FINAL BILL REPORT

                 SHB 2936

                          FULL VETO

Brief Description:  Exempting food storage facilities from building code requirements relating to ammonia usage.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Representatives Clements, Chandler, Lisk, Foreman, Honeyford, Grant, Skinner and Mastin).

House Committee on Commerce & Labor

Senate Committee on Agriculture & Agricultural Trade & Development

Background:  The State Building Code Council adopted by reference the 1994 version of the uniform mechanical code and the uniform fire code.  With the adoption of these codes, the rules were revised relating to the use of ammonia for cold storage facilities.  The rules require an ammonia system to be equipped with an emergency discharge into a tank of water, meeting certain specifications, for ammonia absorption.  Discharge to the atmosphere is allowed only through an approved flaring device that is designed to incinerate the entire discharge.  Under the 1991 code, ammonia was allowed to be dispersed to the atmosphere through required safety relief valves that were designed to release enough pressure to prevent an explosion in an emergency situation.

Summary:  The State Building Code Act is amended with regard to ammonia refrigeration systems or systems using A-1 refrigerants in cold storage warehouses and controlled atmosphere storage warehouses used to store fruit or vegetables.  These systems need not comply with sections of the uniform mechanical code or uniform fire code, as adopted by the State Building Code Council or amended by local jurisdictions, that require specified methods of ammonia dispersal.

The State Building Code Council is directed to adopt rules consistent with these limitations.

Votes on Final Passage:

House     98 0

Senate    48 0 (Senate amended)

House     92 0 (House concurred)