The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) is considering changes to the factory assembled structures rules

State of Washington

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) is considering changes to the factory assembled structures rules. The changes affect L&I’s Factory Assembled Structures (FAS) Advisory Board, and distributing inspection insignia to manufacturers of recreational vehicles. These changes are necessary after passage of two bills in 2023 that took effect July 23: House Bill 1514 (HB 1514), and Senate Bill 5089 (SB 5089).

About the new laws

HB 1514 streamlines the plan review process. It allows manufacturers of recreational vehicles (RV) and recreational park trailers to request and purchase insignia while their plans are under review by L&I’s FAS Program. The metal labels mark the structure as meeting construction requirements.

SB 5089 was an L&I request bill that amends membership for the FAS Advisory Board. Changes include:

• Increasing the number of board members from nine to at least 11:
• Adding representatives for allied trades such as electricians, plumbers, and laborers;
• Adding diversity considerations for Board appointments; and
• Requiring members to apply for reappointment if serving consecutive terms.

The new statutory changes also make technical and clean-up changes under RCW  43.22 and RCW 43.22A.

The rule amendments under consideration include:

• Making changes to the plan review requirements for RVs and recreational park trailers for consistency with the changes to the statute under HB 1514; and
• Updating the FAS Advisory Board rules to align with SB 5089, including consideration of adding new members to the Advisory Board representing the allied trades and other regulated industries; and
• Making various updates and clean-up changes under chapter 296-49A WAC.

The changes would affect the following Washington Administrative Code (WAC) rules:

• Chapter 296-49A WAC, Director’s Factory Assembled Structures Advisory Board
• Chapter 296-150P WAC, Recreational park trailers
• Chapter 296-150R WAC, Recreational vehicles

Opportunities to comment

The agency filed a Pre-proposal Statement of Inquiry (CR-101) on Sept. 19. This formally starts the rulemaking process. L&I will seek input in the rule development from the FAS Advisory Committee and will consider other input from other interested parties.

You can find information about this rulemaking at https://www.lni.wa.gov/rulemaking-activity/?query=&ruleTopic=Factory+Assembled+Structures&ruleStatus=Open or https://lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/manufactured-modular-mobile-structures/laws-rules#rule-development.

We welcome your participation in this rulemaking process. If you have any questions or want to know how to participate in the rule development, please contact us at FAS1@Lni.wa.gov or call 1-800-705-1411, Option 3.

 

 

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