Was Your Home Built Prior To 1978?
If It Was, This Is A Must Read!
Da Vinci Remodeling News Alert
February 15, 2010
Beginning April 22 of this year, a new EPA Rule kicks in that will have a dramatic effect on owners of homes constructed before 1978 and the contractors that work on them. The ruling is called the RRP (Renovation, Repair and Paint) rule and deals with the warnings, testing and handling of painted surfaces that may contain lead.
In this article we’d like to provide just a general overview of the rule, identify some of the implications of the rule and direct you to the actual link to the rule. If you own rental property, you’ll need to thoroughly review the rule and its impact on any work that will be done to your rental property – even if you do it yourself.
Overview
The EPA has identified that homes constructed before 1978 carry a higher risk of the presence of lead paint. RRP specifies that the disturbance of painted surfaces (i.e. paint scraping, window replacement, remodeling demolition, etc.) further increase the potential of lead poisoning. RRP requires that remodeling contractors (that does include painters who will disturb a painted surface) provide remodeling customers with an information packet containing the risks involved, the lead paint testing requirements and the appropriate methods of containment.
The rule further requires remodeling contractors to become Certified Renovators by attending classes on the best practices of testing for lead paint as well as handling, containment and disposal of painted surfaces. The rule also requires Certified Renovators to register their company with the EPA to attain Certified Firm designation.
RRP also requires Certified Renovators to create and retain considerable documentation regarding the remodel of a pre 1978 home.
What does this mean to you, the owner of a pre 1978 home?
First, hire only certified contractors to work on your home. Request to see the company’s certificates.
Second, prepare yourself for increased remodeling costs. Certified Firms will have considerable additional costs in education, certification, documentation, equipment, containment materials and the best practices for containment require additional time requirements.
Don’t shortcut the rule. If lead is present it needs to be dealt with appropriately. The risk to you, your family and the contractor are high. Also the fines for noncompliance are stiff – up to $37,500 per occurrence, per day.
The link below will take you directly to the EPA’s RRP Rule as filed in the Federal Register. If you plan to print it, make sure your printer has enough ink – the PDF version of the document is three columns per page and 79 pages long.
Over the last few months we have discussed in length the rule with homeowners and other contractors. From these conversations we have developed a list of frequently asked questions. In the next few days we will post to our website this Q & A. We think this is the best method to convey this very important information.
This article makes our regular closing difficult. But we’ll do it anyway.
Enjoy!
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