on april 22, 2010 a new law went into effect passed and enforced by the EPA.
the law requires that any work to be done on a pre 1978 built home and involvies disturbing more than 6 sq ft interior and 20 sq ft exterior be tested for the presence of lead paint and if found that safe work practices be employed.
if using a contractor for the work it must be tested by a certified renovator from a certified firm. homeowners can do their own testing and work but still must use safe work practices and recordkeeeping as prescribed by the law.
to become certified a contractor must take an eight hour class and register the firm. This costs about 800.00
tooling up for the use of safe work practices would cost about 1000.00 minimum depending on size of company.
additional liability insurance if you can get it will be another 1 to 2000 per year and probably more. homeowners and contractors working on pre 1978 homes with lead paint present are opening themselves up to huge liabilities due to the toxicitiy of airborne lead to everyone but especially children and pregnant women.
this law has teeth too. people found in violation of the laws will be fined a minimum of $37,500.00 per day per occurence. willfully breaking the law can and has invloved jail time for fraudulent recordkeeping.
soooo.... when contemplating that next project .....when was the house built?
is the contractor bidding the work qualified?
since this is a new law many contractors and property managers are not even aware of it yet. the days of handymen doing work on pre 1978 housing are over.
the law requires that any work to be done on a pre 1978 built home and involvies disturbing more than 6 sq ft interior and 20 sq ft exterior be tested for the presence of lead paint and if found that safe work practices be employed.
if using a contractor for the work it must be tested by a certified renovator from a certified firm. homeowners can do their own testing and work but still must use safe work practices and recordkeeeping as prescribed by the law.
to become certified a contractor must take an eight hour class and register the firm. This costs about 800.00
tooling up for the use of safe work practices would cost about 1000.00 minimum depending on size of company.
additional liability insurance if you can get it will be another 1 to 2000 per year and probably more. homeowners and contractors working on pre 1978 homes with lead paint present are opening themselves up to huge liabilities due to the toxicitiy of airborne lead to everyone but especially children and pregnant women.
this law has teeth too. people found in violation of the laws will be fined a minimum of $37,500.00 per day per occurence. willfully breaking the law can and has invloved jail time for fraudulent recordkeeping.
soooo.... when contemplating that next project .....when was the house built?
is the contractor bidding the work qualified?
since this is a new law many contractors and property managers are not even aware of it yet. the days of handymen doing work on pre 1978 housing are over.
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