Lead law will take effect in 2010, likely to impact your remodel!
Beginning in April 2010, federal law will require that contractors be trained to protect children and pregnant women from dangerous levels of lead. Signed in March of this 2008, the EPA’s “Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting Program” is the most important new effort to combat childhood lead poisoning in the last decade says the EPA.
The law will require contractors and maintenance professionals to be certified, and their employees trained. In addition, they must follow protective lead-safe work practice standards when renovation, repair or painting activities will disturb more than six square feet of lead-based paint in a room or when 20 square feet of lead-based paint is disturbed on the exterior.
Contractors will be required to post warning signs, restrict occupants from work areas, prevent dust and debris from spreading, conduct a thorough cleanup and verify that the cleanup was effective.
Two-thirds of homes and half of the schools and day care centers built before 1960 have some lead-based paint. These new requirements focus on those built before 1978, the year lead-based paint was banned, where children under the age of six are present or where an expectant mother resides.
Exposure to lead-contaminated dust is the most common way children get lead poisoning, which can cause serious behavior and learning problems in children and health problems in adults says the EPA.
By requiring certification, we will be able to identify those contractors who are trained in lead-safe work practices. It is likely all of this will add cost to our remodels as well.
For educational materials and brochures, please visit www.epa.gov/lead, or call the National Lead Information Center at 800-424-LEAD (5323).
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This is a very good thing. Contractors need to be constructive in society as well.
“I am here to serve.”
your a joke have you figured the cost of say ten windows with all the things your going to have to do if theres lead paint involved? just say i have ten windows on the average of 100 united inches the average cost for a vinyl replacement window is 450.00 pluss any extras like capping or grids put were just talking the average. 4500.00 installed now that will have to be doubled to cover the cost of the lead paint dust so your average window job will cost the consumer 9000.00 so think about it?
Stop trying to use this as a personal gain, you are in this like everybody else. You are a joke to everybody in your profession and you should be ashamed. You will get carma f-ed for that comment.
Window man is wrong!
you may think this is good i will agree children need to be protected but wait till you want something done to your home that has lead paint in it the cost of your home improvement job will double and may even triple in price for all that will need to be done the goverment is trying to weave out the small contractors there making all of us get trained in the removeal of leasd paint the test is very pricey the labor and materials to do your remoldling will double in price not only the contractors but the home owners will be effected
I honestly can’t believe that all anyone can complain about is the cost. I know many contractors who are lead certified and they don’t complain they just do their job. They are not big contractors either. Think about this, what happens if it was your child who got lead poisoning because someone tried to cut corners. Also it’s not just the children that are harmed it’s everyone. Lead dust is very dangerous and it should be contained.There are fines of up to $30,000 to any contractor who doesn’t follow the law, so it would cost alot more if you don’t get certified. If the only thing you can find wrong with the law is the amount of money it will cost you to do the work then maybe you need a career change.
I agree with Tony, this is new law is going to make it very difficult for a small remodeling business to stay in business. Just another way for the government to hurt the little guy. This new law is going to affect every aspect of my husband’s business. He may as well just pack things up and try and find work in another industry.
The homeowner may also opt out by signing a waiver if there are no children under age six frequently visiting the property, no one in the home is pregnant, or the property is not a child-occupied facility.
We need not to blow this out of proportion as most every thing is now. Above is from the bill itself. A homeowner may opt out!
I am looking for the language in the lead paint law that indicates that someone can opt out by signing a waiver. Can you tell me where that is at?
Dust can be controlled by converting any fan into a “Demo Air Net”, my reusable invention we designed for demolition of buildings from the 1800′s. It washes out clean and lasts for years.
I also take direct calls @ 636-221-0284
Patrick
Inventor
100 million from private business ? No problem says the govt.The day I go cover 10 foot out on a windy day around a 3 story exterior with plastic ,seal the doors and windows ,cover over top of bushes ,around trees ,and over the jacuzzi to collect a coffee can half full of chips ,vacuum my clothes ,sterilize my tools ,clean the roof , flashings ,gutters and everything else in the phantom zone by hand with static cloth I will email you back . 100 million no problem.
Our government is using this lead law to collect taxes and to force small business out of business. The people who made this crazy law have never worked in construction and have no clue the impact their new law will have.
House prices will drop, contractors will go out of business. Who in their right mind will want to buy a pre 1978 home knowing the liability and cost of working on it.
