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EPA LEAD-SAFE CERTIFICATION REQUIRED SOON FOR LOCAL REMODELERS
April 15, 2010

MILWAUKEE, WI – The Milwaukee/NARI Home Improvement Council, Inc., the area’s leading home improvement and remodeling industry resource for more than 48 years, is making homeowners aware of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule that will take effect on April 22, 2010.  The regulations will require Remodelers working in homes built before 1978 to follow practices designed to minimize the exposure of residents to lead hazards.

According to Milwaukee/NARI president Diane Ausavich, CR, of Carl Krueger Construction, Inc., scientific studies indicate long-term lead exposure to children under the age of six can cause developmental problems.

A report by the President's Task Force on Environmental Health and Safety Risks to Children stated that approximately 24 million pre-1978 U.S. dwellings are at risk for lead-based paint hazards.  In light of these prominent health risks, contractors must complete accredited training to certify at least one person to supervise the renovation of target housing (pre-1978) homes, and the contracting firm must be a Certified Firm with the EPA if they intend to work in pre-1978 homes.

“The certification process teaches contractors lead-safe practices, how to build enclosures, how to properly clean areas on a regular basis, how to look for and know when containment may be required, and more,” Ausavich said.  “Lead training through an accredited program consists of an eight-hour class, followed by a written exam for the Lead Safe Renovators Certification.”

The first six hours are oriented towards understanding the dangers of lead and required lead-safe practices as identified by the EPA and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the remaining two hours are for hands-on training – the procedures for setting up the containment area, specific cleaning methods, the cleaning verification test, documentation and reporting, and the approved disposal practices of these hazardous materials.

Contractor firms who intend to work in pre-1978 homes are required to register their companies with the EPA.  Both Certified Firm registration and the Certified Renovator supervision are required under the RRP Rule.  Homeowners must be cognizant that these Certifications are mandatory for Wisconsin and are required to be accessible from the work site at all times.  The State of Wisconsin can require more stringent criteria in addition to the EPA's criteria, homeowners can obtain additional information on Wisconsin’s laws through the Lead Division of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/lead).

“The law requires the company’s Certified Renovator to supervise and be present on-site for things like setting up the work site, work area containment, and cleanup,” Ausavich said.  Certified Renovators are legally allowed to provide employees with less formal onsite lead training, as long as they supervise the lead-safe renovations.

Contractors are required to document the lead-safe work practices used during the project and keep those documents on file for a minimum of three years after completion.  The EPA's “Renovate Right” brochure must be signed by the homeowner to signal their awareness of lead safety and practices in their homes before work begins.  Homeowners can insist on having the Certified Renovator test for the presence of lead in their homes, and the Certified Firm must give homeowners a copy of the test results within 30 days of the completion of the RRP work.

The following is a checklist for homeowners living in pre-1978 homes:

• Verify that the contractor's firm is registered with the EPA.
• Verify at least one person is a Certified Renovator and has documented the training of the work crew and is supervising the work being completed in the home.
• Know that these certifications are accessible at the work site at all times.
• Firms must post signs before renovation begins, clearly defining the work area and warning occupants and other persons not involved in renovation activities to remain outside of the work area.
• Vacate the work area of any work activity during the renovation when feasible.
• Make sure to understand and sign the EPA's "Renovate Right" brochure.
• Remove all belongings from the immediate area of the renovation.
• Notice if the contractor is using plastic sheeting that is taped six feet beyond the perimeter of surfaces undergoing renovation; reusable cloth coverings are not acceptable.
• Renovators should be cleaning up and mopping daily to minimize dust contamination.
• Contractors must use HEPA vacuums and/or wet mopping to remove lead particles.
• Depending on the scope of project, renovators may be wearing disposable suits, to minimize their exposure to lead.
• All contaminated materials should be placed in heavy duty plastic bags before the contractor disposes of them.

The EPA also recommends that homeowners have Remodelers specify what the final lead inspection entails.  Currently, the RRP rule requires contractors to conduct a cleaning verification test that consists of wiping an area with a damp cloth and comparing the results with a cleaning verification card to ensure the sample matches or is lighter than the required sample.  If the surface within the work area is greater than 40 square feet, the surface within the work area must be divided into roughly equal sections that are each less than 40 square feet and wiped separately.

When selecting a contractor, Milwaukee/NARI also suggests consumers...

• obtain a contract for the work to be performed, including a start and end date, a description of the work to be performed, list of materials to be used, the project cost, and signatures of both parties.
• obtain a certificate of insurance from the contractor.
• determine if the contractor is licensed.
• ascertain who will be responsible for obtaining permits.
• determine if the contractor is a member of a local association such as Milwaukee/NARI.
• obtain and follow up with references.

The Milwaukee/NARI Home Improvement Council was chartered in July 1961, as a Chapter of the National Home Improvement Council.  In May of 1982, the National Home Improvement Council merged with the National Remodelers Association to form NARI – the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.

The Council’s goals of encouraging ethical conduct, professionalism, and sound business practices in the remodeling industry have led to the remodeling industry’s growth and made NARI a recognized authority in that industry.  With over 900 members, the Milwaukee Chapter is the nation’s largest.

For more information on the Milwaukee/NARI Home Improvement Council or to receive a free copy of an annual membership roster listing all members alphabetically and by category, and the booklet, “Milwaukee/NARI's Remodeling Guide,” call (414) 771-4071.