H-3442              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 2866

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1990 Regular Session

By Representatives Cooper, Ballard, Nutley, Prince, Leonard, Zellinsky, Rector, Haugen and Scott

Read first time 1/24/90 and referred to Committee on Housing.

AN ACT Relating to smoke detection and heat detection alarm systems; adding a new section to chapter 19.27 RCW; repealing RCW 48.48.140; 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 19.27 RCW to read as follows:

          (1)(a) At the time of a sale of a residential structure of more than two dwelling units and less than fifteen dwelling units, (i) the residential structure shall have an operating smoke detection or heat detection alarm system; and (ii) the seller shall record a certificate in the office in which deeds are recorded of the county in which the residential structure is located on a form approved by the state building code council certifying the installation of the smoke detection or heat detection alarm system.  The sale of the residential structure may not be recorded without the certificate.

          (b) Every residential structure in which a smoke detection or heat detection alarm system has been installed shall be deemed to be in compliance with local ordinances or resolutions requiring installation of any type of fire suppression system, including a sprinkler system and no such fire suppression system shall be required.

          (2) Any person who records a fraudulent certificate shall be subject to a civil penalty of one thousand dollars per dwelling unit.

          (3) 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;

          (b) "Residential structure" means that portion of any structure containing one or more dwelling units; and

          (c) "Smoke detection or heat detection alarm system" means an assembly or device conforming with nationally accepted standards or standards adopted by the state building code council that detects visible or invisible particles of combustion or heat, the control equipment, and the alarm-sounding device, operated from a power supply either in a component of the system or obtained at the point of installation.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  Section 1, chapter 50, Laws of 1980, section 89, chapter 266, Laws of 1986 and RCW 48.48.140 are each repealed.