Are you Certified? EPA Lead Renovation Repair and Painting Rule Becomes Effective Today

Today is the day the EPA Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (LRRP) becomes effective. After six months, 149 classes and 1,928 attendees, our six LRRP trainers are exhausted! According to the EPA,  we trained 1% of the total number of trainees nationwide. We conducted LRRP training in Washington, Nevada, Idaho, Kansas, Illinois and California.  Due to the high demand for the class, RGA has partnered with  X8Environmental  from Lubbock, Texas and DIY Academy  from San Jose, CA to provide training at their facilities under RGA’s license.  Renovation, repair or painting contractors who disturb more than six square feet of lead-based paint (more than 5,000 parts per million) per room in pre-1978 housing or child care facilities must be certified as a firm and they must assigned a Certified Renovator to the project.  Signup online  and receive a $10 discount.

Lead Swab

Certified Renovators (CR’s) are trained to use lead swabs  to determine if the residence contains lead-based paint. In California, however, CR’s cannot use the lead check swabs. They must assume lead-based paint OR they can collect paint chip samples IF they have attended a California Department of Public Health (CDPH) approved  8-hour Sampling Technician class AND work under the direction of a CDPH Lead Inspector/Risk Assessor. More information can be found on the CDPH website.

Our Seattle, WA laboratory is NVLAP certified for asbestos bulk sample analysis and is AIHA ELLAP and AIHA ELAP  for lead. In addition, the laboratory is accredited for lead sampling by California under the CA-ELAP program.

JoAnn Copperud, CEO – Emeryville, CA

Be Aware – There May Be Mold

Mold can be a problem no matter where you live in the country, but for those of us living in the Pacific Northwest, it is often a fact of life.  The Seattle area started winter with a dry, cold December, but the first couple of months of 2010 have been wetter and warmer than normal.  This can lead to increased mold growth in homes and in the workplace, and an increase in the health effects associated with mold exposure.  If you are aware of the conditions that breed mold, you can better protect yourself from the hazards mold can bring.

The components required for mold growth are present in nearly every occupied indoor space, and are difficult to control in many cases.  Materials such as wood, paper products and textiles provide excellent sources of organic matter for molds to feed on and flourish.  Cooking grease and food debris can also provide material on which mold will feed.  The temperatures at which humans are most comfortable also happen to be temperatures which can encourage fungal growth.

The most important factor in indoor mold growth is moisture.  Obvious sources of moisture such as leaking water pipes or badly sealed roofs are sometimes difficult to spot initially, but are often easy to remedy.  More difficult to address can be issues that lead to increased humidity in indoor spaces, which are often related to building construction materials and methods or appliances used in the area.   Today’s buildings are constructed with a tighter envelope than they were historically, which can lead to increased retention of water vapor.  Equipment such as clothes dryers and kitchen or bathroom fans must be properly vented to the outside to limit the amount of water vapor introduced into indoor air.  Additionally, a difference between outdoor and indoor temperatures, coupled with inadequate insulation, can cause condensation on interior surfaces which increases the likelihood that mold growth will occur.

Mold may be a fact of life in Seattle, but it doesn’t have to flourish in the environments we live and work in.  By being aware of the factors which encourage mold growth, you can provide yourself with extra protection from its adverse effects.

John McCaslin, Industrial Hygienist – Seattle, WA

Home Improvement Shows Demonstrate Need for Health & Safety Awareness and Training

The Tile Setter, pictured above, is not using any personal protective equipment or taking other safety precautions to protect himself against potential silica exposure during tile cutting.

My wife and I love watching home improvement shows. There are whole networks that have show after show demonstrating renovation and repair of homes, and these shows are a good place to find out what new products and ideas. However, awareness of hazardous materials is missing in most of these shows. Protective equipment for physical hazards, such as safety glasses, hard hats, and gloves is normal, but there is only token awareness of hazardous materials such as asbestos lead, and silica.

In a recent show the renovator recognized the hazard of asbestos containing pipe insulation in a basement, and brought in an asbestos abatement company and an asbestos consultant to ensure that it was properly abated. But there was no mention of other materials containing asbestos such as textured ceiling, wallboard systems, floor sheeting, or roofing materials, all of which also commonly contain asbestos.

