• Property owners that own homes or buildings built pre-1978
• Contractors that work on homes or buildings built pre-1978

Lead paint is a health hazard for both children and adults as well as household pets.  The new stricter EPA regulations are designed to ensure those contractors that disturb lead painted surfaces, due so in such a way that protects themselves and the  inhabitants from lead poisoning.

The rule which becomes effective in April 2010,  requires only EPA certified individuals to perform this work.  Contractor is broad term that could include a number of various trades people that may work on the target pre-1978 built homes and buildings.  These  may include:  plumber, electrician, handyman, renovator, mason, carpenter, painter, roofer, hvac contractor, remodeler and others.

Those contractors and trades people caught not following the new guidelines can face a fine of $32,500.

As of December 2008, contractors that disturb lead painted surfaces are required to provide the EPA brochure titled  Renovate Right:  Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers and Schools to homeowners prior to commencing work.

From the Environment Protection Agency:
Federal law requires that individuals receive certain information before renovating six square feet or more of painted surfaces in a room for interior projects or more than twenty square feet of painted surfaces for exterior projects in housing, child care facilities and schools built before 1978.
-Homeowners and tenants: renovators must give you this pamphlet
before starting work.
-Child care facilities, including preschools and kindergarten classrooms,
and the families of children under the age of six that attend those facilities: renovators must provide a copy of this pamphlet to child-care facilities and general renovation information to families whose children attend those facilities.

Also, beginning April 2010, federal law will require contractors that disturb
lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities and schools, built before 1978
to be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. Therefore beginning in April 2010, ask to see your contractor’s certification.

For additional information, visit the EPA website.

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