BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1411
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB
1411 (Eduardo Garcia)
As Amended June 1, 2015
Majority vote
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|Committee |Votes |Ayes |Noes |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|----------------+------+-----------------------+-------------------|
|Governmental |17-0 |Gray, Linder, | |
|Organization | |Achadjian, Alejo, | |
| | |Bigelow, Cooley, | |
| | |Cooper, Daly, Cristina | |
| | |Garcia, Eduardo | |
| | |Garcia, Gipson, Roger | |
| | |Hernández, | |
| | |Jones-Sawyer, Levine, | |
| | |Perea, Salas, | |
| | |Steinorth | |
| | | | |
|----------------+------+-----------------------+-------------------|
|Appropriations |13-0 |Gomez, Bigelow, Bonta, | |
| | |Calderon, Daly, | |
| | |Eggman, Eduardo | |
| | |Garcia, Gordon, | |
| | |Holden, Quirk, Rendon, | |
| | |Weber, Wood | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
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AB 1411
Page 2
SUMMARY: Requires the State Fire Marshall (SFM) to work with fire
service entities, the appliance industry, disability advocates,
and related stakeholders to gather information regarding type 1
clothes dryer-related fires and the dangers of excessive lint.
Specifically, this bill:
1)Provides SFM shall work with fire service entities, the
appliance industry, disability advocates, and related
stakeholders to accomplish the following:
a) Gather information regarding type 1 clothes dryer-related
fires and the dangers of excessive lint.
b) Provide findings and recommendations to the Legislature,
as defined.
c) Encourage all appropriate clothes dryer fire prevention
standard setting entities to establish a standard regarding
the detection of excessive lint and notification to the
consumer.
2)Defines "type 1 clothes dryer" as an appliance used in a
residential living environment, including one that is
coin-operated for public use in a residential living
environment. "Type 1 clothes dryer" does not include dryers
used for commercial purposes.
3)Contains a January 1, 2017, sunset date.
4)Makes related legislative findings and declarations.
AB 1411
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EXISTING LAW:
1)Establishes the SFM in the Department of Forestry and Fire
Protection and requires the office to foster, promote, and
develop ways and means of protecting life and property against
fire and panic.
2)Requires the SFM to adopt regulations and standards necessary to
control the quality and installation of fire alarm systems and
devices marketed, distributed, offered for sale, or sold in this
state.
3)Prohibits a person from marketing, distributing, offering for
sale, or selling any fire alarm system or device in this state
unless the system or device has been approved or listed by the
SFM.
FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee
analysis, minor and absorbable costs to SFM and participating fire
agencies.
COMMENTS:
Purpose of the bill: According to the author's office, "California
is a leader in adopting fire safety policies that set a national
example and are later adopted in other states. Dryer lint may
seem like a trivial matter, but fire policy experts identify
excess dryer lint as one of the leading causes of home fires in
California each year. These tragedies could easily be avoided if
clothes dryers were equipped with a warning system to notify users
that there is a dangerous build-up of lint in the machine.
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According to information provided by the author's office:
A 2011 report released by the U.S. [United States] Consumer
Product Safety Commission identified fires originating in
washers and dryers as nearly 5 percent of all home fires
occurring annually in the United States. This number is
likely to be grossly underestimated, however, because nearly
half of all fires that originate in washers and dryers are
identified as "electrical fires" rather than being reported as
fires that began in washers and dryers. In other words, it is
more likely that 10 percent of all national home fires begin
in washers and dryers. Of this number, the great majority of
fires (92%) begin in dryers rather than washers, as is
indicated by a 2012 report released by the National Fire
Prevention Association (NFPA). The NFPA report also states
that of the 15,456 reported home fires that originated in
dryers, 29% of the material first ignited was dust, fiber, or
lint that had built up in the machine. Statistics are not
available about the number of home fires in California,
specifically, so it is not possible to calculate what
percentage of California home fires are caused by lint
build-up in dryers.
Lint is a highly combustible material. When it accumulates in
excess in a dryer's filter, heat from the dryer can cause it
to ignite, starting a fire that quickly spreads throughout the
house. Keeping the machine clean, and having it regularly
serviced, can help prevent a dryer fire, but it is hard to
tell when a dangerous amount of lint has built up. Detection
technology exists today that monitors the build-up of highly
combustible lint inside the dryer, and alerts consumers with a
light and an alarm sound when accumulation reaches dangerous
levels and the dryer interior requires servicing.
Unfortunately, no regulations or standards currently require
this technology in clothes dryers.
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Technology exists to prevent dryer fires, but we are not
requiring it. When the technology emerged to detect smoke, we
required smoke detectors. When the technology emerged to
detect carbon monoxide, we required carbon monoxide detectors.
It's time, once again, to take a lead in requiring the
installation of basic, available, technology to keep our
people and our firefighters safer.
Background: Type 1 dryers are domestic dryers, which are
primarily used in residences, individual apartments or
condominiums. According to the NFPA, lint and other debris can
build up in a dryer's hose and vent duct, reducing airflow,
backing up exhaust gases and eventually creating a fire. In
addition, many newer homes tend to have dryers located away from
an outside wall: in bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms and hall
closets. This results in longer dryer venting conduit hidden in
walls and ceilings. This increases the risk of lint accumulations
inside inaccessible areas. The dryer has to work harder to force
the air up the wall, across the ceiling to the outside exhaust
hood. Cleaning the lint trap after every use will only remove a
portion of lint generated. Over time, even with proper care, lint
will collect inside a dryer's lint filter housing and restrict the
airflow, increasing the risk of overheating and fires. When an
obstruction builds up in the vent line, it reduces the airflow of
the dryer. Once the airflow of the dryer becomes reduced, the
dryer can overheat and induce a fire.
In support: According to the sponsor, the California State
Firefighters' Association [CSFA] , this bill would help to prevent
a leading cause of residential structural fires in California.
"Existing law requires the SFM to adopt regulations and standards
necessary to control the quality and installation of fire alarm
systems and devices marketed, distributed, offered for sale, or
sold in this state. Oversight of lint build up alarm systems for
clothes dryers is in close keeping with those duties. In order to
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promote fire safety for our citizens and firefighters, CSFA
supports AB 1411."
The Consumer Federation of California writes, "Many consumers are
not aware of the dangers of lint buildup in dryers. The lint
inside of a dryer tends to accumulate in places such as inside of
the dryer and in the vent. Even if filters are cleaned out
regularly, the accumulation over the years can easily be
overlooked. Moreover, lint is a highly combustible material, and
in combination with heat omitted by the dryer, the chances of a
fire are highly probable. However, current technology is
available today that can alert consumers with a light or alarm if
buildup of lint, a highly combustible material, has reached a
dangerous level. Unfortunately, these regulations or standards,
that can prevent disastrous home fires, are not yet required."
Analysis Prepared by:
Eric Johnson / G.O. / (916) 319-2531 FN: 0000910