Some questions I would like answered about this law are:
1) When we clean up a job what are we supposed to do with our dirty lead water? Will we have to take it to a treatment facility? Did the epa factor that cost into the 35 dollars they figured their new rule will cost per job?
2) How can I powerwash a house?
3) If I am supposed to place plastic 10 fee from a house on all plants, grass and shrubs, how do I explain to the homeowner that all their plants will die but its the law?
4) The epa wants me to use plastic as ground cover 10 feet from the house ok fine but osha will not let me put a ladder on that plastic because its not safe. What do I do?
5) How do I keep my workers from getting heat stroke in June, July and August when they are completely covered in suits, gloves, respirators?
6) Did the epa factor in the cost of disposable suits which rip so easy my workers will need several a day?
Oh and I now responsible for all the lead dust that is on the surfaces and in the dirt before i even start work?
How will I protect myself from a neighbor who is freaked out when the see lead hazard signs and decide to sue me because they found some lead dust on their house. And know, that their house most likely had lead dust on it before I even started my job. Even if I do everything right i can be sued easily. All these old houses have lead. Anytime a double hung window is open and shut it creates lead dust.
Will my insurance rates go up?
Do I need to have the children tested for lead before I start work? They live in a lead house ,aybe I could do everything right and then get sued because the children have high levels of lead that they had before I started.
This law is bad for homeowners and contractors.
This law is great for lawyers and the government.
That is why training for contractors is key, your cost will not that much, most cost is about 2000.00 to 3000.00 for the year, and that is way most construction manager, school district and Engineers hire environmental consultants, if you follow the regulation to the letter using an environmental consultant you will bring your cost down.
Sounds like your an environmental consultant. I am a one man show contractor. For people like me that do all the work themselves or even have a small crew it is not only the cost of doing this but loss of productivity. Installing for one of the big box stores our preset re-imbursement cost for doing this falls way short of the real cost to stay at current level of work load. Less jobs done equals less money to live and operate on. This is just another BIG GOVERNMENT jab at business people. I don’t like being forced to do something like this. I don’t know bout the rest of you but I DON’T NEED A DAMN THING FROM THE GOVERNMENT !!!!! HELLO OPT OUT FORM!!! ( until the assholes take that away )
How about if all those people who are concerned about lead just live in lead free homes?? I personally would like to go back to using lead paint. I am very weary from having to repaint my house every couple of years. Lead paint was awesome! And, I might add, most of us grew up with lead paint and seem pretty ok. So what is the big deal??? My daughter tested for high levels of lead when she was young, have no idea how she got it, her pediatrician said not to worry about it so I didn’t. She’s 23 now and absolutely fine.
I repeat – WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL WITH THE LEAD???
I worked for many years with Adult Mentally Retarded and Dev Delayed folks….many who tested for HIGH levels of lead. Back in those days kids, adults…heck even pets were exposed and no one knew a thing about it. And, yes…it is PROVEN…there is a link between high levels of lead and neurological issues/intellectual delays. You wouldn’t be so coy if YOUR child is now one of those adults living in an adult care home, never truly able to reach their full potential! My heart ached for each and every one of them. Thank your lucky stars and God above that your child will never face the ridicule, and other hardships that these folks have. And all over a compound that made paint last longer and wear better!!! What a shame of human life.
You guys,
This is bad news for everyone, I kid you not. My contractor just left the class to get certified. The things the government will require are devastating. It is most definitely another sham under the guise of protection that will further detriment our limping economy through increased costs to all citizens but will provide millions to the government.
I ask, “What is the media going to do about this, and will it even be covered?
Since manufacturing has been all but removed from our country, construction and its sub occupations are some of the last remaining manufacturing industries for our country.
Everyone knows someone this will impact-
Is your home older than 1978? Your costs for work on your home will most likely will double.
Some requirements:
Require toxic waste removal for all debris from any activity on homes 1978 or older, drilling, sanding, painting, demo, ect-
Shaving cream required on the wall prior to drilling-
Sealed air suits for workers-
Plastic off large unreasonable areas at every job-
Fines, notices, whistle blowing, TURNING PEOPLE AGAINST ONE ANOTHER.
When people own, but the government controls, that is fascism.
Sorry to say that but that is exactly what this is.
Are we so undisciplined that we can’t do things right without handing power to a far great threat?
