HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2252
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO CERTIFICATION OF GAS TANKLESS WATER HEATERS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that certification requirements for the gas tankless, on-demand water heater option for a solar water heating system waiver application must be revised to be more accurate.  For quality assurance, the gas tankless, on-demand water heaters should be certified by a North American certification organization.

     SECTION 2.  Section 196-6.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a)  On or after January 1, 2010, no building permit shall be issued for a new single-family dwelling that does not include a solar water heater system that meets the standards established pursuant to section 269-44, unless the coordinator approves a variance.  A variance application shall only be accepted if submitted by an architect or mechanical engineer licensed under chapter 464, who attests that:

     (1)  Installation is impracticable due to poor solar resource;

     (2)  Installation is cost-prohibitive based upon a life cycle cost-benefit analysis that incorporates the average residential utility bill and the cost of the new solar water heater system with a life cycle that does not exceed fifteen years;

     (3)  A renewable energy technology system, as defined in section 235-12.5, is substituted for use as the primary energy source for heating water; or

     (4)  A demand water heater device [approved by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.,] is installed; provided that at least one other gas appliance is installed in the dwelling.  For the purposes of this paragraph, "demand water heater" means a [gas-tankless] gas tankless instantaneous water heater that provides hot water only as it is needed.  The demand water heater shall be approved by a North American certification organization, which shall include the Canadian Standards Association International; the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute; Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association; and any other similar organizations that are nationally or internationally recognized, independent, nonprofit organizations active and dedicated to products standards development and testing and certification."

SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act, upon its approval, shall take effect on July 1, 2014.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________
	BY REQUEST

Report Title:

Solar Water Heating Variances

Description:

Requires certification of gas tankless on-demand water heaters from a North American certification organization to include the Canadian Standards Association International; the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute; or the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association Certification Program, which list certified products and models.  Effective July 1, 2014.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.