Today, Amaris Company received notice that it has been approved by the EPA as a Lead Certified Firm.  I wish I could say we had to jump through extra hoops or have some special expertise to become an EPA Lead Certified Firm, but the truth is all we had to do was send in our application and $300.00.  Makes a person wonder what the federal government is really after.  Still, we have now gone through the Lead Certified Renovator classes and we are now fully in compliance with yet another federal regulation.

What does this all mean for you? Properties built before 1978 where more the six square feet of wall is going to be affected, requires a lead test before a contractor (plumber, electrician, carpenter, HVAC contractor, etc) may conduct work. If the lead is found, certain lead safe practices must be followed. The bad news is this adds cost for the contractor which will of course will be passed on to consumers.

I am told local municipalities will start to enforce these rules in the first quarter 2011 and will affect all law abiding contractors pulling permits. Of course, those flying under the radar will not be affected causing an even a bigger discrepancy between those of us following rules and those contractors that chose not too.

Maybe I should go over to the dark side…

Amaris Company is pleased to announce that Raymond Pruban and Tony Froelich have both successfully completed the Federal EPA requirements to become EPA Lead Certified Renovators’s.  Also, Amaris Company is in the process of becoming an EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm and shall meet all requirements with regards to the new EPA Lead Regulation 40 CFR Part 745.

This new RPP EPA regulation requires that all homes built prior to 1978 and child occupied facilities must be lead based painted tested prior to any renovation, repair or painting.  Any work areas found to contain lead based paint must be properly managed with lead safe work practices followed. This new regulation  affects contractors, sub-contractors (including painters, carpenters, plumbers, HVAC contractors, electricians, etc), property managers and anyone who disturb lead based paint.

Workers who disturb greater than 6 square feet of interior of paint per room inside, or activities that disturbs greater than 20 square feet on the exterior must follow EPA procedures. This work also includes window replacement, and projects involving demolition. Generally this work includes, but is not limited to, remodeling, repair and maintenance, electrical, plumbing, painting, carpentry, and window replacement.

To learn more, download the EPA’s lead pamphlet http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/lead/pubs/renovaterightbrochure.pdf