A legacy of old homes, businesses, and institutions, lead paint poses a health risk in deteriorating buildings, during renovations and demolitions, and with children present. If you find yourself in any of these situations, before any work for renovation – especially repainting interiors – you should (and may be required to) inspect and test for lead paint. Learn what a lead paint inspection entails and why it goes hand-in-hand with the Lead RRP process.
What is a Lead Paint Inspection?
Lead paint inspection of a home is a full-service investigation to locate the presence of any lead paint and where it’s located. Inspections can only legally be performed by certified inspectors or risk assessors, and are typically done prior to buying, renting, or renovating a home or if lead poisoning signs are present.
A Lead Paint Risk Assessment
Similarly, a lead paint risk assessment looks for any deteriorating paint in your home. Alongside determining the cause of the damage, this paint is also tested for lead along with a dust sample of the home. Unlike an inspection, undamaged surfaces are not tested, so a negative report does not mean there is no lead paint in the home, just the risk of current exposure is low. Both an inspection and assessment can be combined.
Lead Paint Inspection is Part of the Lead RRP Process
Especially because of this latter reason, when contractors perform repairs, renovations, and painting (RRP) on buildings at risk of lead paint – built prior to 1978 – they have to follow the Lead RRP Rule. This rule requires that contractors are certified and practice certain procedures to keep both workers and owners safe during work. Learn more in our blog, The Importance of RRP Certification for Contractors.
Looking at Renovating Yourself?
While the EPA recommends lead inspections in your home before renovations (and we recommend the same for lead and mold), you may decide instead to go it alone. If you do, it’s important to follow similar safety training yourself. See our blog, Worried About Lead Paint? Steps to Take Before Renovation, for steps on how to get started.
Keeping your home or business safe is vital to the health of your family and workers – especially since children are very susceptible to lead poisoning. Here at Fiber Control, Inc., we inspect and perform remediation on lead, mold, and asbestos at the same. Learn how we can help deal with these common health hazards in buildings both in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Contact us today to get started.
