CasaVerde: Lead Paint & New Government Mandates

Hi Everyone-
GREAT show! A BIG thanks to Ada Duffey of Milwaukee Lead/Asbestos Information Center (www.mlaic.com) & Dana Wilson (show friend) of Safeguard Home Inspection for sharing such phenomenal information on this new law. Here we go:

As of April 22, 2010 contactors/homeowners/landlords are required to “renovation work will be regualted when performed for compensation in a swelling or child-occupied facility built before 1978 and it disturbs 6 sq ft or more of INTERIOR paint/stain per room or 20 sq ft or more of EXTERIOR paint/stain and/or involves windows. This includes rental property owners & management companies and their employees:

  • This includes ALL residential, daycare and kindergarten spaces. Ada mentioned that some states have “exclusions” for homes with OUT children or pregnant women (?) that they can file for an exclusion to not have to comply.
  • There must be 1 certified Lead-Safe person per crew (check out www.dhs.wi.gov/lead in WI or your state’s DHS site to find). This person shall train rest of the crew & ensure that all lead-safe practices are adhered to & that proper clean-up of any LEAD DUST is taken care of.
  • The wearing of HZMAT suits is not as a result of THIS legislation but that of a 1993 OSHA ruling that is for worker protection.
  • The reason the year 1978 was “chosen” is due to this being the year that the Consumer Products Safety Law regarding lead paint went into affect. This law stated that all paint manufactured from then on could NOT contain more than .06% lead. This includes stains & varnishes.
  • Dana also mentioned the importance of using a HEPA vacumn in ALL clean-up!
  • This law does NOT address lead coming into the home from outside WATER sources (i.e. pipes or duct work).
  • If your space fits the above classification, do not be afraid to ask for the contractor’s certification…do NOT assume they have gotten the proper training.
  • In a real estate transaction, this DOES get asked in homes older than 1978! If you are planning on selling your home & have had renovation done but did NOT adhere to new law, you could be held liable if not disclosed properly.

I hope you all are a little more clear on this new law & that it helps in your upcoming renovation projects of any older home.