HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SSB 6487

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Commerce & Labor

Title:  An act relating to boilers and unfired pressure vessels used in espresso coffee machines.

Brief Description:  Exempting espresso machines from boiler regulations.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce (originally sponsored by Senators Moore, Winsley and McAuliffe).

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Commerce & Labor, February 25, 1994, DPA.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  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:  State law requires that boilers conform to the rules formulated by the Board of Boiler Rules regarding installation, repair, use, and operation.  The chief inspector of the board has the authority to inspect boilers throughout the state for conformity with the rules and to issue, suspend, or revoke inspection certificates.  Each boiler used or proposed to be used within the state is to be inspected at regular intervals, unless the type of boiler is exempt from the regulations.

When it came to the attention of the board that espresso machines employ small boilers, the board studied the issue of whether an exemption for espresso machines would be appropriate and safe.  On January 18, 1994, the board passed the following emergency rule:

"Small electric boilers used for such purposes as generating steam in such applications as espresso machines shall be exempt from the rules of this chapter provided such devices:

  (a)have a tank volume of 1.5 cubic feet (0.0425 cubic meters) or less;

  (b)have a maximum allowable working pressure of 50 psig (0.172 MPa.) or less;

  (c)have a pressure relief system to prevent excessive pressure; and

  (d)are constructed to the A.S.M.E. code or are approved or otherwise certified by a nationally recognized or foreign testing laboratory (including but not limited to UL, ETL, and ISPESL)."

A public hearing of the board is tentatively set for on or before March 22, 1994 to discuss the proposed adoption of a permanent rule.

The statute authorizing the board to regulate boilers contains a list of nine exemptions from the requirements of the chapter and the rules adopted by the board.  None of the current exemptions addresses boilers in espresso machines.

Summary of Amended Bill:  The list of exemptions from the statute regulating boilers includes electric boilers constructed before or on June 10, 1994, if they have a tank volume of not more than one and one-half cubic feet, with a maximum working pressure of 80 pounds per square inch or less.  Boilers constructed after June 10, 1994 are exempt from boiler regulations if they meet those same requirements and, in addition, meet specific national or international standards.

Local jurisdictions are prohibited from regulating boilers exempted from state regulation by this act.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  The amendment clarifies that only approved foreign testing laboratories or codes can be used to qualify for an exemption.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  None.