Why did people come to the US, and fight all the wars?
I ALSO THOUGHT ABOUT THE SAME POSSIBLE SCENARIO AS JOE. WHAT IF A HOMEOWNER PAINTED A ROOM IN THERE HOUSE AND CONTAMINATED THE AREA AND THERE KIDS,NOT WILLING TO TAKE RESPONSABILITY THEY HIRE A CONTRACTOR TO DO SOME WORK.EVEN IF YOU WORK ACCORDING TO ALL GUIDELINES SET BY THE EPA SOME PEOPLE MIGHT HIRE A GOOD LAWYER AND SUE YOU FOR ANY LEAD CONTAMINATION THAT THEY CAUSED. ALL THE RECORD KEEPING ISN’T GOING TO HELP WHEN YOUR UP AGAINST A BRILLIANT LAWYER. ALSO WHEN WE ENTER A HOME CAN WE POSSIBLY BE HELD LIABLE FOR ALL THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE IMPROPERLY OVER PAST DECADES.HOW DO WE PROVE THAT ANY OR ALL LEAD IN THE HOUSE WAS THERE BEFORE WE WERE. IF PEOPLE DON’T OPT OUT OR HAVE KIDS I THINK I WILL OPT OUT . IT’S NOT WORTH A 37,500 FINE ,COURT CASE, OR TARNISHED REPUTATION FOR A JOB THAT MAY AVERAGE 4000 DOLLARS. WATCH OUT FOR DISHONEST MONEY GRUBBING LAWYERS AND HOMEOWNERS.
has anyone thought of where the plastic bags and drop clothes are made are we in fact causing more af a problem that will Kill us All! ? most of this stuff will probably end up in a land fill and cause more harm than good not only from the ” Lead Paint” but from the plastic is made in other parts of the World with no restrictions on how its made and what its made with.
Not one of these people can spell or put a sentence together, but all of the above points
ring true. This law is impossible to comply with, and would cause more harm in compliance
Hey John, you forgot to put a period at the end of your second sentence. I just completed the epa course and was informed that the opt out clause was removed on 4/29/10. I also learned,as I suspected, that if you take a job that has lead present,[such as lead chips on the ground] they become your liability along with any deep soil contamination. Use extreme caution when making a decision on any house built before 1978.
The opt out law does not go into effect until july 6.
here is proof
2010http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-10100.pdf
To any of the folks out there who think you may be able to opt out ya can forget it. Thats gone. Any home built before 1978 has to be tested and if found to be positive must have the lead safe practice done. This as most of you have sighted is a big blow to all of us. The cost of the 6 mil plastic, the resperators and the blue suits along with the yellow warning tape the wash stations for exterior work and the time involved is going to kill alot of us out there. Just to let you know I work for one of the National Window Replacement companies and I haven’t been able to write a deal since we started putting this into effect on the 1st of June. Any suggestions? I am speaking to our district manager this week in regards to all of this and the only thought I could think of was to hire another independent contractor,( somebody out of work who will take the EPA course for 300 bucks ) supply him or her with the neccessary equiptment and send him the day before to put up the plastic. 20 bucks a window in my case. Most people probably wpoild not bauck at that and you’d be giving some one a new line of work. A lead prep contractor. As I said, ANY SUGGESTIONS!
Could this also be called the “Lead Removal Tax”? Wasnt this law written by Ben Dover??
To any of the folks out there who think you may be able to opt out ya can forget it. Thats gone. Any home built before 1978 has to be tested and if found to be positive must have the lead safe practice done. This as most of you have sighted is a big blow to all of us. The cost of the 6 mil plastic, the resperators and the blue suits along with the yellow warning tape the wash stations for exterior work and the time involved is going to kill alot of us out there. Just to let you know I work for one of the National Window Replacement companies and I haven’t been able to write a deal since we started putting this into effect on the 1st of June.
Our government should pay us, the contractor for this type of work.Not my fault the have it in homes. Let them foot the bill yeah you E P A you should pay me.
How can a bank or our government sell you a home full of lead. They are to blame for this. Think about it I bought a home not safe for me to live in from my hometown bank. thanks banker
Cool entry thanks, sending this to my mates asap.
Wow this really takes me back, i’ve been thinking about this subject for a while.
Great entry cheers, please consider a follow up post.
I enjoyed seeing this, where is your contact details though?