BP BHEAD INT H

AN ACT Relating to mobile or manufactured home installation; amending RCW 43.63B.010, 43.63B.060, and 18.106.150; and adding new sections to chapter 43.63B RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 43.63B.010 and 1994 c 284 s 15 are each amended to read as follows:

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Authorized representative" means an employee of a state agency, city, or county acting on behalf of the department.

(2) "Certified manufactured home installer" means a person who is in the business of installing mobile or manufactured homes and who has been issued a certificate by the department as provided in this chapter.

(3) "Department" means the department of community, trade, and economic development.

(4) "Director" means the director of community, trade, and economic development.

(5) "Manufactured home" means a single-family dwelling built in accordance with the department of housing and urban development manufactured home construction and safety standards act, which is a national, preemptive building code.

(6) "Mobile or manufactured home installation" means all on-site work necessary for the installation of a manufactured home, including:

(a) Construction of the foundation system;

(b) Installation of the support piers;

(d) Skirting;

(e) Connections to and detailed assembly of the on-site water, drainpipe, and sewer systems that are necessary for the normal operation of the home; and

(f) Extension of the pressure relief valve for the water heater.

(7) "Manufactured home standards" means the manufactured home construction and safety standards as promulgated by the United States department of housing and urban development (HUD).

(8) "Mobile home" means a factory-built dwelling built prior to June 15, 1976, to standards other than the HUD code, and acceptable under applicable state codes in effect at the time of construction or introduction of the home into the state. Mobile homes have not been built since introduction of the HUD manufactured home construction and safety standards act.

(9) "Training course" means the education program administered by the department or the education course administered by an educational provider, approved by the department as a prerequisite to taking the examination for certification.

(10) "Approved educational provider" means an organization approved by the department to provide education, training, and certification of manufactured home installers.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 43.63B RCW to read as follows:

The department shall adopt rules to establish and administer a process of approving educational providers as an alternative to the department training course.

Sec. 3. RCW 43.63B.060 and 1994 c 284 s 20 are each amended to read as follows:

Any local government mobile or manufactured home installation application and permit shall state the name and registration number of the contractor or licensed manufactured home dealer or the certification identification number of the certified manufactured home installer supervising such installation. A local government may not issue ((~~a permit to install~~)) final approval for the installation of a manufactured home unless: (1) The installer submits a copy of the certificate of manufactured home installation to the local government; or (2) work is being performed that does not require a certified installer. When work must be performed by a certified manufactured home installer, no work may commence until the installer or the installer's agent has posted or otherwise made available, with the inspection record card at the set-up site, a copy of the certified manufactured home installer's certificate of manufactured home installation.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 43.63B RCW to read as follows:

The department shall, by January 1, 1997, prepare a written training course and examination to be administered, at no cost to the local government, to all applicants for manufactured home inspector certification.

After January 1, 1998, a local government building inspector shall not inspect a manufactured home installation unless certified by the department.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 43.63B RCW to read as follows:

(1) Mobile and manufactured home drainpipe systems may be installed by a certified manufactured home installer, a certified plumber, or the home owner, when water, drainpipe, and sewer systems are shipped by the manufacturer:

(a) Complete and ready to be connected;

(b) Loose in one or more preassembled sections, requiring only limited assembly with the use of couplings; or

(c) Loose with assembly instructions, an inventory, and identified parts but with no preassembled sections, requiring detailed assembly of the drainpipe, fittings, supports, and cement.

(2) Certified manufactured home installers are exempt from the plumber certification requirements under chapter 18.106 RCW, but only when they are connecting, installing, and assembling on-site water, drainpipe, and sewer systems that are necessary for the normal operation of the home.

Sec. 6. RCW 18.106.150 and 1973 1st ex.s. c 175 s 15 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require that a person obtain a license or a certified plumber in order to do plumbing work at his residence or farm or place of business or on other property owned by him. Any person performing plumbing work on a farm may do so without having a current certificate of competency or apprentice permit: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That nothing in this chapter shall be intended to derogate from or dispense with the requirements of any valid plumbing code enacted by a political subdivision of the state, except that no code shall require the holder of a certificate of competency to demonstrate any additional proof of competency or obtain any other license or pay any fee in order to engage in the trade of plumbing: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That this chapter shall not apply to common carriers subject to Part I of the Interstate Commerce Act, nor to their officers and employees: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That nothing in this chapter shall be construed to apply to any farm, business, industrial plant, or corporation doing plumbing work on premises it owns or operates: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That nothing in this chapter shall be construed to restrict the right of any householder to assist or receive assistance from a friend, neighbor, relative or other person when none of the individuals doing such plumbing hold themselves out as engaged in the trade or business of plumbing.

(2) Certified manufactured home installers are exempt from the plumber certification requirements under this chapter, but only when they are connecting, installing, and assembling on-site water, drainpipe, and sewer systems that are necessary for the normal operation of the home.