New EPA ruling

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dreamsville

dreamsville

Senior Member
Location
Michigan
Remember that as of December 2008 the new EPA rule goes into effect regarding renovation contractors working on pre 1978 homes, child care facilities & schools. Go to the link below and make sure that you give your customer/parents a copy of this pamphlet before starting work. Even if you don't plan on disturbing more than the minimum work area it's a good idea to cover your butt.

Then in the next year or so plan on attending a one day seminar to become EPA certified to be an approved renovation contractor. April 2010 is the deadline date to become certified. :smile:

www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovaterightbrochure.pdf
 
tkb

tkb

Senior Member
Location
MA
So does this mean that you need to be certified in lead abatement just to cut in a receptacle?

I see this as an opportunity for a customer to sue for improper cleanup and exposure for a small job.
Also this will drive up the cost to the customer for any work by a legitimate contractor.

The craig list electricians will get more work as they fly by night.
 
Last edited:
mdshunk

mdshunk

Senior Member
Location
Right here.
tkb said:
So does this mean that you need to be certified in lead abatement just to cut in a receptacle?
Click to expand...
No. You just need to take the class and pass the little test on "lead safe work practices", which is totally different than abatement. You just need to know how to work around the stuff without getting it everywhere. I had to take that class almost 3 years ago to do work funded by government money, so I'm good to go.
 
Pierre C Belarge

Pierre C Belarge

Senior Member
Location
Westchester County, New York
For those who may not be able to download this document, here is one page that includes the date for compliance with the certification.

"
Beginning April 2010, federal law will require contractors that are hired to perform renovation, repair and painting projects in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 that disturb lead-based paint to be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.
Even before contractors that are hired to perform renovation, repair and painting projects in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 that disturb lead-based paint to be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.
Even before contractors are required to be certified and follow specific work practices, the contractor should follow these three simple procedures, described below:
[FONT=Helvetica Neue,Helvetica Neue]1. Contain the work area. [/FONT]The area should be contained so that dust and debris do not escape from that area. Warning signs should be put up and heavy-duty plastic and tape should be used as appropriate to:
[FONT=Monotype Sorts,Sorts]n [/FONT]Cover the floors and any furniture that cannot be moved.
[FONT=Monotype Sorts,Sorts]n [/FONT]Seal off doors and heating and cooling system vents. These will help prevent dust or debris from getting outside the work area.
[FONT=Helvetica Neue,Helvetica Neue]2. Minimize dust. [/FONT]There is no way to eliminate dust, but some methods make less dust than others. For example, using water to mist areas before sanding or scraping; scoring paint before separating components; and prying and pulling apart components instead of breaking them are techniques that generate less dust than alternatives. Some methods generate large amounts of lead-contaminated dust and should not be used. They are:
  1. Open flame burning or torching.
  2. Sanding, grinding, planing, needle gunning, or blasting with power tools and equipment not equipped with a shroud and HEPA vacuum attachment.
  3. Using a heat gun at temperatures greater than 1100?F.
[FONT=Helvetica Neue,Helvetica Neue]3. Clean up thoroughly. [/FONT]The work area should be cleaned up daily to keep it as clean as possible. When all the work is done, the area should be cleaned up using special cleaning methods before taking down any plastic that isolates the work area from the rest of the home. The special cleaning methods should include:
  1. Using a HEPA vacuum to clean up dust and debris on all surfaces, followed by
  2. Wet mopping with plenty of rinse water.
When the final cleaning is done, look around. There should be no dust, paint chips, or debris in the work area. If you see any dust, paint chips, or debris, the area should be re-cleaned."


As has been mentioned, there are some jobs today that are already requiring this certification. I think it would behove all who work in these types of buildings to start the ball rolling on the certification process.


Dreamsville
Thanks for the heads up. We see a ton of these buildings in the northeast.
 
dreamsville

dreamsville

Senior Member
Location
Michigan
You're all more than welcome

You're all more than welcome

Bph, I heard it through the grapevine.....here and there. Just thought I'd pass it on as the deadline was here for at the least giving the customer the pamphlet.
 
L

luckyshadow

Senior Member
Location
Maryland
tkb said:
So does this mean that you need to be certified in lead abatement just to cut in a receptacle?

I see this as an opportunity for a customer to sue for improper cleanup and exposure for a small job.
Also this will drive up the cost to the customer for any work by a legitimate contractor.

The craig list electricians will get more work as they fly by night.
Click to expand...

Doesn't it say in the very beginning something about disturbing 6 sq. feet ?
 
