BILL ANALYSIS Ó
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Kevin de León, Chair
AB 127 (Skinner) - Fire safety: fire retardants: building
insulation
Amended: June 24, 2013 Policy Vote: BP&ED 6-1
Urgency: No Mandate: No
Hearing Date: August 12, 2013 Consultant:
Marie Liu
This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.
Bill Summary: AB 127 would require the State Fire Marshal (SFM)
to propose updated insulation flammability standards that
maintain fire safety, consider long-term human and ecological
health impacts associated with chemical flame retardants, and
provide sufficient protection for building occupants and
firefighters.
Fiscal Impact:
One-time costs of $85,000 to the Building Standards
Administration Special Revolving Fund (special) for the SFM to
develop proposed updated insulation flammability standards.
Minor and absorbable cost to the Bureau of Electronic and
Appliance Repair, Home Furnishing, and Thermal Insulation
(bureau) from the Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation
Fund (special) consult with the SFM.
One-time costs between $65,000 and $130,000 from the Toxic
Substances Control Account (General Fund) for Department of
Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to determine long-term human
and ecological health impacts of chemical fire retardants in
insulation.
Background: The bureau, with input from the California Energy
Commission, the SFM, manufacturers, distributors, and licensed
installers, is charged with establishing insulation material
standards governing the quality of all insulation material sold
or installed in the state, including safety and thermal
performance. Any standards adopted relating to insulation
material must be submitted to the California Building Standards
Commission (BSC) for adoption into state building standards.
The SFM is authorized under existing law to develop building
AB 127 (Skinner)
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standards relating to fire and panic safety. These standards
must be submitted to the BSC for approval.
The BSC is responsible for adopting, approving, publishing, and
implementing California's building codes under the California
Building Standards Law.
Proposed Law: This bill would require the SFM, in consultation
with the bureau and DTSC, to propose updated insulation
flammability standards that take into consideration long-term
human and ecological health impacts associated with chemical
flame retardants while ensuring overall building fire safety and
adequate protection for building occupants and any firefighters
who may be present during a fire. The updated standards would be
required to be completed by July 1, 2015.
Staff Comments: The SFM would need approximately need half a PY
to conduct the research necessary to propose updated insulation
flammability standards. These costs could potentially increase
should the SFM find it necessary to conduct physical testing of
building materials.
The bureau would likely have minor and absorbable costs to
consult with the SFM on the insulation flammability standards
assuming data sharing with the SFM.
DTSC would require additional staffing to determine long-term
human and ecological health impacts associated with chemical
flame retardants. The workload would result in costs between
$65,000 and $130,000 depending on whether DTSC was relying on
existing, readily available information or not. Using existing
data would keep costs on the lower end of the range.