Lead based paint is rarely mentioned, but is common in pre-1978 homes. A recent analysis of childhood lead poisoning in Oregon found that over 40% of cases were linked to remodeling activities. Two years ago I assisted a homeowner in evaluating lead contamination from a careless contractor that was hired to paint the exterior of the home, but contaminated the entire interior of the home and the surround soil so badly that it cost thousands to clean up the mess.

Silica exposure can occur during stone, tile, ceramic, or concrete cutting and jackhammering, such as might be common in a kitchen remodel project. Yet it is rare to see any respiratory protection in use on many home improvement shows featuring these types of projects.

So before hiring that contractor or doing it yourself, ask the hazardous materials question. Testing for asbestos and lead should be conducted by qualified inspectors with samples analyzed at accredited laboratories. It’s your health and safety too.

Eric Hartman, CIH, Senior Project Manager – Seattle, WA

Asbestos Containing Building Materials Are Not Always Limited to Pre-1970’s Buildings

Contrary to popular opinion, it is still possible to find asbestos in buildings – lots of it in fact! The EPA banned the installation of asbestos fireproofing in buildings in the early 1970’s. U.S. manufacturers voluntarily quit making asbestos floor tile in 1982 but no one knows when the last asbestos floor tile was installed in a building. As recently as 2007 it was possible to buy roof patching that contained asbestos at virtually any hardware store in America!

Potential Locations of Asbestos Containing Building Materials

One of our California Cal-OSHA Certified Asbestos Consultants recently conducted an asbestos building survey at a retail store in the San Francisco Bay Area that was constructed in 2005. The results of the asbestos testing showed that the mastic used to adhere the mirrors contained regulated levels of asbestos.  The results came as a big surprise to the building owner who was now obligated to have the mirror mastic removed using a certified asbestos abatement contractor.

Asbestos building products were the industry norm from the mid-1940’s to the mid-1970’s. I’ve personally surveyed hundreds of buildings and collected hundred of asbestos samples in all types of buildings – schools, hospitals, office buildings, residential, commercial. Every single building I survey that was constructed between 1947 and 1976 contained at least one building material that contained regulated levels of asbestos. Some materials are obvious such as asbestos cement siding (often referred to by its trade name “transite”) but virtually all other materials must be tested at a NVLAP certified laboratory.  Examples of building materials that can contain asbestos are that should be sampled prior to renovation or demolition of a building include: floor tile, linoleum, drywall and joint compound, ceiling tiles, roofing materials and pipe insulation.

JoAnn Copperud, CEO – Emeryville, CA

Making sense out of mold. What do I do?

Mold on basement wall

Our Seattle, Washington office gets phone calls like this year round partially  due to the persistently damp climate. But whether the building or residence is located in Washington, California or Maine, our approach to helping the facility manager or owner is going to be the same:

1) identify the extent of the mold,

and

2) determine what is the underlying

cause of any mold growth.

The kinds of questions that you should expect an indoor air quality specialist (often referred to as an Industrial Hygienist) to ask about your building include:

• Is there visible mold or is there a moldy smell?

• Have there been complaints about physical symptoms that are sometimes associated with mold or poor indoor air quality such as sneezing, burning throat, colds, coughing, etc.

• Are other occupants of the building experiencing similar symptoms?

• Has there been any known water leakage, recent construction or changes in building operations?

• What is the age and type of construction of the building?

• How long has the building or residence been occupied?

Based upon the answers, the Industrial Hygienist will design an inspection specific to the client’s needs. Don’t be surprised if the Industrial Hygienist doesn’t collect any mold samples during the initial site visit. Depending on the circumstances he/she may determine that removing the moldy building components and having a contractor repair the underlying cause of the mold growth is an appropriate course of action. At the conclusion of the mold remediation and building repairs the Industrial Hygienist may return to perform air testing. Remember, the goal is to address both the symptoms and the cause of the mold growth.

JoAnn Copperud, CEO – Emeryville, CA

What are some of the factors that contribute to poor indoor air quality?

Even in sunny Orange County, California, which boasts among the mildest weather in the country, people spend the majority of their time inside their place of work, school or home. During the winter weather we tend to keep our buildings and homes more sealed up which can contribute to indoor air quality issues.

Q-TRAK Indoor Air Quality Monitor

Lack of air circulation, insufficient outdoor air in the HVAC system, unclean air filters, poor maintenance, off gassing from building products and equipment, mold/moisture, smoke, cleaning agents, scents such as air fresheners and perfumes can all contribute to complaints of poor indoor air quality. There are simple solutions to many of the contributory factors to poor indoor air quality including ensuring correct air balancing, using fans in restrooms and changing filters regularly on furnaces and routine maintenance of HVAC equipment.

If addressing the basics doesn’t improve your air quality, consider retaining an indoor air quality expert.  If you retain an IAQ expert, consider using someone who belongs to the Indoor Air Quality Association.  Also, consider using a firm that has Certified Industrial Hygienist’s (CIH) on staff under whose direction the investigatory work is performed. Large, complex projects that might have a legal component to them are typically performed by CIH’s or with their supervision.  Regardless, you should expect the consultant to  identify the source of the problem and  develop solutions as well.

Steve Rosas, COO/Sr. Project Manager – Irvine, CA

RGA to Discuss Impact of Lead Renovator Regulations at BIAW Winter Board Meeting

I was recently asked to speak on the new Lead Renovator and Repair Program regulations and how they will impact the building industry at the Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW) Winter Board Meeting later this month. As RGA’s Regional Manager, I act as a client liaison for many of RGA’s consulting clients and work to help establish positive relationships between RGA, our clients and the regulated community, including the EPA, Department of Ecology and Labor & Industries (DOSH).

One of the first companies in the country approved to teach the Lead Renovator class, RGA has been at the forefront in assisting impacted industries prepare for the new regulations before they go into effect. In addition to certifying over 250 Lead Renovators in the Seattle area, RGA’s trainers provide instruction throughout EPA Region 10  and develop customized Certified Renovator classes for our clients.

On Wednesday, February 23rd, I will provide insight into the Lead Renovator and Repair Program regulations and field questions from both the board and the renovator’s council on this important topic. More information on the event, which is open to all BIAW members, being held at the Red Lion Hotel in Olympia, WA from Feb 22-24, 2010, is available on the BIAW website.

Jerry McCaslin, Sr. Project/Regional Manager – Seattle, WA

What’s the advantage of using an IR camera during a mold investigation?

As everyone knows by now, where there’s moisture in a building, mold growth is likely to follow. Sometimes there is mold growth because of what is referred to as “life style” issues, such as not using fans in bathrooms when taking hot steamy showers, or running several loads of laundry without proper ventilations or simply having too many people living in too small an area without sufficient ventilations or living in a damp climate such as Seattle, WA.

Visible Mold Under Sink

But most of the time we find mold in buildings it’s because somewhere there has been a water leak or some type of water intrusion. If  drywall, ceiling treatments, carpet get wet enough for a long enough time and mold will grow. Mold needs moisture and organic material to grow on – that’s all!

View through an IR Camera

Using an infrared camera, usually referred to as an IR camera, helps the inspector quickly determine which building materials are wet or damp. The camera captures a visual image of the amount of heat emitted by all of the objects in the view finder. The higher the heat emitted by an object, the great the IR radiation emitted. Wet or damp materials are a different temperature than dry materials so they appear as a different color in the view finder.This allows us to pinpoint the materials that are wet and likely to be an environment that can sustain mold growth. Although the cameras are expensive – well into five figures – and therefore can add to the price of a mold investigation they are essential to performing a through mold investigation.

Using non-invasive IR technology in combination with moisture meters as diagnostic tools we can help advise our clients as to which building materials need removal, and the data helps us to more quickly determine the underlying cause of the water leak 

As everyone knows by now, where there’s moisture in a building, mold growth is likely to follow. Sometimes there is mold growth because of what is referred to as “life style” issues, such as not using fans in bathrooms when taking hot steamy showers, or running several loads of laundry without proper ventilations or simply having too many people living in too small an area without sufficient ventilations or living in a damp climate such as Seattle, WA. But most of the time we find mold in buildings it’s because somewhere there has been a water leak or some type of water intrusion. If  drywall, ceiling treatments, carpet get wet enough for a long enough time and mold will grow. Mold needs moisture and organic material to grow on – that’s all!

