Copyright: Gillian Entress
Owners of pre-1978 residential properties or child occupied facilities are required to comply with several federal laws that are aimed at disclosing the lead status of a property to potential occupants in addition to protecting workers and occupants for the possible creation of lead hazards due to renovation and repair activities. The paint inspection process is based on an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis that must be performed by a federally-certified or state-certified inspector using federally-approved protocols that include having a valid performance characteristic sheet (PCS) for the specific XRF instrument. Failure to have a valid PCS voids the testing results and testing must be re-done.
In recent months there have been inquiries from industry stakeholders regarding whether XRF requirements have been revised. Officials from HUD and EPA have clarified in recent feedback to NMHC/NAA that there have been no alterations in the testing requirements. The EPA-approved training course for lead paint inspectors includes clear direction on the use of an XRF analyzer and notes the importance of having the corresponding PCS for both operating the instrument and analyzing the data generated. Additional information on lead inspections can be found here.
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