Class Code 1699
Rock, Mineral Or Glass Wool Mfg
Class Code 1699 covers California employers who manufacture rock, mineral or glass wool products — insulation, acoustic panels, and specialty fiber products. This classification applies to operations that melt stone or glass and convert molten material into textile-like fibers; the September 1, 2026 approved pure premium rate is $1.891 per $100 of payroll. Understanding the scope and hazards of 1699 helps employers control costs and maintain regulatory compliance.
What Class Code 1699 Covers
This class covers manufacturing plants that produce rock wool, mineral wool or glass wool fibers and finished goods. Typical operations include melting raw feedstock (basalt, slag, glass cullet), fiberizing the molten bath with spinning or blowing equipment, applying organic binders, curing or ovens, cutting, machining and forming fiber mats or batts, and packaging finished insulation or acoustic products. Included employees are furnace and kiln operators, fiberizers and spinner technicians, binder applicator operators, oven/cure line attendants, packers, material handlers, quality control technicians and maintenance mechanics who service high-temperature equipment. Laboratory personnel performing product testing on-site are generally included if their duties are integrated with production; office staff such as clerical or sales personnel working off the plant floor are typically excluded under separate clerical classifications.
Who It Applies To
- Manufacturers of mineral wool and rock wool insulation and acoustic panels
- Glass wool insulation producers and fiberglass batt plants
- Furnace and kiln operators, fiberizer/spinner technicians and line attendants
- Maintenance mechanics servicing melting furnaces, pumps and cutters
- Quality control/lab technicians who handle sample preparation and testing
- Plants that blend raw rock, slag or glass cullet and operate curing lines
Common Job Duties
- Operating and monitoring high-temperature melting furnaces and feeders
- Running fiberizing equipment (spinners, blowers) and adjusting fiber diameter
- Applying phenolic or other binder resins and running curing ovens
- Cutting, trimming, compressing and packaging fiber batts, rolls or boards
- Routine maintenance on mechanical drives, burners, fans and ducts
- Housekeeping and dust control, including vacuuming collection hoppers
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $1.891 Rate
The approved pure premium rate of $1.891 per $100 of payroll is the base cost actuaries assign to the expected claim frequency and severity for Class 1699 in California. Insurers multiply this rate by an employer's payroll in hundreds of dollars to compute the pure premium, then adjust it for experience modification, policy provisions, payroll audits, and any schedule rating or premium discounts to arrive at the final charged premium. Factors that affect an employer's actual premium include their loss history, safety programs, payroll mix (production vs. clerical payroll), and participation in retrospective or dividend programs.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Key Cal/OSHA requirements for wool fiber manufacturing include compliance with the respirable crystalline silica standard (8 CCR 1532.3) when silica-bearing feedstock is used, implementation of a respiratory protection program (8 CCR 5144), and a written Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) under 8 CCR 3203. Employers must also comply with hazard communication rules for phenolic resins and other chemicals (8 CCR 5194), provide machine guarding, lockout/tagout for equipment servicing, and implement engineering controls and local exhaust ventilation to reduce airborne fibers. Regular exposure monitoring, medical surveillance where exposures exceed action levels, and documented training are essential to meet Cal/OSHA expectations.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 1699
A PEO like Key HR helps employers in Class 1699 by providing industry-specific loss control services, tailored safety training (furnace safety, respirator fit-testing, lockout/tagout), and centralized claims management to control claim costs and return-to-work outcomes. Key HR also streamlines payroll reporting and classification audits, negotiates workers' comp programs that can lower premium through group purchasing or safety credits, and ensures regulatory documentation (IIPP, respiratory program, hazard communication) is current for Cal/OSHA inspections.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Does a facility that only cuts and packages bought-in mineral wool products fall under Class 1699?
If the facility manufactures or converts molten rock or glass into fibers onsite (melting and fiberizing) it belongs in 1699. A plant that only performs cutting, compressing and packaging on purchased finished batts may qualify for a different production or material handling classification; payroll split and specific operations determine the correct class. A payroll audit and description of day-to-day operations will establish the right classification.
What practical steps reduce workers' comp claims and premiums for a rock/mineral wool plant?
Focus on engineering controls to reduce airborne fibers (local exhaust, enclosure of fiberizers), strict PPE and respirator programs, heat stress controls around furnaces, machine guarding and LOTO for maintenance, routine hearing protection, and a formal return-to-work program. Documented training and exposure monitoring lower claims frequency and support better experience modification factors.
What medical surveillance and PPE are typically required for employees in this class?
Employers should implement respirators when engineering controls cannot keep exposures below Cal/OSHA action levels and maintain a respiratory protection program with fit testing and medical evaluations. Provide protective clothing, gloves and eye protection to limit skin/eye contact with fibers and resins. Where silica exposures are possible, medical surveillance and periodic chest x-rays or exams may be required under the silica standard.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 1699
- Classification
- Rock, Mineral Or Glass Wool Mfg
- Pure Premium Rate
- $1.891 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
Manage Workers' Comp Through a PEO
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