HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1090

                      As Passed House:

                      February 22, 1995

Title:  An act relating to special permits for miniature boilers.

Brief Description:  Regulating miniature boilers.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Representative L. Thomas).

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Commerce & Labor:  1/25/95, 2/1/95 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  2/22/95, 98-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

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

Staff:  Pam Madson (786-7166).

Background:

The Board of Boiler Rules establishes rules for the safe construction, installation, and use of boilers and unfired pressure vessels.  Special permits may be granted by the Board under  circumstances specified in statute that allow installation and use of boilers and unfired pressure vessels that do not meet the required rules. 

In 1993, authority was granted to allow a special permit for miniature boilers manufactured before January 1, 1995, that do not meet code requirements.  These boilers must be under a certain size, volume, and maximum allowable working pressure.  They may not be used for commercial purposes and typically are used by hobbyists in model locomotives and other small scale models.

Summary of Bill:

A special permit for miniature boilers may be issued without regard to the date of manufacture.  Reference to those boilers manufactured before January 1, 1995, is deleted.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  The sunset date was originally put into law to give boiler inspectors a period of time to gain experience with boilers used under this category.  The sunset date should be repealed in that no problems have occurred and new miniature boilers constructed after January 1, 1995, can be permitted.

Testimony Against:  Concerned that this bill applies to all boilers, not just hobby boilers.

Testified:  Representative Les Thomas, Prime Sponsor (pro); Dennis Weaver, Kitsap Live Steamers (pro); and Larry Stevens, Mechanical Contractors Association (pro with amendments).