Lead Safe Certified San Francisco Painters
Stay educated on new lead safety regulations from the EPA
Why Hire an EPA Lead Renovation and Repair Rule Certified Painting Contractor?
Hiring a painting or renovation contractor can be a daunting task with many elements to consider, such as; color schemes, pricing and permits. Moreover, if your home was built before 1978 there is one other vital piece of information anyone looking into home renovation or painting should be aware of, and that’s ensuring that the contractor you are working with is EPA Lead and RRP Certified. When you work with CertaPro Painters of San Francisco you know your lead-based paint project will be handled in a safe manner that complies with new regulation from the EPA.
In April 2008 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a new mandate that will have a significant impact on the remodeling industry. The Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (RRP) will change how painting and other renovation contractors go about working on buildings built before 1978 Homes as well as all schools, non-profit buildings, government buildings and hospitals built before 1978. are required to have a lead-safe certified contractor involved in any painting or renovation project.
Why is this important? According to the EPA, most buildings built prior to 1978 will likely contain lead-based paint, a heavy mercury-like substance that can cause a great deal of damage to humans. Lead can be inhaled, drank or consumed, and lives in fat tissue. Lead is a neuro-toxin and thus affects the brain, and is especially dangerous to younger children whose brains are still developing; and consumption can cause serious long-term effects.
Fortunately, now that the dangers of latent lead-based paint have become public knowledge, the EPA is actively involved in creating stringent regulations that govern the renovation of older homes containing this substance. These requirements pertain to a number of elements in the work space, including: warning signs and work area containment, the restriction or prohibition of certain tools and activities (such as high heat gun, torch and power sanding), waste removal, and post-renovation cleaning verification. While these lead-safe work practices require additional labor and
materials, hence added cost, to painting projects, certified contractors will ensure that lead-based paint debris is removed and handled in a way that is safe to your home and family, as well as themselves. Finding an EPA Lead and RRP Certified Contractor is easy. Just ask your potential contractor for their certification number. Owner of CertaPro of San Francisco, George Irvine, is listed as a Lead Safe Supervisor in California.
The best way to protect yourself and family from lead-based paint is to be informed and make sure your renovation contractor is EPA Lead RRP Certified. For more information on the EPA and RRP visit:
