Title: An act relating to the boilers and unfired pressure vessels law.

Brief Description: Modifying the boilers and unfired pressure vessel law.

Sponsors: Senators Kohl-Welles, Parlette, Fraser and Honeyford; by request of Department of Labor & Industries.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Labor, Commerce, Research & Development: 2/3/05, 2/7/05 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE, RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Kohl-Welles, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Parlette, Ranking Minority Member; Brown, Honeyford, Keiser and Prentice.

Staff: John Dziedzic (786-7784)

Background: The Board of Boiler Rules (Board) develops rules, based on accepted engineering standards for the safe construction, installation and operation of boilers and unfired pressure vessels. The Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) approves rules developed by the Board, commissions inspectors and assesses penalties for violation of the rules. Actions of L&I may be appealed to the Board, and decisions of the Board may be appealed to Thurston County Superior Court.

Some boilers and unfired pressure vessels are exempt from regulation and/or inspection by L&I, such as low pressure vessels not located in public places, certain small electric boilers, domestic hot water heaters, and pressure vessels containing water for domestic supply purposes.

Summary of Bill: Unfired low pressure vessels, regardless of their location, and certain small electric boilers with a maximum allowable pressure of less than 100 pounds per square inch are added to the list of devices exempt from L&I regulation. Hot water storage tanks, supply boilers, and heating boilers; and unfired pressure vessels containing only water under pressure for domestic supply purposes, including those in certain public water systems are added to the list of devices exempt from inspection. Modifications are made to the process to appeal Board decisions. The composition of the entity conducting examinations for inspectors is altered.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: Nationally recognized safety standards have been revised in recent years, resulting in less stringent inspection requirements for certain devices. The devices added to the list of exemption do not pose a public safety risk.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Patrick Woods, L&I Assistant Director; Rob Marvin, L&I Chief Boiler Inspector.