Legislature(1995 - 1996)
01/16/1996 01:30 PM Senate L&C
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE
January 16, 1996
1:30 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Tim Kelly, Chairman
Senator John Torgerson, Vice Chairman
Senator Mike Miller
Senator Jim Duncan
Senator Judy Salo
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 224(STA)
"An Act relating to the state plumbing code."
PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION
HB 224 - See Labor & Commerce minutes dated 5/7/95.
WITNESS REGISTER
Representative Vic Kohring
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 224
Dwight Perkins, Special Assistant
Department of Labor
P.O. Box 21149
Juneau, AK 99802-1149
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 224.
Gerald Wasson
United Association of Plumbers and Fitters
610 W 54th St.
Anchorage, AK 99518
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 224.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 96-3, SIDE A
Number 001
SL&C - 1/16/96
HB 224 STATE PLUMBING CODE
CHAIRMAN KELLY called the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee
meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. and announced HB 224 to be up for
discussion.
REPRESENTATIVE KOHRING, sponsor of HB 224, said that basically the
bill implements and adopts the current version of the uniform
plumbing code. Currently, the 1991 code is on the books, he said.
This is the last code to be enacted upon by the legislature
regarding major construction building codes, including the
Electrical Code, the Uniform Building Code, and the Mechanical
Code.
He said that he filed this bill at the request of the plumbing
industry. Last year there was an issue of the single wall vs.
double wall heat exchanger requirement. Old models of heat
exchangers have single wall coils in them. The revised code of '94
requires a double wall heat exchanger. After concerns rose about
the potential cost for the double wall, an exemption was put in the
bill that allows use of single wall, if it done in a safe way,
stipulating the conditions for safe operation.
The Mechanical Contractors Association of Fairbanks, the Plumbers
and Steamfitters Union of Fairbanks, the Department of Labor, and
the Anchorage Plumbers and Steamfitters Union, and numerous
independent plumbing and mechanical contractors have expressed
their support for this bill, he said.
Number 91
DWIGHT PERKINS, Special Assistant, Department of Labor, explained
there were concerns with the single wall/double wall coil that are
addressed in the proposed CS on page 2. The other concern last
year was whether the Department should adopt the code by statute
rather than regulation. The Department of Labor thinks an updated
code is necessary and the proposed language adopts it by statute.
SENATOR KELLY asked if the national standard required a double wall
coil. MR. PERKINS answered that HB 224 does change the national
code from double wall to single wall. He explained that this is a
minimum standard and, if municipalities or boroughs want to enforce
only double, they have the right to do that.
Number 147
SENATOR DUNCAN asked for the difference between double wall and
single wall coils. MR. PERKINS explained that in the interior,
because of lower freezing temperatures, people use a liquid called
polypropylene glycol which is not hazardous to health, if it
accidentally gets mixed and used with potable water.
SENATOR DUNCAN asked for the cost difference in both types. MR.
PERKINS replied that double wall is physically much bigger and does
not fit into single wall boilers. So one would need to purchase a
new boiler which would cost several thousand dollars.
REPRESENTATIVE KOHRING said that was the primary reason the
exemption was put in. He added that the exemption would not be in
there, if it wasn't absolutely safe.
Number 201
SENATOR DUNCAN noted that other liquids could be used by the owner
that would be hazardous. MR. PERKINS said they can't prevent
anyone from adding what they want, but they hope cover the
situation with a sticker permanently afixed to the boiler with
distinct instructions saying to use polypropylene glycol.
SENATOR DUNCAN noted that a licensed plumbing contractor would
certainly use the glycol.
MR. PERKINS reiterated that municipalities could have more
stringent standards than the State.
Number 242
GERALD WASSON, United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, said
they supported the 1994 version of the Uniform Plumbing Code.
SENATOR KELLY asked if plastic pipe was allowed in Alaska. MR.
PERKINS answered that it wasn't allowed. It can only be used for
drain pipes.
Number 288
SENATOR TORGERSON moved to adopt the proposed SCS to HB 224. There
were no objections and it was so ordered.
REPRESENTATIVE KOHRING stated that Representative Jeanette James
worked very hard last session trying to come up with a reasonable
compromise that would meet her constituent's needs.
SENATOR TORGERSON moved to pass SCS for HB 224 from committee with
individual recommendations. There were no objections and it was so
ordered.
SENATOR KELLY adjourned the meeting at 1:50 p.m.
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