Lead Paint Inspections
Prioritizing Safety: The Importance of Lead Dust Inspection
Ensuring the safety and well-being of tenants is a top priority, and lead dust inspection is a crucial step in achieving this goal. Here's why lead dust inspection matters and why it should be conducted before a new tenant moves in:
1. Visual Review and Dust Inspection:
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Lead dust inspection involves both a visual review and the collection of dust samples from each room in a vacant unit. This comprehensive approach allows for a thorough assessment of potential lead hazards.
2. Preemptive Safety Measures:
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Conducting the inspection before a new tenant moves in is essential to identify and address any lead contamination promptly. It helps prevent potential lead exposure and health risks for incoming tenants, especially children.
3. Laboratory Analysis:
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Dust samples collected during the inspection are sent to a qualified laboratory for analysis. The results must meet specified safety levels to ensure the absence of lead-contaminated dust, providing tenants with a safe living environment.
4. Property Condition Matters:
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Successful lead dust testing is more likely in a clean and well-maintained property. It's crucial to address any flaking or chalking lead paint, particularly on windows, which can be a significant source of lead dust in a unit.
5. Compliance with Regulations:
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Many jurisdictions have regulations in place that require lead inspections in certain rental properties. Ensuring compliance not only protects tenants but also helps property owners and landlords avoid legal and financial consequences.
By prioritizing lead dust inspection, property owners and landlords demonstrate their commitment to tenant safety and compliance with regulations. It is a proactive step toward providing a healthy and hazard-free living environment for tenants.
Take action today to protect tenants and ensure a safe and compliant rental property. Contact the Inspector to schedule your lead inspection.
What is the inspector looking for during a lead paint inspection?
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Was the home built prior to 1978?
Only housing available for rental, built prior to 1978, is required to be tested for contaminated dust from lead paint. Homes inhabited by owners do not need to be tested unless a child in the household has been exposed to lead and has an Elevated Blood Lead Level (EBL).
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Is there any chipping, peeling, flaking, deteriorating paint on the interior or exterior of the property?
Maryland Department of the Environment requires all paint on the property to be in good condition, regardless of whether that paint is lead paint or not. Any deteriorated paint must be corrected prior to any sampling taking place.
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Are there any original wood windows on the property?
Wood windows have large contact areas, often were painted with lead paint and are a common vector for lead paint contaminated dust. MDE requires that wood windows be selected for additional testing.
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How may Room Equivalents exist on the property?
In addition to creating a sketch of the property to satisfy inspection requirements, the number or Room Equivalents is how we determine the amount of testing the property will require.
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Is the property clean and sanitary?
A lack of cleanliness is the single biggest cause of failure of dust wipe samples. Lead dust can be tracked in from outdoors, even from the deteriorating paint on other peoples properties. Cleanliness is the easiest way to ensure sampling is not contaminated from outside sources.
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What is the lead concentration of dust wipe samples?
As of July 1, 2020 the allowable lead concentrations in dust wipe samples are:
Floors | < 10 µg/ft2
Window Sills | < 100 µg/ft2
Window Wells | < 100 µg/ft2