Winnipesaukee Forum - View Single Post - Amilia's Law NH HB 1711 for safe gas and propane heating

CraigJosph · 02-11-2006, 03:22 PM

Next Step subcommittee mtg, Thursday 16, to address requests to modify the current proposal.

Great turn-out and interest in the bill, group had to move to House Chamber to accomodate. Most all speakers were in favor of licensing requirements. A large group of hearth/fireplace installers, that spoke of significant training and certification, while in favor of mandatory licensing, critically require changes in the proposed bill. To install, adjust, and vent their gas fireplace products, they would be required to become gas fitters. The prefer to have gas fitters hook up the appliances (fireplaces) and then they take it from there: adjusting performance and venting. They request that the bill consider seperation of the roles; they don't want to become gas fitters and they doubt that gas fitters want to vent fireplaces. Some of them proposed that the currrent voluentary law covering heating systems, simply be switched to mandatory (licensing); apparently that addresses their concerns and would separate roles and licenses and they said that would be a better way to go than using the proposed bill..... again, they support licensing, if specified properly.

I believe that group strongly influenced the written votes, which, I think were 11 in favor and 18 against. Since most speakers against wanted wording changes...and there's not a way for voting for the bill, but with changes...they must have voted against.

However, even with bill modifications to address the hearth industry, I believe we still have an up hill battle and opposition for any licensing.

02-11-2006, 03:22 PM	#25
CraigJosph Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ash Cove Posts: 18 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for the support! Next Step subcommittee mtg, Thursday 16, to address requests to modify the current proposal. Great turn-out and interest in the bill, group had to move to House Chamber to accomodate. Most all speakers were in favor of licensing requirements. A large group of hearth/fireplace installers, that spoke of significant training and certification, while in favor of mandatory licensing, critically require changes in the proposed bill. To install, adjust, and vent their gas fireplace products, they would be required to become gas fitters. The prefer to have gas fitters hook up the appliances (fireplaces) and then they take it from there: adjusting performance and venting. They request that the bill consider seperation of the roles; they don't want to become gas fitters and they doubt that gas fitters want to vent fireplaces. Some of them proposed that the currrent voluentary law covering heating systems, simply be switched to mandatory (licensing); apparently that addresses their concerns and would separate roles and licenses and they said that would be a better way to go than using the proposed bill..... again, they support licensing, if specified properly. I believe that group strongly influenced the written votes, which, I think were 11 in favor and 18 against. Since most speakers against wanted wording changes...and there's not a way for voting for the bill, but with changes...they must have voted against. However, even with bill modifications to address the hearth industry, I believe we still have an up hill battle and opposition for any licensing.