D

DuryElectric

New member
Lead hazard law

Lead hazard law

The EPA law which was signed back in 2005 is being phased in over time. as of December 2008 contractors must distribute a 34 page pamphlet to ANY and EVERY owner or tenet of any building that is determined to be at risk. the Contractor MUST complete a form and maintain records that prove the owner and/or tenet was served and received said pamphlet. In 2009 those persons or companys that wish to apply to offer certification training must become licensed to teach, in 2010 those who are NOW LICENSED to teach may begin teaching those who wish to become certified to test for lead. In New Jersey the application fee to become licensed to GIVE certification training is $1800.00 for each business and $1800.00 for each employee. and the license to actually TEST for lead (Sample a test swab) is $1800.00 these fees are good for a two year license and must be renewed. (exception for those who work ONLY for Indian reservations cost $15.00) In 2011 the full program will be in effect.

Basically prior to performing any work a contractor must determine if there is lead hazard. If the building was build after 1975, or if the owner supplied a lead free certification certificate, or if the owner is not pregnant,and if there are no children under 6 who occupy the building for more than 3 hours on more then 2 days per week, or if the extent of the work results in less than 6 square foot of surface being disturbed. then you are good to go. otherwise the owner has a choice. he can pay a certification company to determine if lead is present, or he can assume that lead is present..

(this is all before you start cutting holes)

The work area must be sealed off in with 6 mil plastic sheathing, a decontamination area must be created so that dust does not contaminate the rest of the building. the owners must move out of the house until the test results come back negative for lead dust. after the 6 recess lights are installed the area must be cleaned useing hepa filter vacuums, and damp dusting.

then the fun starts.... you have to A) pay an outside company to come in and test for lead dust, the company sends the wipes to an outside lab and you await the results, if you fail go back and re-clean

B) You become licensed to test for cleanup (BTW there are TWO licensed needed here... One license allows someone to take a test sample the other license allows the holder to perform the lab test

If you pass you can THEN and only then remove the plastic, and allow the family to return to the home.

This law was brought to you by your friends at the EPA, you remember them, they are the ones who turned a house into a super fund site because the owner dropped a compact florescent light bulb.

There is a LOT more involved to this law and further information can be found on the EPA web site.
 
weressl

weressl

Esteemed Member
Location
Texas by the Gulf, geat crab, great shrimp
DuryElectric said:
The EPA law which was signed back in 2005 is being phased in over time. as of December 2008 contractors must distribute a 34 page pamphlet to ANY and EVERY owner or tenet of any building that is determined to be at risk. the Contractor MUST complete a form and maintain records that prove the owner and/or tenet was served and received said pamphlet. In 2009 those persons or companys that wish to apply to offer certification training must become licensed to teach, in 2010 those who are NOW LICENSED to teach may begin teaching those who wish to become certified to test for lead. In New Jersey the application fee to become licensed to GIVE certification training is $1800.00 for each business and $1800.00 for each employee. and the license to actually TEST for lead (Sample a test swab) is $1800.00 these fees are good for a two year license and must be renewed. (exception for those who work ONLY for Indian reservations cost $15.00) In 2011 the full program will be in effect.

Basically prior to performing any work a contractor must determine if there is lead hazard. If the building was build after 1975, or if the owner supplied a lead free certification certificate, or if the owner is not pregnant,and if there are no children under 6 who occupy the building for more than 3 hours on more then 2 days per week, or if the extent of the work results in less than 6 square foot of surface being disturbed. then you are good to go. otherwise the owner has a choice. he can pay a certification company to determine if lead is present, or he can assume that lead is present..

(this is all before you start cutting holes)

The work area must be sealed off in with 6 mil plastic sheathing, a decontamination area must be created so that dust does not contaminate the rest of the building. the owners must move out of the house until the test results come back negative for lead dust. after the 6 recess lights are installed the area must be cleaned useing hepa filter vacuums, and damp dusting.

then the fun starts.... you have to A) pay an outside company to come in and test for lead dust, the company sends the wipes to an outside lab and you await the results, if you fail go back and re-clean

B) You become licensed to test for cleanup (BTW there are TWO licensed needed here... One license allows someone to take a test sample the other license allows the holder to perform the lab test

If you pass you can THEN and only then remove the plastic, and allow the family to return to the home.

This law was brought to you by your friends at the EPA, you remember them, they are the ones who turned a house into a super fund site because the owner dropped a compact florescent light bulb.

There is a LOT more involved to this law and further information can be found on the EPA web site.
Click to expand...

Yep: I am form the Government and here to help you.
 
tkb

tkb

Senior Member
Location
MA
tkb said:
So does this mean that you need to be certified in lead abatement just to cut in a receptacle?

I see this as an opportunity for a customer to sue for improper cleanup and exposure for a small job.
Also this will drive up the cost to the customer for any work by a legitimate contractor.

The craig list electricians will get more work as they fly by night.
Click to expand...

Like I said before...
 
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