STAND. COM. REP. NO.  815-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 2252

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 2252 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CERTIFICATION OF GAS TANKLESS WATER HEATERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to ensure that gas tankless, on-demand water heaters meet appropriate performance requirements, with regard to new single-family residential construction.

     More specifically, this measure amends section 196-6.5(a), Hawaii Revised Statutes, by requiring that gas tankless, on-demand water heaters be certified by a North American certification organization, rather than Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.

The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism testified in support of this measure.

     Your Committee finds that section 196-6.5(a), Hawaii Revised Statutes, requires all new single-family dwellings, built on or after January 1, 2010, to include a solar water heating system, unless a variance is approved.  One of the reasons a variance might be approved is if the dwelling were equipped with a properly certified gas tankless, on-demand water heater.  Under current law, such a water heater must be certified by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.  This measure deletes reference to Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., and requires that a gas tankless, on-demand water heater be certified by a North American certification organization, including the Canadian Standards Association International, the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute, and Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association.  Your Committee believes that this will improve the accuracy of the variance application system and result in greater safety for consumers.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2252 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair