EPA Certified Lead Paint Remodelers Scarce
A shortage of EPA-accredited trainers means that home owners planning a remodeling project this spring may not be able to find a qualified remodeler if a new regulation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) goes into effect as scheduled, according to the Florida Home Builders Association.
Beginning April 22, owners of homes constructed before 1978 will need to ask their remodeler if they are an "EPA Lead Safe Certified Firm” because only certified firms will be able to work legally in those homes after the LRRP rule goes into effect.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting rule governing the work of professional remodelers in homes where there is the potential of lead-based paint took effect April 22, 2010.
The rule addresses remodeling and renovation projects disturbing more than six square feet of potentially contaminated painted surfaces for all residential and multifamily structures built prior to 1978.
Additionally, the rule establishes required lead-safe work practices, including posting warning signs for occupants and visitors; using disposable plastic drop cloths; cleaning the work area with HEPA vacuuming and wet washing; and individual certification through a training course.
As of April 22, EPA will require all contractors working in homes built before lead paint was banned in 1978 to be trained and certified under the Lead Paint: Renovation, Repair and Painting rule (LRRP). Contractors subject to the rule include remodelers, carpenters, plumbers, heating and air conditioning workers, window installers and others.
The problem with the rule and EPS's implimentation of the rule is that EPA hasn’t approved enough trainers to enable contractors to be certified on time, and that’s going to put remodelers and their customers in quite a bind.
In fact, EPA has only approved 135 training providers and certified about 14,000 renovators in lead-safe work practices despite its own estimate that more than 200,000 contractors must be trained and certified. This will severely limit the number of remodelers able to work in older homes and will open the door to more fly-by-night contractors who will skip the training, skirt the law and put home owners at risk.
