What Homeowners Should Know About
The New EPA Lead-Safe Remodeling Rules
April 22, 2010 Ushers in a New Paradigm for Home Remodeling

Certified Lead-Safe Renovator Peter Lawton, wants homeowners to know about the EPA regulations going into effect on April 22, 2010, to protect their families from lead poisoning.

“If you live in or own a home that was built prior to 1978,” says Lawton, “you should only hire remodeling contractors who are Certified Lead-Safe Remodelers. The EPA is enforcing new rules as of April 22nd that will require contractors who do any project that breaks paint or creates dust in your home to have special certification and work with lead-safe techniques.”

Lawton first became aware of lead-safe remodeling almost a decade ago and was certified as a lead-free renovator at that time. He has conducted all of his projects with these guidelines, because he says it just makes good sense.

“When you consider that a child can get lead poisoning from just 10 micrograms of lead,” says Lawton who works hard to illustrate this issue to contractors. “One gram is the equivalent of a packet of low-calorie sweetener, so divide the content of just one packet into literally a million piles, then discard all but ten piles and you can visualize the small amount of lead that can poison a child. Lead poisoning can cause learning disabilities, decreased growth, hyperactivity, impaired hearing and brain damage. If there are greater amounts of lead, adults also can be impacted. “

According to Lawton, the EPA and trade organizations have been working to get the message out to contractors, however homeowners need to be vigilant when they hire contractors to assure that they have the appropriate training and certification to work on their homes.

“This should be just like asking for references or insurance,” said Lawton. “In the past there wasn't a mechanism to monitor this and homeowners who might have been concerned about lead paint in their homes when renovating didn't have the language or governmental guidance to protect themselves. Now they do.

“If you live in a home built before 1978, your contractor is obligated to provide you with the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) PLIR pamphlet, Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers and Schools ,” continued Lawton. “He then MUST use all methods required by the EPA in renovating your home. It doesn't matter how large or small the job is. Even replacing windows requires this method. Make sure to see their certificate of training.”

While Lawton has been asked to teach contractors in all six New England states, he primarily offers the 8-hour Kachina contractor certification courses in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.

“While the fines and penalties for contractors not in compliance are quite substantial,” said Lawton, “we're trying to communicate that working like this just makes good sense in maintaining health for contractors, their employees and their customers.”

For more information, visit the Lead Paint section of the EPA website