SB 8-MINIMUM REQUIRED PLUMBING FACILITIES SENATOR DAVE DONLEY, sponsor of SB 8, explained the bill will adopt a formula for plumbing in women's facilities in Alaska, similar to the national standard. SB 8 will apply to buildings in which groups of people are assembled, such as concert halls, constructed after January 1, 2000. Alaska adopted the Uniform Building Code, with the exception of Table 4.1 which listed and increased the required number of water closets and lavatories in buildings. Alaska did not adopt Table 4.1 because its structure is confusing; instead it opted to continue using Table A-29-A, its predecessor. SB 8 modifies the A-29-A table to increase the number of required water closets equivalent to Table 4.1. He proposed changes to SB 8 to lower the number of water closets required for the 1-50 person occupancy level to four, for the 51-100 person occupancy level to eight, to incorporate a reference to lavatories, and to insert the language that currently appears in the A-29-A table. Number 343 CHAIRMAN WARD asked why Senator Donley is requesting the proposed changes. SENATOR DONLEY replied DOL inspectors prefer the system used in the A-29-A table. The reference to lavatories would require the number of lavatories to be increased when the number of water closets is increased. SENATOR DONLEY reviewed a proposed committee substitute distributed to committee members. CHAIRMAN WARD asked if Senator Donley's recommendations differ from the Uniform Building Code. SENATOR DONLEY said his numbers create a different result. CHAIRMAN WARD asked why Senator Donley chose his system. SENATOR DONLEY repeated the new Uniform Building Code increases the number of facilities. Those appying the new standard felt it was difficult to administer and prefer to use the former table. SB 8 provides the simplicity of the former table while increasing the number to at least those required by the new table. CHAIRMAN WARD asked whether the new requirements will apply to the Jehovah's Witness Assembly Hall building. SENATOR DONLEY said he believes the Uniform Building Code applies to all buildings, so it would apply to churches also. He added SB 8 only applies to new construction. CHAIRMAN WARD asked if SB 8 will apply to remodel projects. DWIGHT PERKINS, Department of Labor (DOL), believed remodel projects that begin after January 1, 2000 will have to comply with SB 8. SENATOR DONLEY discussed changes he made in a sponsor substitute, which he did not introduce. On page 2, the phrase "and lavatories" was inserted after "water closets." On line 7, the number "8" was replaced with "4." On line 8, the number "10" was replaced with the number "8." On line 12, after the phrase "400 females," the following phrase was inserted, "and that there shall be one lavatory for each water closet up to four; and one for each two additional water closets." He explained that language will apply to assembly places as well as Group A in Table A-29-A. He recommended the committee adopt those changes in a committee substitute. Number 419 SENATOR WILKEN referred to the table provided by Senator Donley, and asked if it will now read "4,8,12,14,16,18,20,22." SENATOR DONLEY said it will. SENATOR WILKEN asked if AS 18.60.705 applies to architects. SENATOR DONLEY said it does. SENATOR WILKEN asked, because SB 8 will impose costs, where the numbers came from. SENATOR DONLEY said he made a policy call on the numbers. He suggested the committee modify the numbers to be closer to Table 4.1. He stated the numbers he used are slightly higher than those in Table 4.1. Number 440 SENATOR WILKEN noted requiring the Jehovah's Witness Hall to add six water closets as part of a remodel could stop the project, because of the cost. He suggested adding language to the bill to exempt remodel projects that are unable to go forward because of the additional costs imposed by SB 8. SENATOR DONLEY indicated all remodel projects could be exempted. He added Table A-29-A has a separate requirement for places of worship, so it would not apply to the Jehovah's Witness Hall. CHAIRMAN WARD asked if the Viking Hall would be exempt. SENATOR DONLEY said no, because it is considered an assembly place. SENATOR WILKEN asked that the committee revisit the remodel issue and make adjustments to the number of toilets required in Table A- 29-A. SENATOR GREEN asked if contractors are prevented, in any way, from installing extra water closets at this time. SENATOR DONLEY did not think so. SENATOR GREEN asked when the Uniform Building Code will be readdressed. SENATOR DONLEY replied the Uniform Building Code is updated and adopted every three years. SENATOR GREEN asked if architects, when designing new buildings, are more likely to include a higher number of water closets, rather than the minimum required now, knowing that remodeling later on to meet updated codes will be more expensive. SENATOR DONLEY thought it would depend on the fiscal constraints of the project. SENATOR GREEN asked if the entire Uniform Building Code is adopted into state statute. SENATOR DONLEY said some of it is adopted by incorporation in state statute. AS 18.60.690 contains the present Uniform Building Code with the exclusion of Table 4.1. CHAIRMAN WARD asked why Table 4.1 was not incorporated into statute. SENATOR DONLEY repeated Table 4.1 was confusing in the way it was structured and more difficult to administer than the existing Table A-29-A. Number 488 SENATOR GREEN asked if Senator Donley spoke with whoever made the decision to exclude Table 4.1 SENATOR DONLEY said he did not, but he spoke with DOL staff. DWIGHT PERKINS clarified DOL felt the user groups of the Uniform Building Code would have a difficult time interpreting Table 4.1, therefore DOL requested that previous legislation be amended to allow the continued use of Table A-29-A. SENATOR GREEN questioned if Table 4.1 contains other requirements not included in Table A-29-A. MR. PERKINS replied Table A-29-A refers to water closets and lavatories only; Table 4.1 also refers to fixtures and urinals. There being no further discussion, CHAIRMAN WARD asked Senator Donley to work with staff and Senators Wilken and Green to prepare a committee substitute.