Remodelers can now apply to have their companies become certified to work under new lead paint rules by filling out a downloadable application and paying a $300 fee to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

This certification for firms will be required, in addition to individual training for remodelers themselves, which must be completed by April 2010, when the federal Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting rule goes into effect.

The new EPA rule addresses all aspects of remodeling and renovation projects disturbing more than six square feet of potentially contaminated painted surfaces in the interior of homes, apartments and condominiums built prior to 1978.

In a meeting at NAHB in Washington, D.C., the EPA updated remodelers, training providers and other stakeholders on the progress the agency has made both in training and in increasing awareness among home owners of the importance of hiring a certified renovator.

By mid-October, the EPA had approved 74 training providers and about 1,500 remodelers had completed their required training. The EPA estimates that 200,000 industry professionals will need to be trained in the next seven months in order to comply with the new rule.

In addition to paying the fee, a certified firm must ensure that employees or subcontractors doing work that disturbs paint surfaces are either certified renovators under the rule or have been trained by a certified renovator. Certification must be renewed every five years.

Certified renovators are responsible for setting up containment, overseeing that renovation activities are performed in accordance with work practice standards set by the rule, monitoring the cleaning, conducting the cleaning verification test and keeping required records of the work.

Training Update on Providers, Curriculum and Marketing

The EPA maintains a current list of training providers, listed by state with some providers operating nationally and able to travel to provide their services.

The agency has also created model curriculum online training that approved training providers can use to provide the required six hours of online training. When combined with a minimum of two hours of hands-on training, individuals can become a certified renovator.

Meanwhile, the EPA is working with the Ad Council, a nonprofit, volunteer marketing firm, as well as a private marketing company to create campaigns designed to communicate the dangers of lead poisoning and the importance of hiring a professional remodeler.

At the October meeting with the EPA, NAHB again expressed the association’s concerns that because of the increased costs of complying with the rule, instead of hiring professional remodelers home owners may hire uncertified contractors or do the work themselves, potentially putting their families at risk.

While Wisconsin has already certified itself as a lead paint training provider and adopted the federal program, several states — including Michigan, Illinois, Oregon and North Carolina — are considering instituting lead paint regulations that would impose training or work practice requirements that are more stringent than the EPA's.

EPA’s mandate is to provide curriculum for the federal regulation. States that go beyond the agency’s requirements may impose additional training rules.

For example, Wisconsin has lowered the lead paint testing level in the state. The federal limit is 1 milligram per square centimeter (0.5% lead by weight, 5,000 ppm) and Wisconsin has lowered the limit to 0.7 of a milligram per square centimeter (0.06% lead by weight, or 600 ppm).

For information about the lead-paint rule — including how to become a certified trainer or certified renovator and how to find training courses — visit www.nahb.org/leadpaint.

For more information, e-mail Kelly Mack at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8451. [ return to top ]