BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 1411 Page 1 Date of Hearing: May 20, 2015 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Jimmy Gomez, Chair AB 1411 (Eduardo Garcia) - As Amended April 14, 2015 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Policy |Governmental Organization |Vote:|17 - 0 | |Committee: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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. AB 1411 Page 2 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 AB 1411 Page 3 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 AB 1411 Page 4 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 AB 1411 Page 5