Lead Paint Inspections Are Extremely Important

Although lead improves paint performance, it is a dangerous substance.

If not detected children with high lead levels can suffer from damage to the brain and nervous system, behavior and learning problems, slow growth and hearing problems. Lead is also harmful to adults. Adults can suffer from difficulties during pregnancy, high blood pressure, digestive problems and memory and concentration problems.

Symptoms of lead poisoning at first can easily be mistaken for a cold or the flu. Exposure to lead hazards can cause fatigue, sleep problems, dizziness, irritability, nervousness, headaches, depression, hyperactivity, wrist or foot drop, joint and muscle pain, loss of appetite and stomachaches.

How Can Lead Poisoning Occur?

One myth related to lead-based paint is that children must eat leaded paint chips to develop lead poisoning. In fact, childhood lead exposure can occur by way of ingestion of lead dust through normal hand-to-mouth contact during which children swallow lead dust dislodged from deteriorated paint or leaded dust generated during remodeling or painting.

Lead Paint Inspections

LeadSafe Inspections and Consulting, Inc. can provide an environmental lead inspection that meets your needs.

This is an inspection done in compliance with RI Department of Health Regulation 23-24.6 Pb. During this inspection an Environmental Lead Inspector conducts a room by room, substrate by substrate evaluation. During the inspection the inspector takes water, dust, soil and paint sampling. This report must be conducted in order to receive a Lead Safe or lead Free Certificate. The inspection yields a 15 – 20 page report consisting of one page for each room. This inspection is utilized by Daycares, HUD projects, rental units with a child that has an elevated lead level and a pre-1978 property owner looking to receive the $5,000 per unit RI Lead Removal/Abatement Tax Credit.

This inspection is the most commonly utilized by landlords that are complying with Rhode Island lead paint laws. The law mandates that all landlords of pre-1978 residential rental property must bring their properties into lead safe condition before a person gets lead poisoned. A Lead Inspector or Lead Inspector Technician must check to ensure there is no chipping or peeling paint on the interior, exterior and common areas of the dwelling and that there are no binding or friction points. An example of a binding component is a door that is sticking. An example of a friction point is an old wood on wood window, old wood kitchen draws with no runners and hallway stair treads with no runners on them. This inspection is utilized by landlords that want to rent to Section 8 tenants, Navy housing, request the lead liability rider on their homeowners insurance policy and an owner looking to receive the $1500 per unit RI Lead Reduction/Mitigation Tax Credit.

This inspection is utilized by contractors and potential home buyers to identify the location of lead paint and any potential lead hazards on the interior and exterior of a pre-1978 dwelling. The inspector usually uses an XRF machine to test paint in the dwelling. It is done in compliance with RI Dept. of Health regulation 23-24.6Pb. It generates a 15 – 20 page report.

  • Certificate of Conformance – Under the Housing Resource Commission (HRC) regulations the interior and exterior dwelling unit must be painted and intact with no binding and friction points. The inspector will take between 4 and 6 dust wipes that will be sent to a laboratory to clear the unit. This inspection generates a 4 page report plus certificate. The certificate is good for 2 years or the next change of tenancy after the first 2 years.
  • Lead Safe Certificate – This certificate is issued after a Department of Health (DOH) comprehensive inspection has been completed and all listed hazards have been made lead safe. Dust wipes need to be taken and sent to a laboratory for analysis. This certificate is good for 1 year.
  • Acceptable Clearance Certificate – This inspection is done in accordance with DOH regulations after a contractor or do-it-yourself landlord has completed a remodeling or renovation project that was done in compliance with EPA’s RRP Rule. The inspector will take dust wipes only in the area where work was performed. This certificate provides proof that the contractor left no lead contaminants behind when the renovation project was completed.
  • Visual Inspection – This walk through is conduct by a lead inspector and utilized to educate individuals of lead hazards in a dwelling. It does not generate a report and is used as an educational tool only.
  • Lead Free Certificate – This certificate is done in accordance with DOH regulations and is issued when a dwelling has been gutted back to the studs on the interior and or all the exterior siding removed. The inspector must be called in when the paint has been removed and before new materials are installed. If you have a lead free certificate for a dwelling then you do not have to comply with EPA’s RRP rule.

Most landlords who own rental units that were built before 1978 are required to follow state Lead Hazard Mitigation Regulations. Some rental properties are exempt (do not have to follow these regulations).

Exceptions to the regulations include:

  • Rental units with a Full Lead-Safe Certificate from the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH),
  • Rental units with a current Conditional Lead-Safe Certificate from RIDOH,
  • Rental units with a Certifications of Lead-Free Status from RIDOH,
  • Temporary, seasonal housing rented to the same tenant for no more than 100 days in a calendar year, and
  • Housing specifically for residents aged 62 or older.

State of Rhode Island Rental Registry FAQs

We Serve All of Rhode Island!

Including these areas:

  • Lead Paint Inspections Rhode Island
  • Lead Paint Inspections Lincoln, RI
  • Lead Paint Inspections Central Falls, RI
  • Lead Paint Inspections Pawtucket, RI
  • Lead Paint Inspections Providence, RI
  • Lead Paint Inspections Cranston, RI
  • Lead Paint Inspections Newport, RI
  • Lead Paint Inspections Woonsocket, RI

Contact us today to schedule your LeadSafe Lead Inspection!