H-3329.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2886

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2002 Regular Session

By Representatives Simpson, Wood, Cooper, Lovick, Dunshee, Santos, Conway, Chase, Lysen and Kenney

Read first time 02/01/2002.  Referred to Committee on Local Government & Housing.

Requiring installation of fire alarms for hearing impaired persons.

    AN ACT Relating to fire detection devices for the hearing impaired; and amending RCW 48.48.140.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 48.48.140 and 1995 c 369 s 34 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) Smoke detection devices shall be installed inside all dwelling units:

    (a) Occupied by persons other than the owner on and after December 31, 1981; or

    (b) Built or manufactured in this state after December 31, 1980.

    (2) If the dwelling unit is occupied by a hearing impaired person, at least one smoke detection device for hearing impaired persons shall be installed on each level of the dwelling unit and in each bedroom of the dwelling unit occupied by a hearing impaired person.

(3) The smoke detection devices shall be designed, manufactured, and installed inside dwelling units in conformance with:

    (a) Nationally accepted standards; and

    (b) As provided by the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW, rules and regulations promulgated by the chief of the Washington state patrol, through the director of fire protection.

    (((3))) (4) Supply and installation of all smoke detection devices shall be the responsibility of the owner.  Maintenance of smoke detection devices, including the replacement of batteries where required for the proper operation of the smoke detection device, shall be the responsibility of the tenant, who shall maintain the device as specified by the manufacturer.  At the time of a vacancy, the owner shall insure that the smoke detection device is operational prior to the reoccupancy of the dwelling unit.

    (((4))) (5) Any owner or tenant failing to comply with this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than two hundred dollars.

    (((5))) (6) For the purposes of this section:

    (a) "Dwelling unit" means a single unit providing complete, independent living facilities for one or more persons including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation; ((and))

    (b) "Smoke detection device" means an assembly incorporating in one unit a device which detects visible or invisible particles of combustion, the control equipment, and the alarm-sounding device, operated from a power supply either in the unit or obtained at the point of installation; and

(c) "Smoke detection device for hearing impaired persons" means an approved smoke alarm that, when activated by smoke or products of combustion, produces an audible and a visual warning.  The visual warning shall produce a light signal sufficient to warn a hearing impaired person of the presence of fire or smoke.

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