HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2255

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Commerce & Labor

Title:  An act relating to inspection requirements for private residence conveyances.

Brief Description:  Establishing inspection requirements for private residence conveyances.

Sponsors:  Representatives Van Luven, Thompson, Cody, Romero and Dickerson.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Commerce & Labor:  1/18/96, 1/22/96 [DPS].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives McMorris, Chairman; Hargrove, Vice Chairman; Thompson, Vice Chairman; Romero, Ranking Minority Member; Conway, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Cairnes; Cody; Cole; Goldsmith; Horn and Lisk.

Staff:  Chris Cordes (786-7117).

Background:  The Department of Labor and Industries administers and enforces a statutory program providing for the "safe mechanical and electrical operation, erection, installation, alteration, inspection, and repair" of conveyances, including elevators, escalators, and other similar conveyances.   The department is directed to adopt rules, taking into consideration the American Standard Safety Code for Elevators, Dumbwaiters, and Escalators.  Fees must also be established by rule to pay the costs of administering and enforcing the statute.

The statute applies to all publicly and privately owned conveyances, except conveyances located within and owned by a city with an elevator code equal in requirements to that of the department, conveyances permanently removed from service, and certain lifts erected temporarily for construction work.

An installation permit must be obtained from the department before a conveyance may be erected, installed, relocated, or altered.  However, a permit is not required for repairs and replacement normally necessary for maintenance when using parts of equivalent materials, strength, and design.

The statute requires conveyances to be inspected and tested annually by the department.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  Private residence conveyances operated exclusively for single-family use are required to be inspected and tested only when a permit is issued for installing, relocating, or altering the conveyance or when the Department of Labor and Industries is investigating accidents or violations of the statute governing conveyances.

At the request of the owner, the department may perform additional inspections of a private residence conveyance, with fees to be charged under the schedule of fees for operating permits.

A "private residence conveyance" is a conveyance (such as an elevator, escalator, or dumbwaiter) installed for a single-family dwelling and operated to transport persons or property from one elevation to another.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The substitute bill deletes the provision in the original that would have exempted private conveyance owners from the requirement for obtaining a permit when the owner is making alterations to the conveyance.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  The Department of Labor and Industries does not have the resources to perform annual inspections of home elevators and similar conveyances.  There is no workable code available for residential conveyances, and the state does not have resources to develop one.  These conveyances are not open to the public.  Homeowners are very safety conscious because their families use the conveyances every day.  This bill balances safety and the need for less government involvement.  The provision could be removed from the bill that would create a new exemption from permit requirements for owner alterations.

Testimony Against:  The bill should not permit owners to alter their conveyances without a permit.  If trained persons do not perform the work of altering elevators, it raises a large safety issue.  The homeowner is not the only person who will use the elevator.  It will be used by guests and service workers who come to the residence.

Testified:   (In favor)  Representative Steve Van Luven, prime sponsor; Don Ulmer; and Robert McGlofflin.  (Opposed to permit exemption) Jim Bender, Elevator Constructors Local #19; and Dan Sexton, State Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters.