If you own or live in a property built prior to 1978, this information about lead-based paint may affect you

As of Earth Day, April 22nd, 2010, new regulations were put into place by the EPA prohibiting contractors and rental property owners from performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978, without being certified to deal with lead-based paint.

The rule will affect paid renovators who work in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities, including:

• Renovation contractors
• Maintenance workers in multi-family housing
• Painters and other specialty trades.

Under the rule, child-occupied facilities are defined as residential, public or commercial buildings where children under age six are present on a regular basis.

The requirements apply to renovation, repair or painting activities. The rule does not apply to minor maintenance or repair activities where less than six square feet of lead-based paint is disturbed in a room or where less then 20 square feet of lead-based paint is disturbed on the exterior. Contractors and rental property owners involved in work that exceed these limits must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. Window replacement is not considered minor maintenance or repair, and is therefore exempt.

The EPA recommends that ANYONE (contractors and property owners) performing renovation, repair, and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in pre-1978 homes, child care facilities and schools follow lead-safe work practices.

According to the EPA's website:

* All contractors should follow these three simple procedures:
o Contain the work area.
o Minimize dust.
o Clean up thoroughly.

After April 22, 2010, property owners who perform these projects in pre-1978 rental housing or space rented by child-care facilities must be certified and follow the lead-safe work practices required by EPA's Renovation, Repair and Remodeling rule. To become certified, property owners must submit an application for firm certification and fee payment to EPA. EPA will begin processing applications on October 22, 2009. The Agency has up to 90 days after receiving a complete request for certification to approve or disapprove the application.

Property owners who perform renovation, repairs, and painting jobs in rental property should also:

* Take training to learn how to perform lead-safe work practices.
* Learn the lead laws that apply to you regarding certification and lead-safe work practices beginning in April 2010.
* Keep records to demonstrate that you and your workers have been trained in lead-safe work practices and that you followed lead-safe work practices on the job. To make recordkeeping easier, you may use the sample recordkeeping checklist that EPA has developed to help contractors comply with the renovation recordkeeping requirements that will take effect in April 2010.
* Read about how to comply with EPA's rule in the EPA Small Entity Compliance Guide to Renovate Right.
* Read about how to use lead-safe work practices in EPA's Steps to Lead Safe Renovation, Repair and Painting.

To find out more about the risks of lead-based paint, please view the EPA pamphlet titled Protect Your Family From Lead In Your Home.

For a list of contractors who are certified to work with properties containing lead-based paint, please click here. The link contains EPA lead-safe certified firms.

For information about testing for lead-based paint, please click here.


A couple local contacts for lead-based paint testing in Arizona:
For on-site testing by certified lead inspector: ECS Environmental Services
For lab testing of paint samples