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Dealers on Importance of EPA Lead Paint Training
Donning hazmat suits (from left), Joe Tooley, Brantley Waites and Jim DeWitt took the EPA lead paint certification course at EHX Spring.
Dealers attending the CEDIA-sponsored Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lead paint removal training at EHX Spring see it as a major differentiator for their businesses and a big-time detriment for companies that do not obtain the certification.
It's not just a matter of the non-certified companies being susceptible to a $37,500 fine per company per day for working on a pre-1978 home, it's the potential that future clients will reject them as their integrator because they are not certified.
The new law goes into effect nationwide on April 22.
Hands-on Training at EHX
The two-part program held at EHX Spring is half classroom training and half hands-on training. The classroom training is somewhat easy to obtain. In fact, CEDIA is offering it as an online course.
But the hands-on training is another matter. Dealers must spend 3.5 hours under the direction of an EPA-certified instructor to get their own certification.
Three South Carolina-based dealers - Brantley Waites of Elite Audio, Jim DeWitt of Legends Security & Sound and Joe Tooley of Audio Perfection Inc. - came to EHX specifically for the training.
The trio spent Thursday afternoon donned in hazmat suits with gloves, safety goggles and booties on. They were instructed on how to use plastic tarps, vacuums, baby wipes, spray bottles, tape and other tools to prevent contamination from pre-1978 lead paint. They also learned how to conduct visual inspections.
Training Should be a Big Deal
"This training is the story of the show," says Waites. "This is a really big deal."
Considering what is at stake, the classes at EHX Spring should have been packed. But the Thursday afternoon hands-on training had just 24 dealers.
"We can't believe there aren't more dealers here," says DeWitt.
Adds Tooley, "We hope we are going to be the only three integrators in South Carolina, or even all the Carolinas, with the certification."
Tooley, DeWitt and Waites plan to send out press releases, contact the local homebuilders' association and local remodelers' council, submit articles to the local papers, and post information on their Web sites linking to the EPA about the certification.
"We are going to do anything we can to make consumers aware about the requirement for the certification," says Waites.
Dealers learned how on how to use plastic tarps, vacuums, baby wipes, spray bottles, tape and other tools to prevent contamination from pre-1978 lead paint.
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Article Topics
News · Events · EHX Spring · Certification · Ehx Spring 2010 · Lead Paint ·About the Author
6 Comments (displayed in order by date/time)
More dealers WANTED to take the training. They were turned away. It’s very costly to provide the training and very few trainers are available. There are EPA rules about how many trainees can be in a class.
Greg, can you post some comments about the training? Silly government intervention or seriously worthwhile?
I understand the logic behind the regulations. Part of the training was worthwhile, but part of it seemed a little contrived, like using baby wipes to clean surfaces. I thing any true pro was doing most of this anyway, as our clients would not put up with a less than stellar clean up of a project. My concern is that for example, I was the only company from W.PA to attend, and there have been no classes held in W. PA for any other company to attend and get certified. Therefore, on Apr. 22, my prices will go up to follow the new regulations, not only to pertaining to the actual way we now handle a project on site, but all the required paperwork as well. Many of my competitors were not aware of the new regs, or flat out told me they will not follow them. Since over 90 % of my projects involve retro, that will affect my bottom line, as there is a good chance that we will loose projects to non-certified firms.
Check with your local HBA as well.. They are offering training classes around here for a price.
I have heard conflicting reports on this.
1) The rule applies only when renovations and repairs disturb paint in areas more than six sq. ft. on an interior room or 20 sq. ft. on an exterior wall on 1978 or older homes.
and 2) ANY work on 1978 homes you are in violation.
Which is true? if (1) than as long as you are only cutting speakers or outlets in you rarely will exceed the 6sq. ft. rule.
Just a thought. Or should I take the view of govt. imposed competition regulations as my new marketing scheme and scare the crap out of my clients in order to use my company?
From my perspective, the regulations are complex. The second option cited by Pat is not correct; there are some cases, including when the home owner signs off on a waiver after verifying certain facts to be true where I don’t need to follow their guidelines.
Fact is, however, that epa certification is something that I would play up if I were in the retrofit market.
Fact is, relying on this for information won’t get you very far in a court of law. I would strongly urge that you go and review the information at the epa web site.
As one of those who attended the classes, I was also disapointed that more people did not take advantage of the class. A quarter of the people who took the certification were members of http://www.Integrationpros.org. We had advertised the classes as well on our website. I think not enought people are aware of the consequences if you are not certified and get caught.