BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
Senator Isadore Hall, III
Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: AB 1411 Hearing Date: 7/14/2015
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|Author: |Eduardo Garcia |
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|Version: |7/8/2015 Amended |
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|Urgency: |No |Fiscal: |Yes |
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|Consultant:|Felipe Lopez |
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SUBJECT: Fire protection: type 1 clothes dryers
DIGEST: This bill requires the State Fire Marshall (SFM), on
or before December 31, 2016, 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.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
1)Establishes the SFM in the Department of Forestry and Fire
Protection and requires the SFM 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 California.
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.
This bill:
AB 1411 (Eduardo Garcia) Page 2 of ?
1)Requires the SFM, on or before December 31, 2016, to work with
fire service entities, the appliance industry, disability
advocates, and related stakeholders to accomplish all of 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
regarding the information gathered.
c) Encourage the appropriate clothes dryer fire prevention
standard setting entity to amend an appropriate voluntary
national safety standard to improve fire safety, and to
include provisions based on any recommendations that will
reduce the likelihood of lint-related clothes dryer fires.
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.
3)Specifies that "type 1 clothes dryer" does not include dryers
used for commercial purposes.
4)Includes a repeal date of January 1, 2017.
5)Makes Legislative findings and declarations.
Background
Purpose of the bill. According to the author, "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's hard to tell when a
dangerous amount of lint has built up."
The author further argues that, "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 cleaning or servicing. Unfortunately, no
regulations or standards currently require this technology in
clothes dryers. To address this problem, AB 1411 would
AB 1411 (Eduardo Garcia) Page 3 of ?
coordinate stakeholders together to study this problem and
provide recommendations to the Legislature regarding a solution
to prevent future fires resulting from lint accumulation."
Type 1 Dryers. Type 1 dryers are domestic dryers, which are
primarily used in residences, individual apartments or
condominiums. According to the National Fire Protection
Association (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.
According to the NFPA, in 2010 an estimated 16,800 reported U.S.
non-confined or confined home structures fires involved clothes
dryers or washing machines resulted in 51 civilian deaths, 380
civilian injuries and $236 million in direct property damage in
the Unites States. The NFPA also states that clothes dryers
accounted for 92% of the fires and the leading cause of home
clothes dryer and washer fires was failure to clean, at
approximately 32 %.
Prior/Related Legislation
SB 763 (Leno, 2015) would require a juvenile product
manufacturer, as defined, to include a label indicating whether
the product has added flame retardant chemicals, and requires
the Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair, Home Furnishing
and Thermal Insulation to ensure compliance with labeling and
documentation requirements, as specified. (Pending in Assembly
Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee)
SB 1019 (Leno, Chapter 862, Statutes of 2014) required an
upholstered furniture manufacturer to indicate on the product
AB 1411 (Eduardo Garcia) Page 4 of ?
label whether or not a product contains added flame retardant
chemicals, by including a specified statement.
AB 127 (Skinner, Chapter 579, Statutes of 2013) required the SFM
to review the flammability standards for building insulation
materials and if deemed appropriate by the SFM based on this
review require the SFM to by July 1, 2015, propose updating
insulation flammability standards to the Building Standards
Commission.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal
Com.: Yes Local: No
SUPPORT:
California State Firefighters' Association (Source)
Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers
California Council of the Blind
California Fire Chiefs Association
Consumer Federation of California
Home Appliance Manufacturers
Humboldt Bay Fire
Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of California
The McMullen Company, Inc.
Personal Insurance Federation of California
OPPOSITION:
None received
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: The Independent Insurance Agents &
Brokers of California argues that, "household fires impose
significant health dangers to residents and community members
while presenting substantial financial costs that often wreak
havoc on the lives of Californians impacted by these tragedies.
A report issued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
in 2011 illustrated that 5 percent of all home fires in the
United States originate in washers and dryers. However, that
number is likely much higher because fires that originate from
washers and dryers are commonly identified as simply electrical
fires."
Supporters further argue that, "AB 1411 is a reasonable solution
to a costly problem. This bill ensures that well-crafted
AB 1411 (Eduardo Garcia) Page 5 of ?
standards based on a thorough analysis of existing technology
will be developed by December 31, 2016, that provide meaningful
safeguards to shield consumers from preventable fires resulting
from excessive lint buildup."