SECTION 1.

 The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) The State of California mandates certain bidding provisions to further policies such as public health and safety, restrictions on contracting with hostile foreign governments, contractor compliance with civil rights laws, and mandatory organic waste recycling. The State of California also contains materials preferences above and beyond building standards, such as preferences for materials with lower greenhouse gas emissions.

(b) The use of combustible drain, waste, and vent piping in buildings increases risks to firefighters, workers, and the public. Combustible pipes increase the risk of fire spreading and increases risks through spreading smoke or gas. When these pipes are heated, they release toxic gases and when they are burned, they release cancer-causing dioxins.

(c) These pipes begin off-gassing long before combustion at low heat levels such as when a fire first begins to smolder. By the time actual combustion begins, plastic piping can lose over 60 percent of its weight in the generation of hydrogen chloride, hydrogen cyanide, and hazardous gases. These fumes may injure or kill residents or firefighters much quicker during a fire than inhalation of carbon monoxide from burning wood. These fumes can also have a synergistic effect that causes cardiac deaths at levels of exposure that individually would not be lethal.

(d) Cardiac fatalities are the number one cause of death in the fire service and it is believed that some of these fatalities are the result of hydrogen cyanide exposures combined with carbon monoxide. In addition, studies have found that firefighters are at significant increased risk for certain types of cancer. Research has also found elevated levels of long-term respiratory and other health problems in firefighters from exposures to hazardous gases such as hydrochloric acid.

(e) Studies show that the solvent cement used to install noncombustible pipe is a significant contributor to ozone pollution, a major source of respiratory illness in California, and contains hazardous chemicals that put workers at risk for long-term illness.

(f) The International Association of Firefighters recently released a joint statement with the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters calling for limiting the use of combustible drain, waste, and vent piping in buildings.

(g) Combustible piping materials have low recycling rates and disposal can result in the release of dioxins, vinyl chloride, and other highly dangerous substances.

(h) The California Plumbing Code restricts the use of drain, waste, and vent plastic piping in multifamily homes, hotels, motels, nursing homes, hospitals, and healthcare clinics, but currently allows it in all other occupancies.

(i) North Carolina, Kentucky, British Columbia, Massachusetts, Chicago, and New York City all prohibit combustible piping in certain specified occupancies.

(j) In order to protect the public, workers, and emergency responders, California state agencies should specify the use of noncombustible drain, waste, and vent piping when contracting for construction of buildings.