If you are planning to remodel an older home, this article will certainly interest you!
The rules just got a little tougher for remodelers getting ready to deal with lead paint renovations next year.
Starting in April, remodelers will have to meet certain standards when renovating pre-1978 homes. (You can read more about that in my interview with NAHB Environmental Policy Analyst Matt Watkins.)
There’s big news on the lead paint front today, though. The EPA just announced they have settled a lawsuit with the Sierra Club and although the language is as vague as you would expect from a government agency, it appears to change a few things that will make life more difficult for remodelers.
The Sierra Club lays it our more succinctly in their news release.
As far as I can tell, there are two major changes.
1. Remodelers will be required to have certified professionals test the home for lead after renovations instead of testing it themselves using the “wipe test.” This rule will be finalized before July 2011.
2. Homeowners won’t be able to opt out of the rules as they were before. The original rule allowed homeowners without children to sign a waiver that allowed the remodeler not to follow all of the new regulations. This change will take effect when the regulations do in April 2010.I’m trying to chase down some more info on this to make sure I didn’t miss anything, but NAHB is on furlough this week, so their regulatory team, which has been the best source of info on this is unreachable.
UPDATE 8/27: After talking to some more people, seems I did read this right, except that the rules aren’t quite cut-and-dried. There will be a public comment period on the rules once they’ve been officially entered into the record, so they could still change to become either more or less stringent.
By Jonathan Sweet
Additional resources & articles:
- E.P.A. Toughens Standard on Lead Emissions; Change Is the First in 3 Decades by the New York Times
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
