law, all equipment, including industrial control panels, that uses, conducts, or is operated by electrical current must conform to the State Electrical Code and the rules developed by the department to implement the code.  The State Electrical Code is based on the National Electrical Code developed by the National Fire Protection Association and applicable regulations and standards of the Underwriter's Laboratories Inc., or other electrical product laboratories accredited by the department.

All industrial control panels that convey or are operated by electrical current are inspected by either the department or an approved independent product testing laboratory.

Summary of Bill:  Industrial control panels, utilization equipment, and their component parts do not need to be listed, labeled, or otherwise meet approved electrical standards unless specifically required by the 1993 edition of the National Electrical Code.

The Department of Labor & Industries is directed to secure and review on an annual basis a copy of the latest revision of the National Electrical Code and a copy of any applicable regulations and standards of any electrical product testing laboratory which is accredited by the department, including modifications and changes that have been made in the last year.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  There has never been a safety issue with industrial control panels.  They comply with the National Electrical Code, so it is unnecessary to require that they be labeled and listed.  The department would still inspect these units and the industry would pay for these inspections.

Testimony Against:  The National Electrical Code provides standards on how to install industrial control panels.  It does not provide standards for the component parts.  Therefore, labeling is necessary.  Safety should be the primary concern.

Witnesses:  Don Peterson and Charles Treanor, Boeing (in favor); Larry Stevens, National Electrical Contractors Association (had concerns); Mark Sessions and Jim Brunz, Lunde Electric (opposed); Joe Brewer and Suzanne Mager, Department of Labor & Industries (neutral); Mike Glenn, Longview Fiber Company (in favor); Jim Pierce, ETL Testing Labs (opposed); and Don Picatti (opposed).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 18 members:  Representatives Locke, Chair; Valle, Vice Chair; Appelwick; Basich; Dellwo; Dorn; Dunshee; G. Fisher; Jacobsen; Lemmon; Linville; Rust; Sommers; Stevens; Talcott; Wang; Wineberry; and Wolfe.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 6 members:  Representatives Silver, Ranking Minority Member; Carlson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Ballasiotes; Cooke; Sehlin; and Sheahan.

Staff:  Dwight Edwards (786-7118).

Summary of Recommendation of Committee on Appropriations Compared to Recommendation of Committee on Commerce & Labor:  No new changes were recommended.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  None.