H-456                _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1126

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State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Representatives Valle, Ferguson, Rust, Van Luven, Crane, Wineberry, Sprenkle, Kremen, D. Sommers and Wolfe

Read first time 1/16/89 and referred to Committee on State Government. Referred to Committee on Environmental Affairs on 1/18/89. Referred 2/15/89 to Committee on Appropriations.

AN ACT Relating to reviewing the combustion toxicity testing of plastic building materials; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that the use of plastic materials in building construction has increased dramatically in recent years.  Plastics are being incorporated into electrical conduit and plumbing piping, wall and floor coverings, tiles, paints, wire insulation, and glues.  Some of these plastic materials may pose unacceptable health risks due to the toxic fumes they emit in the event of a fire.  To ensure that the public health is adequately protected, the legislature intends for the state building code council to conduct a review of the toxicity of plastic materials used in building construction and ban those materials that present an unacceptable health hazard due to factors such as flammability or toxicity.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     (1) The state building code council shall conduct a review of the toxicity and flammability of plastic materials used in building construction.  The review shall include an analysis of:  (a) Testing results from the New York state laboratory; (b) testing results from other laboratories that test the toxicity of plastic materials used in building construction; and (c) tests approved through the international conference of building officials.  The review shall be completed by January 1, 1990.

          (2) Based on the review required under subsection (1) of this section, the state building code council shall prohibit the use of those plastic materials used in building construction that present an unacceptable health hazard due to factors such as flammability or toxicity.

          (3) By January 1, 1990, the state building code council shall report the results of the review and any action taken to prohibit the use of specific plastic materials to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature.