FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 2443

C 167 L 16

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Concerning the compliance of certain conversion vending units and medical units with certain department of labor and industries requirements.

Sponsors: House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards (originally sponsored by Representatives Sells and Kilduff; by request of Department of Labor & Industries).

House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards

Senate Committee on Commerce & Labor

Background:

The Department of Labor and Industries (Department) regulates factory assembled structures, including manufactured and mobile homes, conversion vendor units, and medical units. A "conversion vendor unit" is a motor or recreational vehicle that is either converted or built for commercial sales at temporary locations, such as a food truck. A "medical unit" is a self-propelled unit used for medical and dental services. Emergency response vehicles are not included.

The Department must adopt rules for conversion vendor and medical units to protect occupants from fire, address underlying safety issues, and ensure the unit will support a concentrated load of 500 pounds or more. Under the Department's review process, the Department approves plans for each conversion vending or medical unit and inspects the units. An approved unit receives an insignia indicating approval.

Conversion vending and medical units manufactured and used outside Washington for six months or more are generally not required to meet Washington's standards.

Summary:

The exemption from standards for conversion vendor and medical units manufactured out of state is deleted.

Plan approval is required only for certain types of conversion vending units. The requirements apply to units that have concentrated loads exceeding 500 pounds or contain any of the following components:

• fuel gas piping systems;

• solid fuel burning equipment;

• fire suppression systems;

• commercial hoods;

• electrical systems and equipment in excess of 30A/120V;

• electrical systems with more than five circuits or which incorporate photovoltaic cells, fuel cell energy, or other alternative energy systems; or

• plumbing drainage systems for solid or bodily waste.

Out-of-state conversion vending units are not required to undergo plan review if they were inspected and approved by another jurisdiction as meeting a common standard or standards substantially equivalent to Washington's standards. An insignia or certified inspection record is evidence of approval.

Professional engineer or architect approval is only required for conversion vending units with concentrated loads exceeding 500 pounds.

The Department may, by rule, exempt units with any of the listed components from plan review. The Department must establish and consult with an advisory committee to identify any conversion vending units to exempt. Committee membership consists of:

• one representative from:

  • the Factory Assembled Structures Advisory Board;

  • the state fire marshal;

  • local building officials;

  • restaurants; and

  • cities;

• at least one but not more than two representatives from:

  • food truck vendors; and

  • manufacturers of conversion vending units; and

• at least one nonvoting representative from:

  • local public health officials; and

  • county fairs.

The committee may also recommend statutory changes. The committee must report any recommended statutory changes to the Legislature by September 30, 2017.

Votes on Final Passage: