Be
aware of tougher EPA rules regarding toxic paint
In
the course of a remodel, painting is often one of the final and
easier tasks on the way to completion.
New lead-based
renovation, repair and painting requirements from the
Environmental Protection Agency, however might make that final
hurdle a bit more difficult to cross if the remodel involves a
home build before 1978, when lead-based paints were commonly
used.
Under the new
RRP rules, contractors must be EPA-accredited renovators who
follow lead-safe work practices, including contain the work
area, minimizing paint dust and cleaning up thoroughly, sys Gene
Burch, an RRP renovator instructor with RTK environment Group in
Stamford, Conn. These
extra measures “add extra time to the renovations, which will
in turn, add to the cost of each project,” he says.
Before hiring a
contractor, confirm that the vendor is a lead-safe certified
firm and displays the EPS’s official new logo, which indicates
this, says Dana Deem of Window World.
Visit http://www.epa.gov/lead/index.html
to learn more about lead home hazards and more details
about RRP rules.
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