AN ACT Relating to indoor air quality in publicly owned or leased buildings; and adding a new chapter to Title 70 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that many Washington residents spend a significant amount of their time working indoors and that exposure to indoor air pollutants may occur in public buildings, schools, work places, and other indoor environments. Scientific studies indicate that pollutants common in the indoor air may include radon, asbestos, volatile organic chemicals including formaldehyde and benzene, combustion byproducts including carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and carbon dioxide, metals and gases including lead, chlorine, and ozone, respirable particles, tobacco smoke, biological contaminants, micro-organisms, and other contaminants. In some circumstances, exposure to these substances may cause adverse health effects, including respiratory illnesses, multiple chemical sensitivities, skin and eye irritations, headaches, and other related symptoms. There is inadequate information about indoor air quality within the state of Washington, including the sources and nature of indoor air pollution.

The intent of the legislature is to have sufficient information collected to develop a control strategy that will improve indoor air quality, provide for the evaluation of indoor air quality in public buildings, and encourage voluntary measures to improve indoor air quality.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Indoor air quality expert" means an individual or company with extensive experience in at least all of the following practices:

(a) Ventilation and air handling system operations;

(b) Dust and respirable particulates sampling;

(d) Microbiological testing and analysis.

Such experience shall include commercial offices and not be limited to industrial settings.

(2) "Department" means the department of labor and industries.

(3) "Public agency" means a state office, commission, committee, bureau, department, or a political subdivision of the state.

(4) "Industry standard" means the 62-1981R standard established by the American society of heating, refrigerating, and air conditioning engineers as codified in M-1602 of the building officials and code administrators international manual as of July 1989.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) Within one year after the effective date of this act, the department shall inspect and evaluate the indoor air quality of state-owned or leased buildings. The inspections required by this section shall be carried out by an indoor air quality expert.

(2) The evaluation of indoor air quality required by this section shall include:

(a) Identification of any indoor air pollutants present;

(b) Identification of the sources of any pollutants;

(d) Determination of whether the air quality in each facility meets federal exposure limits, if any;

(e) Analysis of the adequacy and efficiency of the design and maintenance of mechanical ventilation and filtration systems from the standpoint of minimizing exposure to indoor air pollutants; and

(f) Recommendations, if any, for the improvement of indoor air quality based upon the evaluation.

(3) The department shall recommend to the legislature measures to implement the recommendations, if any, for the improvement of indoor air quality in public buildings within a reasonable period of time.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The department is directed to:

(1) Review the state building code to determine the adequacy of current mechanical ventilation and filtration standards prescribed by the state compared to the industry standard; and

(2) Recommend any appropriate changes in the building code to the legislature, within ninety days, to bring the state prescribed standards into conformity with the industry standard.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. Public agencies are encouraged to:

(1) Evaluate the adequacy of mechanical ventilation and filtration systems in light of the recommendations of the American society of heating, refrigerating, and air conditioning engineers and the building officials and code administrators international; and

(2) Maintain and operate any mechanical ventilation and filtration systems in a manner that allows for maximum operating efficiency consistent with the recommendations of the American society of heating, refrigerating, and air conditioning engineers and the building officials and code administrators international.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. (1) The superintendent of public instruction shall implement a model indoor air quality program in a school district selected by the superintendent.

(2) The superintendent shall ensure that the model program includes:

(a) An initial evaluation by an indoor air quality expert of the current indoor air quality in the school district as directed in section 3(2) of this act. The evaluation shall be completed within ninety days after the beginning of the school year;

(b) Establishment of procedures to ensure the maintenance and operation of any ventilation and filtration system used. These procedures shall be implemented within thirty days of the initial evaluation;

(c) A reevaluation by an indoor air quality expert, as directed in section 3(2) of this act, to be conducted approximately two hundred seventy days after the initial evaluation; and

(d) The implementation of other procedures or plans that the superintendent deems necessary to implement the model program.

(3) The superintendent shall make a report by December 1, 1990, to the appropriate committees of the legislature that includes:

(a) A summary and evaluation of the model program;

(b) An evaluation of the adequacy of mechanical ventilation and filtration systems used in public schools; and

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. Sections 1 through 6 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 70 RCW.