Lead Testing of Drywall and Plaster Walls and Ceilings
Posted by Don Fahrbach on Sat, Oct 02, 2010 @ 08:59 AM
There is now an approved quick and economical method for lead testing of drywall and plaster walls and ceilings!
On August 31, 2010, the EPA announced its recognition of a new lead paint test kit for RRP applications. Please see: http://epa.gov/lead/pubs/testkit.htm.
The new test kit, called the D-Lead® Paint Test Kit (patent pending), is the only lead paint test recognized by the EPA for use on all four of the following common building materials: drywall, plaster, wood, and ferrous metal. This is an advantage over other test kits, which are EPA recognized for only some of those materials. EPA made the following statement regarding the new test for lead:
“Based on the results of the Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) study of vendor-submitted lead test kits, EPA recognizes that when used by a certified renovator the D-Lead® Paint Test Kit manufactured by ESCA Tech, Inc., can reliably determine that regulated lead-based paint is not present on wood, ferrous metal (alloys that contain iron), drywall and plaster surfaces.”
This test will not eliminate the cost of dealing with lead if it is present in your drywall or plaster walls or ceilings, however Prior to the EPA’s recognition of the D-Lead® Paint Test Kit, it was necessary for EPA Certified RRP Contractors to either assume that plaster and drywall surfaces in buildings constructed before 1978 contained lead-based paint, or to utilize the services of a certified lead-based paint inspector or certified lead-based paint risk assessor to conduct XRF or paint chip laboratory analysis of these surfaces.
With the EPA’s recognition of the new test, it is now possible for an EPA Certified RRP Contractor to quickly and economically determine whether regulated lead-based paint is not present on any plaster, drywall, wood, or ferrous metal surface and price the job accordingly.
PNP Craftsmen is the only PDCA Accredited contractor located in New York City and a member of the Nassau-Suffolk Chapter of the Painting and Decorating Contractors of America. We serve New York City and Nassau County Long Island with offices in Ridgewood, Queens and Rockville Centre.