Are you planning a remodeling, renovation, repair or painting project on your home? Was your home built before 1978? If you answered yes to those two questions you may want to read on about how this new law will effect you, and what you should expect from the people working on your home.
Starting April 22, the EPA will require remodelers working in homes built before 1978 to follow practices designed to minimize the exposure of residents & workers to lead hazards.
I recently completed training on this law in order to become a Certified Lead Renovator. I can't possibly share all the information I learned in this 8 hour (hands on) training course, in this blog. But I thought I would share some of the key points. Or, you can click on the EPA links below to get more information.
This new law is an attempt to prevent lead poisoning in you, your family, and the people working on your home. But again the law only applies to homes built prior to 1978. However, you may still be interested if you have children under the age of 6 years old. The manufacturing of lead based paints was “outlawed” in 1978, but lead additives could still be added by painters and finishers. Lead additives help to make paint more durable and keeps it’s color, so painters liked using the lead additives.
To help prevent lead poisoning, this law outlines the steps to take in order to help prevent and contain the lead that may be in the dust created by work on your home. Dust containment is the key. The law does not address lead abatement (total removal of all lead based products), but simply the spread of the lead particles in the dust created during renovations, etc.
A Certified Lead Renovator can perform a test on some surfaces to detect the presence of lead, but most experts seem to feel you should assume there is lead present if your home was built prior to 1978. Based on that assumption, or test results, the dust created by the work needs to be contained in the work area following specific guidelines. The following are just a few of the many procedures and steps that must take place:
• An EPA brochure entitled “Renovate Right” must be given to the home owner before work begins.
• Warning signs must be posted at each doorway into the work area.
• Dust must be contained in the work area with the use of specific plastic sheeting.
• There are restriction on the type and process for sanding painted surfaces.
• When cleaning up the work area, all dust and debris must be sealed in a plastic bag before being removed from the work area.
• HEPA vacuum cleaners should be used during clean up, and wet mopping is recommended in lieu of sweeping whenever possible.
• Upon completion of the work, the Certified Lead Renovator will perform a test to ensure that the majority of the dust is not on any horizontal surfaces like flooring, countertops and window sills.
The law also establishes safe work practice for the people working on the project. This may include protective clothing, shoe covers, eye protection and even respirators. And all workers must be trained by the Certified Lead Renovator.
The test note above, and all these procedures, do not guaranty that there is no lead present, or lead dust present. But the test will help ensure that the majority of the dust caused by the renovation has been properly cleaned up. And the procedures ensure that the dust is contained in the work area, and not spread to other areas of the home. While also protecting the trades people working on your home (i.e. OSHA!).
If you are concerned about the amount of lead that may be in your home you can hire a Certified Lead Paint Inspector, or Certified Lead Risk Assessor do testing on your home before and upon completion of the work. But this is not required by law.
While this new law will add some cost to certain projects, I think the benefits of protecting you, your family and the people working on your home are worth it. Feel free to contact me if you have any other questions or concerns, or again the links are very helpful.
Robin Wilson, eco-friendly home design expert and a pioneer in the green home movement, is helping spearhead a complete renovation of the private residence of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. which is being rebuilt after a flood and infestation of black mold. The original 1920s Colonial, located in Westchester County, NY was demolished and the new masonry home is scheduled for spring 2010 completion. This gold LEED certified Kennedy Green House will serve as living laboratory for designers, architects and consumers to learn about the latest in green building technologies and eco-friendly products.
“Our team has worked with the architects, builder and client to engage in far-reaching discussions about the best ways to ensure that the project remains on the cutting edge in terms of design, and it is quite exciting to know that my kitchen line will be in three spaces in the home. We used three different styles painted maple, bamboo and stainless steel, so that consumers can see the wide range of the RWH Custom Cabinetry line,” said Wilson.
