HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 6240

As Reported by House Committee On:

Labor & Workplace Standards

Title: An act relating to miniature hobby boilers.

Brief Description: Regarding miniature hobby boilers.

Sponsors: Senators Sheldon, Angel, Rolfes and Van De Wege.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Labor & Workplace Standards: 2/15/18, 2/22/18 [DP].

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 7 members: Representatives Sells, Chair; Gregerson, Vice Chair; McCabe, Ranking Minority Member; Pike, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Doglio, Frame and Manweller.

Staff: Sydney Sullivan (786-7290) and Joan Elgee (786-7106).

Background:

Boilers and unfired pressure vessels must be operated under a certificate of inspection issued by the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I). A certificate of inspection signifies that a boiler is in compliance with all governing American Society of Mechanical Engineers' rules, regulations, and that the required fees have been paid.

Once an initial certificate of inspection is issued for a boiler, an owner or user must continue to have an internal and external inspection of the boiler to maintain his or her inspection certificate. The internal and external inspections must be completed every one to two years, depending on the qualities of the boiler.

If an owner or user of a boiler does not have a certificate of inspection, the certificate is expired, or there has been a change in the boiler's conditions since the certificate was issued, the boiler's owner or user is liable for civil penalties that the L&I may impose for each day the boiler's certificate is not current.

A miniature hobby boiler is a boiler that does not comply with all the code requirements of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, but a miniature hobby boiler may still be issued a certificate of inspection if the boiler meets the following restrictions:

• the inside diameter of the boiler's shell is not more than 16 inches;

• the total heating surface of the boiler is not more than 20 square feet;

• the gross volume of the boiler's vessel is not more than 5 cubic feet;

• the boiler's maximum allowable working pressure is not more than 150 pounds per square inch gauge (PSIG);

• the boiler is not operated for commercial or industrial use; and

• the L&I has inspected the operation of the boiler and determined it is not unsafe.

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Summary of Bill:

A miniature hobby boiler is not required to have periodic inspections if the boiler was certified by an inspector prior to the effective date of the bill, or the boiler is certified by the Chief Inspector of the Board of Boiler Rules prior to use.

"Miniature hobby boiler" means a boiler that does not comply with the code requirements of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and does not exceed the following limitations:

• the inside diameter of the boiler's shell is not more than 16 inches;

• the total heating surface of the boiler is not more than 20 square feet;

• the gross volume of boiler's vessel is not more than 5 cubic feet;

• the boiler's maximum allowable working pressure is not more than 150 PSIG; and

• the boiler is not operated for commercial or industrial use.

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Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) Exempting miniature hobby boilers from yearly L&I inspections is a commonsense change that will cut down on regulations. The exemptions in this bill are a collaborative effort between miniature boiler hobbyists and the L&I. This bill will streamline the requirements of miniature hobby boilers and other hobby boilers, such as miniature steamboat boilers, which do not require yearly inspections. At least 12 other states have already exempted miniature hobby boilers from yearly inspections after an initial inspection has been completed.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Senator Sheldon, prime sponsor; and William Karanson and Kenneth Olsen, Kitsap Live Steamers.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.