Renovating Your Home Safely
Lead-Safe Home Renovation
Renovation, remodeling, routine maintenance: these are activities that can create lead hazards. If you are a homeowner or tenant, property manager, or professional contractor, the law requires you to know about, and practice lead-safe renovation methods.
As a general rule, the older a residence is, the greater the chance that it will have lead-based paint. If the residence you own, rent, or manage, was built prior to 1978, you should assume that it poses a potential lead hazard.
If you are removing paint in your own home which was built prior to 1978, section 14.2(a) of the Rhode Island Rules and Regulations for Lead Poisoning Prevention  allows an exemption for "spot removal." "Spot removal" involves disturbing lead paint in areas of less than fifteen square feet (15 ft²) in a dwelling, and less than three square feet (3 ft²) in a common area, provided that no room or common area contains more than (4) four components with damaged lead-based paint.
Every time the surface of lead-based paint is disturbed in some manner; a lead-based paint hazard is created. There are, however, certain simple procedures that professionals, homeowners, and renters can use to reduce these hazards safely.
Take precautions before you, or your contractor, begin renovations or remodeling which will disturb more than than fifteen square feet (15ft²), of lead- based painted surfaces in a dwelling, or more than three square feet(3ft²) in common areas. See the resources listed below.
Do not use a belt-sander, propane torch or heat gun at temperatures over 1,000 °F, dry scraper, or dry sandpaper to remove lead-based paint. These actions can create large amounts of fumes and dust, which can remain in your home long after any work has been completed.
 Temporarily move your family out of the apartment or house until all work has been completed and the area has been properly cleaned. This is especially important if pregnant women and/or children under the age of 6 are present in the home.
The Environmental Lead Program maintains a
listing of licensed Rhode Island:
Advice on finding a qualified Lead Professional for your home
Remember that EPA requires that all Remodelers who perform renovations and remodelings for profit must comply with the “Pre-Renovation and Education Rule" concerning the hazards of Lead-Based paint, before beginning any renovation on residences built prior to1978. This requirement became effective in June1999.
Remember, lead may be present in Soil and Water!
Soil
Soil can pick up lead from exterior paint, or other sources such as past use of leaded gas in cars.
Q. How Are Soil Samples Collected And Analyzed?
A. Soil samples are collected from bare soil areas (soil with no grass or other covering) near your home where children play and from bare soil area near the house foundation or drip line.
Optional sampling areas are gardens, pathways, and pet sleeping areas.
Samples are collected by coring or scooping methods that take the top half-inch of soil. Samples of non-bare
soil may sometimes be collected.
Q. What Do The Results Of Soil Testing Mean?
A. Results of soil samples are expressed as a weight of lead per unit weight of soil, usually in parts per million. For example, a soil sample result may be 300 parts per million. This is written 300ppm.
The certified lead-based paint professional will help you interpret the results of the soil testing.
For more information, contact ; NLIC at 1-800-424-LEAD or visit The EPA Website.
Drinking Water
Your home might have plumbing with lead or lead solder. Call your water supplier to find out about testing your water.
You cannot see, smell, or taste lead, and boiling your water will not get rid of lead. If you think your plumbing might have lead in it:
- Use only cold water for drinking and cooking.
- Run water for at least one minute before drinking it, especially if you have not used your water for a few hours.
More Information on How to Make Your Home Lead Safe
For further information on making your home Lead Safe, please consult the EPA website. |
