New EPA lead paint renovation repair and painting regulations to help prevent lead poisoning. All contractors must be certified by April 2010.
Who should take notice of the new rules?
- Property owners that own homes or buildings built pre-1978
- Contractors that work on homes or buildings built pre-1978
Lead paint is a health hazard for both children and adults. The new stricter EPA regulations are designed to ensure those contractors that disturb lead painted surfaces, due so in such a way that protects themselves and the inhabitants from lead poisoning. Certified renovators must perform any work that disturbs six square feet or more of interior lead painted surfaces (20 square feet or more on the exterior).
The new rule which becomes effective in April 2010, requires only EPA certified individuals to perform this work. Contractor is broad term that could include a number of various trades people that may work on the target pre-1978 built homes and buildings. These may include: plumber, electrician, handyman, renovator, mason, carpenter, painter, hvac contractor, remodeler and others.
Those contractors and trades people caught not following the new guidelines can face a fine of $32,500.
Contractors and property owners need to know that if a home was built prior to 1978, there is a good chance it contains some lead paint. Before any work is performed that may disturb painted surfaces, a contractor is now required to provide this pamphlet www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovaterightbrochure.pdf. On April 22, 2010, all contractors performing work on pre-1978 homes and buildings must be certified by the EPA.
If you are doing any work yourself as a do it yourself project, there is some good information on lead paint hazards at www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovation.htm
From the Environment Protection Agency:
Federal law requires that individuals receive certain information before renovating six square feet or more of painted surfaces in a room for interior projects or more than twenty square feet of painted surfaces for exterior projects in housing, child care facilities and schools built before 1978.
-Homeowners and tenants: renovators must give you this pamphlet
before starting work.
-Child care facilities, including preschools and kindergarten classrooms,
and the families of children under the age of six that attend those facilities: renovators must provide a copy of this pamphlet to child-care facilities and general renovation information to families whose children attend those facilities.
Also, beginning April 2010, federal law will require contractors that disturb
lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities and schools, built before 1978
to be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. Therefore beginning in April 2010, ask to see your contractor’s certification.
For additional information, visit the EPA website