HB 218-SMOKE/FIRE DAMPERS & SMOKE CTRL SYSTEMS  4:37:37 PM CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS announced that the final order of business would be SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 218, "An Act relating to the inspection and testing of fire dampers, smoke dampers, combination fire and smoke dampers, and smoke control systems; and providing for an effective date." 4:38:53 PM JENS SCHURIG, Organizer, Sheet Metal Workers Local 23, provided a PowerPoint presentation on ventilation verification and energy optimization during the hearing on SSHB 218. He began on slide 2, which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: What is the Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem? The Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem has 8 components; each plays a critical role in protecting people and property. MR SCHURIG noted that the 8 components were government responsibility, development and use of current codes, referenced standards, investment in safety, skilled workforce, code compliance, preparedness and emergency response, and informed public. Essentially, he said, SSHB 218 would raise the standard for those who test and inspect fire smoke dampers and smoke control systems to include special training, a proctor exam, and certifications by the American National Standards Institute. He noted that currently, the break in the Fire and Life Safety Ecosystem illustrated on slide 2 was an untrained workforce. 4:42:51 PM MR. SCHURIG proceeded to describe the photos on slides 3-14, which depicted various examples of faulty inspections. 4:46:02 PM MR. SCHURIG continued to slide 15, which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: But we have Sprinklers • According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), smoke travels at 120-420 feet per minute (fpm) during an active fire. • Statistics show that approximately 70 percent of all building-related deaths are associated with smoke inhalation. • Most victims are not located in the same room as the fire's origin. MR. SCHURIG turned to slide 16, which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: What does HVAC have to do with Fire Life Safety? • HVAC systems penetrate every occupied space in a building • Potentially could convey fire, lethal smoke, toxic gasses throughout structure • Operation of dampers within HVAC system to control flow and movement of these items is critical to the safety of occupants within any structure. • Can water put out smoke? • Fire sprinklers save property. MR. SCHURIG continued to slide 19 and deferred to Mr. Hammond to expound on the extent of the problem. 4:47:35 PM SCOTT HAMMOND, Director of Research, National Energy Management Institute Committee, explained that last year, NEMIC worked in collaboration with the University of Maryland to oversee a research project that determined the reliability of fire and smoke dampers. The research indicated that 1,401 buildings containing 170,354 fire or smoke dampers of which 81,038, or 47.5 percent, were in need of repair; further, there were over 3,000 dampers were completely inoperable. 4:49:31 PM MR. SCHURIG resumed the presentation on slide 23, which addressed local code. International Fire Code (IFC) code called for an inspection one year after the initial acceptance testing, and every four years in buildings with the exception of hospitals, which called for every six years. He noted that many people were in violation of these codes due to a lack of knowledge. 4:50:43 PM MR. SCHURIG turned to slide 25, which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: Juneau, AK Adopts the 2012 International Fire Code • Chapter 19.10 - FIRE CODE • 19.10.010 - International Fire Code (IFC) adopted. • For the purpose of regulating the storage, handling and use of hazardous substances, materials and devices and other conditions hazardous to life or property in the use or occupancy of buildings or premises or portions thereof in the City and Borough, there is adopted by reference as the fire code of the City and Borough that certain compilation of rules and regulations jointly prepared and published by the International Code Council, a nationally recognized professional and trade organization, which compilation is entitled "International Fire Code, 2012 Edition," (IFC) and once copy which has been filed in the office of the municipal clerk of the City and Borough or such other places as designated by the municipal clerk for public use, inspection and examination and which compilation is made a part of this chapter as if fully set forth in this section, subject only to the enumerated additions, deletions and changes in this chapter. MR. SHURIG continued to slide 26, noting that Anchorage, Alaska had adopted the 2018 IFC. 4:51:13 PM CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS sought to confirm that Mr. Schurig was suggesting that there were existing rules and regulations; however, there was a high failure rate in terms of those standard being met. MR. SCHURIG answered yes. 4:51:49 PM MR. SCHURIG jumped to slide 33 and touched on the topic of access, noting that, often times, it was insufficient. He turned to slide 37, which addressed labeling requirements, and emphasized the importance of labeling during testing and inspection. He discussed quality control on slide 38, which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: For inspection and testing of fire and Smoke Dampers, employ only persons who are certified to inspect and test fire and Smoke Dampers and hold certification from the International Certification Board as a HVAC Fire Life Safety Technician through a program accredited by ANSI under the ISO/IEC 17024 standard. 4:53:31 PM MR. SCHURIG concluded the presentation by briefly summarizing slides 39-44 and welcoming questions from the committee. 4:54:09 PM REPRESENTATIVE VANCE asked why the requirements for hospitals differed from regular buildings [6-year inspections instead of 4-year]. MR. SCHURIG explained that hospitals were required to have inspections on file to maintain Medicare and Medicaid funding; therefore, they were given a break due to their stringent inspection policy. REPRESENTATIVE VANCE inquired about the buildings under a 4-year cycle and asked whether there was any leverage to requiring inspections. MR. SCHURIG said the leverage was code. 4:56:17 PM CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS asked what the bill would do. 4:57:00 PM MIKE MASON, Staff, Representative Chris Tuck, Alaska State Legislature, provided an explanation of changes [hard copy included in the committee packet] in the proposed CS, ("Version W"), for SSHB 218, which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: Page 2, lines 19-20: Following the word "program" on line 19, the CS inserts "a mechanical engineer registered under AS 08.48, a fire protection engineer registered under AS 08.48." The addition of this language adds properly registered mechanical engineers and properly registered fire protection engineers to the list of persons that can conduct the inspection and testing of fire dampers, smoke dampers, combination fire and smoke dampers, and smoke control systems in Alaska. 4:58:08 PM REPRESENTATIVE TARR moved to adopt the proposed CS for SSHB 218, labeled 32-LS0931\W, Bannister, 3/7/22, as working document. There being no objection, Version W was adopted. 4:58:31 PM MR. MASON provided an overview of the bill, paraphrasing the sponsor statement [included in the committee packet], which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: As a result of Alaska's cold climate, nearly every commercial, industrial, and public building must be heated. The goal of House Bill 218 is to ensure that the fire life safety components as part of the HVAC systems in these buildings are functioning as designed. These components include fire dampers, smoke dampers, and smoke control systems. House Bill 218 requires technicians and contractors to obtain a certification recognized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) under the ISO/IEC 17024 standard to perform inspections and testing of fire dampers, smoke dampers, and smoke control systems. Alaska law follows the International Fire Code by requiring the HVAC fire life safety components within the commercial, industrial, and public buildings to be inspected and tested consistent with the developed standards of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Currently, sprinkler systems, fire alarms, and fire extinguishers in Alaska are inspected by a technician and/or contractor that must be certified. House Bill 218 would create a similar requirement for a technician and/or contractor to perform periodic inspections of fire dampers, smoke dampers, and smoke control systems. NFPA standards 80 and 105 require fire and smoke dampers to be inspected within one year of initial installation and every four years thereafter, except for hospitals which must be inspected once every six years. NFPA standard 92 requires dedicated smoke control systems to be tested every six months and non- dedicated smoke control systems to be tested annually. House Bill 218 is a public safety bill that will help ensure that the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning fire life safety components utilized and installed in commercial, industrial, and public structures in Alaska are safe and in good working order. 5:03:28 PM CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS announced that SSHB 218, Version W, was held over.