The Washington State Building Code Council (SBCC), at its September 15, 2023 meeting, voted to delay the effective date of the new building and energy codes until March 15,2024. These codes, originally intended to be in effect July 1, 2023 were originally delayed until October 26, 2023 to give the SBCC time to revise the codes to address possible conflicts with federal law pertaining to gas bans and restrictions. This further delay indicates the time needed to actually adopt any new rules to avoid conflict with federal law.
The new rules, and hearings associated with them, will be coming up in the next month. The rules put forward by the council that will be heard will eliminate heat pump mandates and other features that directly limited the use of gas appliances, and instead focus on adjusting the credit calculations to move the state toward greater electrification.
Watch your emails for calls to action in the next few weeks to participate in fighting the newest version of the energy codes that unnecessarily restrict the use of gas appliances which put the ability to have gas fireplaces as back up heat at risk.
L&I PROPOSES AVERAGE 4.9% INCREASE IN WORKERS’ COMP PREMIUMS FOR 2024, 4% INCREASE FOR THE WOODSTOVE INDUSTRY
The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) is proposing a 4.9 percent increase in the average hourly rate employers and workers will pay for workers’ compensation insurance next year. If adopted, the increase would mean employers and workers on average would jointly pay an additional $65 a year for each full-time employee within a business. According to this CHART put out by the Department, this increase will be 4% for woodstove/HVAC installers.
Public hearings planned
Public hearings are scheduled for Oct. 26, 27, and 31 to take input on the rate proposal before a final decision is made. The Oct. 26 hearing will be held at 10 a.m. virtually and in person at L&I headquarters in Tumwater. The Oct. 27 hearing will be held at 9 a.m. in person only in Spokane. The Oct. 31 hearing will be held at 10 a.m. in person only in Yakima. Final rates will be adopted on Nov. 30 and go into effect Jan. 1, 2024.
Hearing details
10 a.m., Oct. 26, 2023
L&I Headquarters, Rooms S117, S118, S119
7273 Linderson Way SW Tumwater, WA
OR
Meeting ID: 846 8256 2930 Passcode: Oct2623!
Join by phone (audio only):
253-215-8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 428 348 2697
9 a.m., Oct. 27, 2023
CenterPlace Event Center Auditorium 2426 Discover Pl Spokane Valley, WA
10 a.m., Oct. 31, 2023
Yakima Convention & Event Center, Room B 10 North 8th Street Yakima, WA
People are encouraged to submit comments in writing to: Jo Anne Attwood, administrative regulations analyst, P.O. Box 41448, Olympia, WA 98504-4148; or email [email protected].
All comments must be received by 5 p.m. on Oct. 31. More information about the proposal is available at www.Lni.wa.gov/2024Rates.
WASHINGTON MAKES CHANGES TO CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION LAWS AND RULES
What the adopted rule does
The adopted rule adds language from the new law establishing new conditions to deny contractor registrations for applicants who are successors of business entities with unsatisfied final judgments or who are minors.
The adopted rule includes:
- Allowing a contractor’s application for registration, renewal or reinstatement to be denied if:
- The applicant is younger than 18 years old at the time of application; or
- The applicant is a successor to an entity that has an unsatisfied final judgment against it for work performed under chapter 18.27 RCW or owes money to L&I for assessed penalties or fees under chapter 18.27 RCW as a result of a final judgment.
- Allowing an exception for denial of a registration for successors to an entity with unsatisfied final judgments under chapter 18.27 RCW.
- Housekeeping changes to renumber subsections.
- 2SHB 1534 passed the legislature this year and was signed into law. The bill amends sections under chapter 18.27 RCW with various effective dates. L&I plans to develop rules over several phases of rulemaking for consistency with the statute.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE WASHINGTON ERGONOMICS IDEA BANK
With the passage of Washington’s new ergonomics law, it is important for businesses to cash in on hundreds of ideas to help your workers avoid sprains and strains on the job by visiting the Ergonomic Ideas Bank. Because of the way the new law is drafted, getting help now can actually postpone costly regulations on your industry in the future.
L&I ergonomists have been saving the best solutions to address just about any hazard a worker may face. Even if the job does not require significant physical activity, the Ergonomics Ideas Bank has guides for you to prevent strains and injuries.
Search by industry, hazard, keyword or any combination of these. You’ll find tip sheets, industry guidelines, checklists, tools and equipment to solve various ergonomic issues.
Forget that massive search engine. The Ergonomics Ideas Bank consolidates all of the best resources and success stories in one place – saving you time and frustration. You can bank on it!
Can’t find it in the bank? L&I’s team of experienced ergonomists can help you solve the most challenging situation with a free Ergonomic Consultation.
What are you waiting for? The online bank is open 24/7.
IDAHO PROPOSES REGULATORY CHANGES
The State of Idaho has made some regulatory changes that may impact your business. Please review the information below and contact Carolyn Logue at [email protected] if you want to obtain more information.
Under Executive Order 2020-01, Zero-Based Regulation, the Public Works Contractors License Board is striving to prevent the accumulation of costly, ineffective, and outdated regulations and reduce regulatory burden to achieve a more efficient operation of government. In conjunction with stakeholders, the proposed rule changes reflect a comprehensive review of this chapter by collaborating with the public to streamline or simplify the rule language in this chapter and to use plain language for better understanding.
The proposed rulemaking removes the following: 109. 15100 Pipe Fitter and Process Piping. A specialty contractor whose primary business is the installation of piping for fluids and gases or materials. This category does not include domestic water, sewage, fire protection and utilities as they are covered under other categories.( ) 110. 15400 Plumbing. A specialty contractor whose primary business includes the ability to create and maintain sanitary conditions in buildings, by providing a permanent means for a supply of safe, pure and wholesome water, ample in volume and of suitable temperatures for drinking, cooking, bathing, washing, cleaning, and to cleanse all waste receptacles and like means for the reception, speedy and complete removal from the premises of all fluid and semi-fluid organic wastes and other impurities incidental to life and the occupation of such premises, including a safe and adequate supply of gases for lighting, heating, and industrial purposes. (Licensure with Division of Building Safety is required).( ) 111. 15510 Boiler and Steam Fitting. A specialty contractor who installs, services and repairs boilers and associated steam distribution systems. This category is limited to work not requiring a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) license issued by the Division of Building Safety.( ) 112. 15550 Chimney Repair. A specialty contractor whose primary business includes the cleaning or repair of multi-type chimneys, flues or emission control devices used to conduct smoke and gases of combustion from above a fire to the outside area.( ) 113. 15600 Refrigeration. A specialty contractor whose primary business includes the art, ability, experience, knowledge, science and expertise to construct, erect, install, maintain, service and repair devices, machinery and units for the control of air temperatures below fifty (50) degrees Fahrenheit in refrigerators, refrigerator rooms, and insulated refrigerated spaces and the construction, erection, fabrication and installation of such refrigerators, refrigerator rooms, and insulated refrigerator spaces, temperature insulation, air conditioning units, ducts, blowers, registers, humidity and thermostatic controls of any part or any combination thereof, in such a manner that, under an agreed specification acceptable refrigeration plants and units can be executed, fabricated, installed, maintained, serviced and repaired, but does not include those contractors who install gas fuel or electric power services for such refrigerator plants or other units.( ) 114. 15700 Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC). A specialty contractor whose primary business includes the installation, alteration and repair of heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Licensure by the Division of Building Safety as an HVAC contractor is required.( )
