H-3291              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 2340

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1990 Regular Session

By Representatives R. Meyers, Schmidt, Zellinsky, Jones, Hargrove, Rector, Winsley and Rasmussen

Read first time 1/10/90 and referred to Committee on Judiciary.

AN ACT Relating to the fraudulent installation of fire protection sprinkler systems; adding a new section to chapter 9.45 RCW; and prescribing penalties.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 9.45 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) Any person who willfully or maliciously constructs or maintains a fire protection sprinkler system in any structure with the intent to install a fire protection sprinkler system which is known to be inoperable or to impair the effective operation of a system, so as to threaten the safety of any occupant or user of the structure in the event of a fire, shall be guilty of a class C felony.

          (2) For the purpose of this section, "fire protection sprinkler system" means an assembly of underground and/or overhead piping or conduit beginning at the connection to the primary water supply, whether public or private, that conveys water with or without other agents to dispersal openings or devices to extinguish, control, or contain fire and to provide protection from exposure to fire or other products of combustion.

          (3) For the purpose of this section, "install" means the initial placement of sprinkler systems equipment or the extension, modification, or alteration of equipment after the initial placement.  Install or installation shall include the work from a street or main water access throughout the entire building.