SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6378

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

            Government Operations, February 6, 1998

Title:  An act relating to adoption by reference of codes by the state building code council that constitute the state building code.

Brief Description:  Authorizing adoption of building codes published by any nationally recognized code organization.

Sponsors:  Senators Horn, Haugen, McCaslin and T. Sheldon.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Government Operations:  1/29/98, 2/6/98 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators McCaslin, Chair; Hale, Vice Chair; Anderson, Haugen, Horn and T. Sheldon.

Staff:  Diane Smith (786-7410)

Background:  The State Building Code, which is effective in all counties and cities, is a collection of specifically defined codes published by a variety of particular entities.  Those codes are the building, fire, mechanical, plumbing and barrier-free codes.  The State Building  Code Council is required to adopt and maintain these codes, which comprise the State Building Code.  The council has the authority to amend the codes as it deems appropriate.

Due to a consolidation and standardization effort at the federal level, three regional code organizations joined to produce one national building code which replaces the uniform building, mechanical and fire codes.  The State Building Code Council begins its review cycle for the 2000 State Building Code in 1998.

Summary of Bill:  The State Building Code consists of nationally recognized building, mechanical, fire and plumbing codes to be reviewed publicly by the State Building Code Council and amended as deemed appropriate by the council.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This bill gives flexibility to the Building Code Council to do the job the Legislature requires it to do which is to ensure consistency among the codes across the state and as part of the country.  The technical debate should properly occur at the council level.  The codes now in the statute will no longer exist in the year 2000.  The code process is dynamic, reflecting technological advances.  This bill allows for that reality.  The council should be able to consider codes that may mean lower costs for consumers by allowing the use of new technologies over labor-intensive protocols.

Testimony Against:  Special interest groups are attempting to change the plumbing code.  The council has not one plumber on it.  The current statutory code is better than the new, international code which is used in Vietnam, Saudi Arabia and the Philippines.  This is not a union issue.  The issue is preventing lower standards that jeopardize public health.

Testified:  Mark Triplett, Washington Association of Building Officials (pro); Gordon Walgren, Intn=l Conference of Building Officials (pro); Jerry Barbera (pro); Mike Brennan, City of Bellevue, Washington Association of Building Officials (pro); John Neff, City of Lacey, WABO (pro); Charles Mitchel, Mitchel Plumbing, Washington Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Contractors Association (con); Brett Cook, IAPNO (con); Donald Brubeck, Washington Council AIA (pro); Larry Fritts, Local 32 Plumbers and Pipefitters (con); Tim Nogler, Judy Wilson, Larry Ward, State Building Code Council (pro); Ronald Braun II, Pacific Rim Plumbing (pro); Jan Sexton, Washington State Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters (con); Larry Stevens, Mechanical Contractors Association (con); Brian Garvey, Washington State Advisory Board of Plumbers (con); Bill Misocki, Seattle Plumbing/Piping Training Trust (con); Mark Tullis, plumber (con); A. Paul Pelela (con); Art Favinger, Favinger Plumbing (con); Kathleen Collins, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors (concerns); Steven Nastruz, IAPMO NW Chapter (con); Richard Nelson, IBEW 46 (con).