If your home was built prior to 1978 and you are going to disturb the paint – i.e., sanding, sawing, then yes. For two reasons: 1) health concerns; and 2) The EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Paint rule.
The following paragraph is borrowed from the website For Renovation Pros
“The Renovation, Repair and Paint (RRP) Rule Summary: If you engage in a renovation, repair, and/or painting project that disturbs lead-based paint in pre-1978 homes, child care facilities and schools, you must be certified by the EPA (via training by an EPA-approved training provider). This pertains to work that disturbs more than a 6 sq. foot area (interior, non-HUD). The deadline for certification is December 31, 2010. Fines can run as high as $37,500 per infraction, per day.”
If you wonder why the contractor you are considering hiring is adding some costs to your remodel project to deal with lead based paint, that is why. He or she could suffer from large fines if they are not RRP certified and do not follow the guidelines set out by the EPA for renovations in homes with lead based paints.
If you might be considering ignoring the warnings and finding someone to do the remodel without the proper precautions to save costs, consider the heath risks, listed here from the EPA:
“Why Do You Need to Be Concerned About Lead?
Lead is a toxic metal that was used for many years in products found in and around our homes. Lead also can be emitted into the air from industrial sources and leaded aviation gasoline, and lead can enter drinking water from plumbing materials. Lead may cause a range of health effects, from behavioral problems and learning disabilities, to seizures and death. Children six years old and under are most at risk.
Most Common Sources of Lead Poisoning:
- Deteriorating lead-based paint
- Lead contaminated dust
- Lead contaminated residential soil”
Rose Construction, Inc. is an RRP certified firm and our employees are certified as well, through taking the EPA approved classes.
Rose Construction, Inc. certification
Due to some false negatives and false positives yielded by some kits during accuracy tests by the EPA, the agency recognizes only two DIY lead paint test kits that are available to home owners.
Most of the contractors I talk to around the Luzerne County area of Pennsylvania say that the city and the state officials don’t enforce the RRP rules so who cares what the EPA wants. They tell me they’re not going to shell out thousands of dollars to get certified just to be compliant with this nonsense. Most agree that it’s just a waste of time and hard earned money with todays economy the way it is for both them and the home owner. I have even been told by one contractor that even a local city inspector told him it’s a waste money, we don’t enforce it! So my question to you is; should I even be worried about getting certified if the local and state officials don’t even enforce the RRP rule? And, can the EPA really fine a small business that much money?