28 July Dealing With Lead Paint in Your Commercial Building July 28, 2021 By sma Property Maintenance, Property Management building renovation, exterior maintenance, interior maintenance, safety 0 DEALING WITH LEAD PAINT IN YOUR COMMERCIAL BUILDING July 28, 2021 | Property Management, Property Maintenance | safety, exterior maintenance, interior maintenance, building renovation If your commercial property was completed prior to 1978, there’s a good chance it contains lead paint. Lead was commonly found in paint products before government regulations banned the use of it. The long-term health effects of lead-based paint are cause for concern if you own an older building. Here’s what you can do to reduce lead paint exposure and keep your tenants healthy. Effects of Lead Paint Lead-based paint is extremely hazardous for anyone who comes into contact with it, and especially so to young children. Exposure can lead to kidney damage, anemia, overall weakness, and even brain damage or death. Lead-based paint that is flaking or deteriorating presents the worst risk since paint chips can be inadvertently ingested by pets and small children. Deteriorating lead paint can also soak into the soil surrounding the building and infect nearby gardens and your landscaping over time. Banning of Lead Paint Government agencies have taken action due to the severe risks associated with lead-based paint. In 1976, the Canadian government passed legislation to limit the amount of lead in interior paint. The U.S. government quickly followed suit, passing similar laws in 1978. Then in 1992, the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act required sellers and landlords to disclose the presence of lead in their buildings. Today, most manufacturers have completely eliminated the use of lead in their paint products to make them even safer. Identifying Lead Paint There are two main ways that you can go about testing for lead paint if you suspect you have it. The first is using a DIY test kit that easily identifies the presence of lead. These are fairly inexpensive and easy to use. The best place to test is in areas where the paint is chipping or peeling away. For example, window sills are susceptible to extreme temperature swings, causing them to deteriorate. Your second choice is bringing in a professional lead expert for testing. As a commercial manager, this is likely your best option. A certified contractor will be able to accurately identify lead and let you know the best way to remove it. Can You Have the Lead Removed? The good news is that you can have lead paint removed from your building, but it’s a very delicate process. It’s also a bit of an investment, so you’ll need to plan accordingly. There are four abatement techniques when it comes to lead paint: Encapsulation uses a special coating to seal over the lead paint and prevent it from being exposed to air. While an easy fix, it’s not forever. Encapsulation tends to wear away over time and it doesn’t work on every surface. Enclosure involves putting a new surface over the old one. Aluminum, drywall, paneling, and tile are some of the materials commonly used. However again, this isn’t a permanent solution. Removal requires a lead professional to come in and sand away the old paint. They will strip down the paint and clean any debris with a special HEPA vacuum. Replacing is the most intensive option. If you’re worried about missing spots of lead paint, you can always replace the area entirely to ensure it’s safe. Inform Your Tenants As with any major project that could impact people’s health, you must let those in your building know what’s going on. While you’re required to disclose the existence of lead paint, you should also tell them what you plan to do about it. Inform them of the safety measures they should take while you remove the paint. It’s scary to know that lead paint has been found in your building, but being proactive will help keep everyone out of harm’s way. National Property Inspections is the partner you can rely on for all of your company’s inspection needs. Schedule a consultation with our inspection coordinators to see how NPI can assist you. Comments are closed.