LEAD BASED PAINT

Common renovation activities such as sanding, cutting, and demolition can create hazardous lead dust and chips by disturbing lead-based paint, which can be harmful to adults and children. Lead poisoning interferes with the nervous system.

To protect against this risk, on April 22, 2008, EPA issued a rule requiring the use of lead-safe practices and other actions aimed at preventing lead poisoning. Under the rule, beginning in April 2010, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.

Concerned about your anticipated renovation? Here are some guidelines:

1. The rule applies to any home built before 1978
2. The rule applies to any surface disturbed over 6 square feet on the interior, 20 square feet on the exterior
3. By law, ANY contractor of any trade must be Certified by the state of NC for performing work on homes that match the above criteria
4. Approximately only 35% of pre-1978 homes contain lead based paint
5. CASE is certified to conduct a test for the presence of lead, NOT the amount of lead. WE ARE NOT CERTIFIED FOR REMEDIATION, ONLY RENOVATION. There is a difference.
6. If there is no lead, we do not need to use containment and disposal procedures beyond our customary procedures
7. If lead is present, we must use lead safe work practices which mean detailed procedures for record keeping, site containment, cleaning, and disposal.
8. Lead safe procedures will add anywhere from $75 - $1,000 to the cost of the job, depending on the size of the area requiring containment
9. Lead safe procedures are NOT optional for the client. CASE can be fined $32,000 for not following these procedures.
10. Very few contractors in Charlotte are currently certified
11. Our firm’s NC certification number is RRP0127
12. North Carolina is one of only three states whose rules preempt the EPA rules, therefore certification is only required with the state, not the EPA.

Let's all be safe so we can all be healthy.