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Showing posts with label EPA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label EPA. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
An Overview of the Lead Paint Regulations for Contractors and Remodelers
Check out my newest article, An Overview of the Lead Paint Regulations For Contractors and Remodelers, for a quick overview of the new Lead laws that go into effect on April 22, 2010.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Countdown to the New Lead Paint Rules
Today is March 1st and in exactly 52 days, your life as a remodeler will change. That’s because on April 22nd, the EPA’s Lead Based Paint Renovation, Repair and Painting Program goes into effect.
If you have not yet begun the process of complying with this new law, you need to start asap. In the post What to do today to comply with the Lead Based Paint Program, I listed two things that must be done immediately: submit the EPA’s Renovator firm application and sign up for a lead safe work practices training class.
Equally important is to create your new operating procedures for dealing with the law. How will you comply? What steps will you take when a new lead calls in to determine if that home falls under the law? At what point in your process will you give the required pamphlet to the homeowner? Who will be responsible for that step and how will you document it? This new law will require a change to your current procedures. Be sure you know what you will do, who will do it and how. And write it down!
And remember, even if the home is built after 1977, you will still have to document that fact in your files. Yep, it’s more work. You need to look at your pricing, too. How will you bill the extra work required by the new law?
You’ve got a lot to do between now and April 22nd. Don’t wait. Write your new procedures now and put them into practice so you can work out any kinks.
If you have not yet begun the process of complying with this new law, you need to start asap. In the post What to do today to comply with the Lead Based Paint Program, I listed two things that must be done immediately: submit the EPA’s Renovator firm application and sign up for a lead safe work practices training class.
Equally important is to create your new operating procedures for dealing with the law. How will you comply? What steps will you take when a new lead calls in to determine if that home falls under the law? At what point in your process will you give the required pamphlet to the homeowner? Who will be responsible for that step and how will you document it? This new law will require a change to your current procedures. Be sure you know what you will do, who will do it and how. And write it down!
And remember, even if the home is built after 1977, you will still have to document that fact in your files. Yep, it’s more work. You need to look at your pricing, too. How will you bill the extra work required by the new law?
You’ve got a lot to do between now and April 22nd. Don’t wait. Write your new procedures now and put them into practice so you can work out any kinks.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
EPA's Lead Paint Rule May Affect Government's Retrofit Programs
Here is an excellent article from the NAHB about the EPA's Lead Paint Rule that goes into effect on April 22, 2010 and how it will affect the government's energy efficiency retrofit programs. An example of one arm not in sinc with the other.
Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Threatened By Lead Paint Rule
Federal weatherization and energy efficiency retrofit programs being developed by Congress and the White House are likely to come to a crashing halt on April 22, when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Lead Paint: Renovation, Repair and Painting rule goes into effect.
Read on for more . . .
Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Threatened By Lead Paint Rule
Federal weatherization and energy efficiency retrofit programs being developed by Congress and the White House are likely to come to a crashing halt on April 22, when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Lead Paint: Renovation, Repair and Painting rule goes into effect.
Read on for more . . .
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Are You Ready for the EPA's New Lead Paint Rules?
Beginning on April 22, 2010, remodeling is going to be a whole new ballgame. That’s when the new provisions will go into effect from the EPA which will affect remodeling and renovation of homes built before 1978.
The EPA passed a law in 1976 called the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to control substances determined to cause unreasonable public health or environmental risks. After determining that exposure to lead can cause health risks and impacts the environment, an amendment was added in 1999 to reduce lead contamination.
Fast forward to 2008 when the EPA passed changes to the TSCA that require contractors to be trained and certified in the use of lead safe work practices and to use lead safe work practices on any job involving lead paint. These changes go into effect in 2010 – April 22nd to be exact, which also happens to be Earth Day.
Lead safe work practices would require the remodeler to minimize dust, prepare and clean the work area, and contain lead dust. Since lead paint was banned in the US in 1977, these lead safe work practices only apply to homes built before 1978.
Also, you will be required to provide your customer with a pamphlet entitled “Renovate Right” before any work begins plus you will be required to get a signed acknowledgement from your customer that you did so and keep that acknowledgement in your files for a period of time as defined by the EPA.
You must employ a “Certified Renovator” who manages the jobs on any homes built before 1978 and is responsible for seeing that those on the job practice Lead Safe Work Practices.
And what if you don’t follow the EPA’s new rules and you get caught? Oh, a little fine of $37,500 PER DAY! Yep, that’s per day. There are a couple of exceptions which I’ll discuss in a later post, but for the most part homes built before 1978 will be subject to these new rules.
Want to know more? Visit the EPA’s website and I’ll be posting more information shortly.
The EPA passed a law in 1976 called the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to control substances determined to cause unreasonable public health or environmental risks. After determining that exposure to lead can cause health risks and impacts the environment, an amendment was added in 1999 to reduce lead contamination.
Fast forward to 2008 when the EPA passed changes to the TSCA that require contractors to be trained and certified in the use of lead safe work practices and to use lead safe work practices on any job involving lead paint. These changes go into effect in 2010 – April 22nd to be exact, which also happens to be Earth Day.
Lead safe work practices would require the remodeler to minimize dust, prepare and clean the work area, and contain lead dust. Since lead paint was banned in the US in 1977, these lead safe work practices only apply to homes built before 1978.
Also, you will be required to provide your customer with a pamphlet entitled “Renovate Right” before any work begins plus you will be required to get a signed acknowledgement from your customer that you did so and keep that acknowledgement in your files for a period of time as defined by the EPA.
You must employ a “Certified Renovator” who manages the jobs on any homes built before 1978 and is responsible for seeing that those on the job practice Lead Safe Work Practices.
And what if you don’t follow the EPA’s new rules and you get caught? Oh, a little fine of $37,500 PER DAY! Yep, that’s per day. There are a couple of exceptions which I’ll discuss in a later post, but for the most part homes built before 1978 will be subject to these new rules.
Want to know more? Visit the EPA’s website and I’ll be posting more information shortly.
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