BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1411
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Date of Hearing: May 20, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
AB
1411 (Eduardo Garcia) - As Amended April 14, 2015
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|Policy |Governmental Organization |Vote:|17 - 0 |
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: YesReimbursable:
No
SUMMARY:
This bill requires, on or before July 1, 2017, the State Fire
Marshal, with the advice of the State Board of Fire Services, to
develop a standard and adopt regulations to require
manufacturers to include a visual and audible warning device on
a residential clothes dryer that indicates hazardous lint
buildup. The bill further prohibits the marketing,
distribution, and sale of any residential clothes dryer after
January 1, 2018, unless it incorporates a visual and audible
warning device that meets the State Fire Marshal's adopted
standard.
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FISCAL EFFECT:
1)One-time GF costs of approximately $515,000 to the State Fire
Marshal to establish function, pay for laboratory testing to
develop device standard, and adopt regulations.
2)Annual GF costs of approximately $275,000 to the State Fire
Marshal to administer and enforce the new device standard.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. According to the author, excess dryer lint is a
leading cause of home fires in California. The author claims
clothes dryers are a source of at least 5% of home fires,
though likely much more, and excess dryer lint is one of the
key sources of combustible material for those fires. The
author believes these fires could be avoided if clothes dryers
were equipped with a visual and audible warning system that
notified users of hazardous lint accumulation. The author
further asserts adequate detection technology currently
exists, but there are no industry standards or regulations for
its use.
According to the sponsor, the California State Firefighters'
Association, existing law requires the State Fire Marshal to
adopt regulations to control the quality and installation of
fire alarm systems, and therefore mandating the State Fire
Marshal to oversee hazardous lint alarm systems for clothes
dryers is appropriate. In addition, the Consumer Federation
of California believes many consumers are not aware of the
dangers posed by lint build-up in dryers, particularly inside
the dryer system beyond the lint screen, and therefore a
warning system is needed to ensure consumers address and
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maintain their dryer's safety.
2)Nasty Fluff. Residential clothes dryers, also known as "Type
1" dryers, are commonly used in single homes and apartments.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, lint
and other debris can accumulate in a dryer's internal
ventilation system as well as the duct that vents the dryer to
the outside. Significant accumulation of lint and debris may
reduce airflow, restricting exhaust and causing excessive heat
build-up. This can be more common in newer homes and
apartments, where dryers are frequently located away from
exterior walls and require longer ducting that increases
opportunities for lint accumulation. Regular cleaning of a
dryer's lint screen can reduce lint buildup in the ventilation
system, but the screen does not remove all lint. Over time,
even a well-maintained dryer will eventually accumulate lint
in the ventilation system and should be cleaned to reduce risk
of fire.
3)Industry Opposition. Opponents, led by the Association of
Home Appliance Manufacturers, argue the industry has looked
closely at the issue of hazardous dryer lint and its role in
dryer fires, and has established safety standards through its
normal processes including fire containment technology for new
dryers. The industry expects to continue addressing dryer
lint, but believes the political process is an improper forum
for resolving product safety issues. The industry maintains
the effectiveness of dryer lint detection systems has been
tested yet remains unproven, and the current technology does
not offer a discernable safety enhancement. Opponents argue
this bill will add significant costs and burdens to
manufacturers without achieving meaningful benefits for
consumers.
4)Standard Bearers. Most product safety standards in the US are
developed by private labs, the best known being UL and the
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American National Standards Institute (ANSI). These labs work
with a variety of stakeholders, including retailers,
manufacturers, and governments, to develop, validate, and test
safety standards as well as certify products for compliance.
Many of the standards adopted in regulation by California's
government agencies, including those adopted by the State Fire
Marshal with respect to smoke detectors, specifically
reference the UL and ANSI standards, requiring manufacturers
and retailers to distribute and sell only those products that
have been tested and certified by the labs.
At present, there is no accepted standard for dryer lint
detection systems, though UL has looked into lint detection
technologies in the past. The State Fire Marshal currently
does not have the expertise, capability, or a laboratory to
develop its own industry standard, but could be required to do
so under this bill if private labs are unwilling or unable.
If so, there is no guarantee the Fire Marshal could develop a
workable standard by the January 1, 2017, deadline, if at all.
The Committee may wish to consider whether it would be more
appropriate to direct the State Fire Marshal to consult with
firefighters and industry, and file a formal proposal with UL
or another lab for a new device standard. While there is no
guarantee UL will be able to develop a workable standard, it
may be the more prudent approach to addressing this issue.
Analysis Prepared by:Joel Tashjian / APPR. / (916)
319-2081
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