SB 94

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) administers various laws, including

building codes, that promote safety in public and private buildings and in the

subsystems of those buildings. To that end, Commerce issues various licenses,

permits, registrations, and other credentials (licenses) to persons engaged in the

construction trades, such as electricians and plumbers. Commerce also issues

licenses in connection with the administration of other laws relating to public safety,

such as those regulating fireworks and the storage of flammable liquids.

This bill requires Commerce to regulate the business of installing and

maintaining thermal system insulation in commercial and industrial buildings and

in residential buildings that contain four or more residential units. The bill defines

thermal system insulation as a product used in a heating, ventilating, cooling,

plumbing, or refrigeration system (heating or cooling system) to insulate any hot or

cold surface on or in a building. The bill requires Commerce to license most persons

who install and maintain thermal system insulation in heating or cooling systems

(mechanics). The bill also requires Commerce to employ a state thermal system

insulation inspector (state inspector). The bill establishes a thermal system

insulation council (council), which recommends to Commerce the requirements for

the licensure of mechanics. The council must also provide other advice to Commerce,

including recommending training and continuing education requirements for

mechanics.

Under the bill, the state inspector must have at least ten years of experience

as a mechanic and must have successfully completed an apprenticeship program in

installing and maintaining thermal system insulation. The state inspector must

inspect buildings to determine whether the buildings comply with standards

established by Commerce for the installation and maintenance of thermal system

insulation (state standards). The state inspector must also keep complete and

accurate records of all inspected buildings and give notice of noncompliance to the

owner of every building who fails to comply with state standards. The bill authorizes

the state inspector to enter and inspect buildings and to issue orders requiring the

owner of a building to make repairs or alterations necessary for the building to

conform to state standards. Under the bill, the state inspector must also provide

assistance and information to building inspectors who inspect buildings for

compliance with the standards established by Commerce under this bill.

The bill establishes minimum licensing requirements for thermal system

insulation mechanics. Under the bill, a person may not obtain a mechanic's license

unless he or she has acquired a specified amount of experience installing and

maintaining thermal system insulation and passed a written examination approved

by Commerce or has successfully completed an approved apprenticeship program.

The licensing requirement under the bill does not apply to a person who makes only

minor repairs to thermal system insulation.