 

Using an infrared camera, usually referred to as an IR camera, helps the inspector quickly determine which building materials are wet or damp. The camera captures a visual image of the amount of heat emitted by all of the objects in the view finder. The higher the heat emitted by an object, the great the IR radiation emitted. Wet or damp materials are a different temperature than dry materials so they appear as a different color in the view finder. This allows us to pinpoint the materials that are wet and likely to be an environment that can sustain mold growth. Although the cameras are expensive – well into five figures – and therefore can add to the price of a mold investigation they are essential to performing a through mold investigation.

 

Using non-invasive IR technology in combination with moisture meters as diagnostic tools we can help advise our clients as to which building materials need removal, and the data helps us to more quickly determine the underlying cause of the water leak

BAAQMD’s New CEQA Guidelines and Bay Area Health Communities Resolution

I was invited by the Western States Petroleum Association to attend a public hearing on Wednesday January 6, 2010 for BAAQMD. A main topic of the hearing had to do with new Bay Area Air Quality Management District –  Bay Area Healthy Communities Resolution (BACHR) resolutions and New CEQA guidelines to lower significance and toxic risk thresholds from 10 in a million cancer risk to 5 in a million in 7 “priority communities ” including Richmond, Concord, Oakland, San Leandro, San Francisco, San Jose, and Redwood City. The proposed changes could affect renovations and expansions for both industry and urban infill projects because the BAHCR intends to implement a no net increase of toxic emissions in such communities, and identify strategies to reduce impacts in these communities. If the BAAQMD passes the resolution as it stands, many projects may not be able to be permitted.

As a new resident in an affected area, I have personal interest in what toxics I am being exposed to, but I am also in a business that is closely tied to construction projects that may not be performed because of the new standards. The hearing was well attended with concerned members of the community and impacted business emotionally expressing opinions about BAAQMD adopting the resolutions or not. I hope that a workable balance will be implemented that can meet the objectives of cleaner air for our communities while allowing projects to move forward that will help our economic development objectives and provide much needed jobs.

 Harry Lawrence, CPSM,  Dir. Business Development – Emeryville, CA

5 Ways Lead Renovator Training Benefits Small Businesses

One of the biggest challenges for small business owners is finding creative ways to embrace the new lead renovator training requirements set forth by the EPA. Many small business are concerned that compliance may mean going out of business due to increased costs. As one of the first training organizations in the nation to be accredited by the EPA to deliver this training, RGA has worked with small businesses to certify individual workers and develop five successful strategies that can be put into place to benefit companies of all sizes.

 Change your thought process.
Regulations in the construction industry are constantly changing making it seem as though businesses are caught in a circular cycle. Instead, focus on the fact that by following these new steps you are protecting your workers’ health, the health of their families and that of the residents or children occupying the home/facility.

Exceptional worker training!
This is an opportunity to review how processes are currently handled to look for ways to work ‘cleaner.’ By investing the time and resources to train your crew now these new steps, such as cleaning as they go, will become the company’s new standard operations procedures. Also remember that with time and practice, each new process will become routine and part of doing business.

Market your concern for the family’s safety.
For homes and facilities subject to the new regulation, ask if you can check for lead in obscure places based on the age of the house prior to providing a bid. Sell safety as the reason for a ‘higher bid’ and let the potential client know you are working to make sure the renovations will not endanger the family’s health with unsafe practices.

Buy in bulk to reduce expense!
The largest capital expense is purchasing a HEPA vacuum. Price shop other supplies such as 4 or 6ml poly; disposable coveralls with hood and attached shoe covers, etc to find the best price; then negotiate price to buy in bulk.

Employ Creative Motivation and Networking Techniques.
Seek out opportunities to network with other contractors to share ideas that have helped each other adapt. Also use creative ideas such as searching Childhood Lead Poisoning videos on YouTube for informative, entertaining and educational videos that you can use to motivate yourself, your crew and sell safety to the homeowner.

Ethel Kaufman, Trainer –  Seattle, WA