BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 433
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 433 (Gordon)
As Amended August 13, 2013
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |73-0 |(April 11, |SENATE: |31-6 |(September 3, |
| | |2013) | | |2013) |
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Original Committee Reference: B.,P. & C.P.
SUMMARY : Authorizes licensed plumbing contractors to install
residential fire protection systems for single- and two-family
homes through January 1, 2017.
The Senate amendments :
1)Place a sunset provision of January 1, 2017, on the
authorization for a licensed plumbing contractor to install a
residential fire protection system, excluding an electrical
alarm system, for a one- or two-family dwelling.
2)State the intent of the Legislature that this bill applies to
the installation of fire protection system components within a
one- or two-family dwelling and outside the dwelling up to the
utility meter for the property.
3)Authorize the State Fire Marshal to propose, adopt, and
administer the regulations that he or she deems necessary in
order to ensure fire safety in buildings and structures within
this state including regulations related to construction,
modification, installation, testing, inspection, labeling,
listing, certification, registration, licensing, reporting,
operation, and maintenance.
4)Require regulations that are building standards to be
submitted to the State Building Standards Commission for
approval, as specified.
5)Authorize the Office of the State Fire Marshal to establish
and collect reasonable fees necessary to implement this bill.
6)Make technical and clarifying changes.
AB 433
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FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, there would be minor and absorbable costs to the
Contractors' State License Board (CSLB) for any enforcement
actions related to plumbers installing fire sprinkler systems.
There would be no new costs to the State Fire Marshal related to
the clarification of the authority to propose, adopt, and
administer fire safety regulations and building standards. The
bill would also provide authority for the Fire Marshal to
recover any costs associated with the broad regulatory authority
provided in the bill by charging reasonable fees for specified
activities.
COMMENTS :
1)Purpose of this bill . The California Building Standards Code
(Code) requires fire protection systems to be installed in all
new single- and two-family homes beginning January 1, 2011.
This bill aims to expand the pool of licensed contractors who
can install residential fire sprinklers under the new Code
requirements by authorizing licensed plumbing contractors to
perform residential installations through January 1, 2017, in
addition to the licensed fire protection contractors currently
authorized to do the work. This bill is sponsored by the
California Building Industry Association.
2)New Code requirement and demand for residential fire sprinkler
installations . In 2010, the California Building Standards
Commission adopted a new Code requirement that approved the
State Fire Marshal's Building, Fire and Residential Code and
mandated the installation of residential fire sprinklers in
all new single- and two-family dwellings and townhouses
statewide, beginning January 1, 2011. Rural counties report
having a difficult time complying with the new Code
requirement because of the relatively small number of C-16
fire protection contractors scattered throughout the state,
with no known C-16 fire protection contractors residing in
some rural counties.
According to the Construction Industry Research Board, in
2004, there were approximately 212,960 new residential single-
and multi-family homes built in California. In 2009, the
number of new homes built dropped to a record low of 36,421,
but has since been gradually climbing. In 2013, the projected
number of new homes that will be built is 62,000 homes and is
AB 433
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anticipated to rise in the future, which will create increased
demand for residential fire sprinkler installation.
3)Current licensed contracting authority to install residential
fire sprinklers . Currently, there are approximately 230,000
licensed contractors in the State of California. According to
the CSLB, as of February 2013 there were 2,148 active C-16
fire protection contractors. This bill would authorize the
15,090 active C-36 plumbing contractors in California to
install residential fire sprinklers as well to help ensure
there are than enough licensed contractors who can legally
perform the installations to meet new Code requirements.
Under existing law, only a licensed Class C-16 fire protection
contractor or owner-builder may install a residential
sprinkler system. At the same time, only a licensed C-36
plumbing contractor can perform work on residential plumbing
systems to distribute potable and non-potable water, at
varying temperatures and volumes, to and from a residence.
This bill would add 15,090 C-36 plumbing contractors to the
pool of 2,148 C-16 fire protection contractors who can be
hired to install residential fire sprinklers.
Analysis Prepared by : Sarah Huchel / B.,P. & C.P. / (916)
319-3301
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