Lead has no place in your home.
The use of lead paint in homes was banned in 1978. Homes built before 1978 may contain lead paint. Older homes, built before 1950, are very likely to contain lead paint. Lead dust is produced from lead paint.
Landlords:
What are the new lead certification requirements?
Currently, landlords in all of Philadelphia and Norristown, Pennsylvania are required to test and certify their rental properties as lead-safe or lead-free. Certification is needed in order to:
Execute a new or renewed lease or
Receive new or renewed rental licenses.
Dust
Lead in household dust results from indoor sources such as old lead-based paint on surfaces that are frequently in motion or bump or rub together (such as window frames), deteriorating old lead-based paint on any surface, home repair activities, tracking lead-contaminated soil from the outdoors into the indoor environment, or even from lead dust on clothing worn at a job site.
Even in well-maintained homes, lead dust can form when lead-based paint is scraped, sanded or heated during home repair activities. Lead paint chips and dust can get on surfaces and objects that people touch. Settled lead dust can re-enter the air when the home is vacuumed or swept, or people walk through it.
To reduce exposure to lead dust, it is especially important to:
Maintain all painted surfaces in good condition.
Clean frequently using a wet mop, cloth or sponge to reduce the likelihood of chips and dust forming.
Use a lead-safe certified renovator to perform renovation, repair and painting jobs to reduce the likelihood of contaminating your home with lead dust.
Is your home in danger?
Lead-based paint is still present in millions of homes, normally under layers of newer paint. If the paint is in good shape, the lead-based paint is usually not a problem. Deteriorating lead-based paint (peeling, chipping, chalking, cracking, damaged, or damp) is a hazard and needs immediate attention.
Lead-based paint may also be a hazard when found on surfaces that children can chew or that get a lot of wear-and-tear, such as:
Windows and window sills;
Doors and door frames; and
Stairs, railings, banisters, and porches.
Where is our service area?
Currently, landlords utilize our services from Philadelphia, Montgomery, Delaware and Chester Counties within Pennsylvania.
Who can complete a lead-safe certificate?
The law requires that the certificate must be completed by an EPA certified lead dust sampling technician or a PA licensed lead inspector-risk assessor.
What if the tests indicate that the property is not lead-safe?
The property must be remediated by a contractor certified by the EPA in Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP). In many cases, remediation will involve wet sanding and repainting of paint that is peeling or chipping. Because this remediation can create lead-containing dust, no one other than other than RRP-certified contractors should be present in the property during the work. After the property is remediated, it must be tested again to assure that the remediation has rendered the property lead-safe.