Lead Based Paint Certification
2011 Update: This is an update from last year’s post on EPA Lead Based Paint program. There have been reports of some enforcement of these regulations despite widespread misunderstanding and lack of knowledge amongst the public and service providers. Following are some update links for real estate professionals to consider:
- EPA Requirements
- EPA Authorized State Programs
- Information for Contractors
- Information for States and Tribes
- Information for Property Owners of Rental Housing, Child-Occupied Facilities
- Information for Homeowners Working at Home
- Information for Tenants and Families of Children under Age 6 in Child Care Facilities and Schools
- Information for Training Providers
- Information for Lead Test Kit Vendors
- Information for Realtors and Property Management Firms
- Post-Disaster Renovations and Lead-Based Paint
- Related Notices, Final and Proposed Rules, and Background Information on EPA’s Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program Rule
What does this mean for contractors on your projects? Well, this could be a BIG problem for fix and flip investors. Or it could be just a minor inconvenience. When was the last time your contractor went back to school? What happens if you get caught?
To be a certified renovator, contractors are required to take eight hours of training from an “accredited” service. Two hours must be “hands-on training.”
I can’t wait to see some bureaucrat training MY contractor! If that happens, the training certification is good for five years. The cost of this training is set by the providers, and of course these companies that will have to apply to be certified as qualified to certify other contractors. Sounds like a big bureaucratic mess.
Do you think you could find a certified “Lead Safe Renovator” today if you wanted to? Well, the Rule is effective on April 22, 2010. Here is a quote from the EPA website on April 24, 2010:
NOTE: Due to heavy demand, users may experience delays in searching for training providers and certified renovators. EPA regrets the delays and is working to improve the system.
If you are a contractor looking for a “school,” here is a short cut to the local accredited companies as of this writing. Its risky not to become certified, as fines for contractors who work in pre-1978 homes without EPA certification are rumored to be as high as $37,500 per incident per day!. Wow. How will the rule be policed? The EPA expects those who bother to get certified will police their own industry.
They are probably right because contractors who abide by the rules will have significantly higher costs and will lose bids to contractors who are not certified. This is of course the bad news for investors: our construction costs just went up! We just don’t yet know by how much. Ouch.
If you are an investor (or homeowner) looking to hire a certified contractor, I have words for you: Good Luck! In the meantime, watch out for the “spot checks” by the EPA on your job sites.
- EPA Lead Based Paint Certification Program
- EPA Lead Safe Accredited Renovation Training Programs in Denver
Links to more information:
- Contractor Fact Sheet
- Read other information related to the Renovation, Repair and Painting Program Rule.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
It awesome to stumble on a bit of extra information for doing renovations (or thinking about it). If you are looking for some really good tips, I also highly recommend checking Masterrenovator.com, the guy has good tips on things that can keep you out of trouble.
Although Senator Inhofe has succeeded in achieving a much needed delay of enforcement of the EPA lead paint rule, proposed is an even more onerous addition to the Renovator Rule. If enacted, the latest EPA revision will require laboratory dust clearance for even many small jobs, at a cost of hundreds of dollars per job. The testing could often cost more than the job itself.
The proposal also makes it illegal to use most of the HEPA vacs recently purchased for this purpose
A more complete analysis of the revision is posted at http://www.renovatorrules.com The EPA comment period ends July 6th. If you have concerns let the EPA, your US Senator and Congressmen know how you feel.