HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1504

BYRepresentatives R. King, D. Sommers, Todd, Belcher, Fraser, S. Wilson, Schmidt, Phillips and Cooper

Providing for the evaluation of indoor air quality in public buildings.

House Committe on Environmental Affairs

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (12)

      Signed by Representatives Rust, Chair; Valle, Vice Chair; D. Sommers, Ranking Republican Member; Brekke, G. Fisher, Fraser, Phillips, Pruitt, Schoon, Sprenkle, Van Luven and Walker.

House Staff:Bonnie Austin (786-7107)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS

FEBRUARY 24, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Indoor air quality is rapidly becoming an important environmental and public health issue.  Most of the research and regulatory activity relating to air pollution has focused on the outdoor environment or the industrial workplace.  However, many people spend much of their day in offices, schools, and other public buildings that contain air contaminants. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated that people spend up to 90 percent of each day indoors.  Pollution levels indoors often exceed those outdoors, and may even exceed outdoor air pollution standards.

Methods of controlling indoor air pollution include source removal or substitution, ventilation, air filtration and purification, and encapsulation of the pollutant.

In 1988, the governor established the Interagency Task Force on Indoor Air Pollution.  The Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) is the lead agency for the Task Force.  Other members include the Departments of Social and Health Services, General Administration, Community Development (State Building Code Council), Ecology, and Personnel, as well as the Office of Financial Management, the Energy Office and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.  The goals of the Task Force are to:  clarify agency responsibilities; identify the need for ongoing agency coordination; monitor trends in indoor air complaints; develop educational materials; and monitor local and national studies.  Findings and recommendations of the Task Force are due to the governor by June of 1989.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  The Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) is required to coordinate with other state agencies to make policy and regulatory recommendations on indoor air pollution, review indoor air programs in public schools, and provide educational material on indoor air pollution to state agencies. L&I must recommend measures of implementing these recommendations to the Legislature.

The State Building Code Council must review the mechanical ventilation and filtration standards in the state building code, compare these to the industry standard, and make changes as appropriate.

Public agencies are encouraged to evaluate the adequacy of their ventilation and filtration systems in light of industry recommendations and maintain and operate such systems to allow for maximum operating efficiency.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) is required to implement a model indoor air quality program in one school district.  SPI is required to report on this program, evaluate existing ventilation and filtration systems in public schools, and make recommendations for all public schools by December 1, 1990.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The original bill required that L&I inspect and evaluate the indoor air quality in state buildings.  This requirement is deleted.  Instead, L&I is directed to coordinate with other state agencies to make policy and regulatory recommendations, review indoor air programs in public schools, and provide educational material to state agencies.

The State Building Code Council, rather than L&I, is directed to review the state building code's ventilation and filtration standards.  The State Building Code Council is directed to revise the building code as appropriate.

Fiscal Note:      Requested February 13, 1989.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Joe Daniels, Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers; Simon Turner, ARVC Atlantic; Deborah Ringman; Steve Cant, Department of Labor and Industries; Eugene St. John, Washington Public Employees Association.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Since the physical symptoms resulting from different types of indoor air pollution overlap, it is necessary to test buildings to isolate the pollutant causing the problem.  There are three causes of indoor air pollution:  (1) poor ventilation; (2) poor filtration; and (3) dirty air handling units.  Respiratory problems are especially frequent symptoms of indoor air pollution, as well as headaches and lethargy.  Some children have had to transfer schools due to indoor air pollution.  Many employees have become ill in the workplace.  It is less expensive to install adequate ventilation and filtration systems than to sustain the lost productivity and medical costs resulting from indoor air pollution.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.