Accredited is your full-service solution for lead inspection and remediation in NYC, Long Island and Westchester. Our experts will make sure that the process and results are clear from beginning to end, and we won’t just leave you with a final report – we’ll make sure you understand how the results impact your home or property. We will continue to work with you through lead abatement and the violation clearance process. We guarantee that any violations will be removed.
Lead Inspection Services
A Lead-Based Paint Inspection is a surface-by-surface investigation to determine whether there is lead-based paint in a home, apartment, commercial facility or child care facility. In New York State, a lead paint inspection can only be performed by an EPA-certified Lead Inspector or Risk Assessor.
Painted surfaces will be tested for lead-based paint utilizing X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) technology. An XRF spectrum analyzer is a state-of-the art system for the quantitative measurement of lead in paint which will provide an accurate measurement of lead content. It is the only non-destructive, cost effective method for determining lead content on a painted surface.
Readings are taken in each room or area of all painted walls, ceilings, windows, doors, baseboard molding and other painted surfaces.
After the inspection is completed, a report explaining the results of the investigation will be provided. The report will list all surfaces tested and whether or not lead-based paint is present. The report is designed to specifically pinpoint where lead paint is located, its condition, and the level of lead in the paint. At that point we can advise what, if anything, would need to be done ensure the safety of the occupants.
Who Would Benefit From A Lead Paint Inspection?
- A potential buyer of a home built before 1978
- Homeowners considering renovating their home
- Home buyers with young children wanting to make an informed decision concerning their family’s health
- Landlords
- Management Agents
- Contractors or architects prior to renovations or disturbing paint
Lead Abatement and Removal
After a lead inspection of the project or house has been performed and a scope of work developed, EPA-certified abatement personnel will correct or abate lead-based paint hazards while closely following the stringent guidelines of New York City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) or Department of Health (DOH) and other applicable federal, state and local regulations governing lead-based paint.
Receive an HPD or Department of Health Lead Violation?
- Trust Accredited’s fulll-service team to completely resolve the violation on your behalf
- Don’t delay as lead paint violations are VERY time sensitive
- Fast response time, quality workmanship, reasonable rates
- Guaranteed lead violation removal
NYC Lead Laws & Lead-Based Paint Violations
Accredited will provide EPA-certified abatement personnel to correct all HPD or Department of Health lead-based paint violations while closely following the stringent NYC HPD and EPA/HUD regulations governing lead based paint abatement.
We simplify the process and hold your hand through each phase of the project, until the violations are removed
The tangled maze of NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD) or Department of Health (DOH) paperwork can be difficult to navigate, but Accredited Environmental Solutions is always available to provide guidance or answer questions — every step of the way.
With over 25 years of remediation experience, we will perform the necessary abatement work and use our expertise to help you navigate through the complicated HPD paperwork maze for correcting and eliminating lead-based paint violations.
New York City Local Law 1 of 2004 requires additional certifications and documentation from landlords for correction and dismissal of lead-based paint violations. Owners must follow and retain evidence that safe work practices were used for all repair work in a dwelling unit or building common area where a child under the age of 6 resides when more than 2 square feet of lead-based paint or paint of an unknown lead content is disturbed.
We are experts at removing older Class C lead paint violation which will enable you to refinance or sell your property.
HPD Lead Paint Requirements Upon Turnover of an Apartment
When a dwelling unit changes tenants, owners are required under Local Law 1 to complete certain lead-based paint activities focused on making the unit safe for a new tenant and before the new tenant takes occupancy (regardless of whether the new tenant has a child at the time of initial occupancy). This is referred to as “turnover.”
Owners must:
- Provide for the removal of all lead-based paint on friction surfaces on all doors and door frames
- Remediate all lead-based paint hazards and any such underlying defects
- Provide for the removal of lead-based paint on chewable surfaces with evidence of teeth marks
- Provide for the removal of all lead-based paint on frictions surfaces on all windows
- Make all bare floors, window sills, and window wells in the dwelling unit smooth and cleanable
Turnover Violations
During a lead-based paint inspection where a child under 6 resides, HPD will also issue violations for a property owner’s failure to conduct turnover work if there are lead-based paint hazard violations issued for door and window friction surfaces. These violations require owners to comply with Turnover requirements, which would have required abatement of these surfaces, and certify correction.
Generally, the owner must provide evidence that all window and door friction surfaces are free of lead-based paint.
Audit Violations
Violations are also issued if a property owner fails to provide records requested by HPD (audit letters). These violations may be order #’s 614, 618, 619, 620, 621, 622 or 623. If an owner receives one of these violations, the owner will only be able to comply by providing the required documents that are enumerated in the specific violation received.
New York City Local Law 31, which went into effect in August 2020, requires landlords and owners to have every apartment unit inspected for lead paint. The regulation:
- Applies to “multiple dwelling” buildings built before 1960, and buildings built before 1978 with known lead-based paint. Per Local Law 29 of 2020, a building with “multiple dwellings” now includes 1 and 2-family house rentals except any units occupied by the owner
- Includes a 5-year testing requirement:
- All residential building owners in NYC must have all dwelling units inspected for lead paint by August 9, 2025
- If a family with a child under the age of 6 moves in before this date, lead testing must be completed within 1 year of their move-in date
New NYC HPD Local Law 66 of 2019 Lead Paint and Dust Standards
- As of December 1, 2021 paint will be considered lead-based at a level of 5 mg/cm2 (formerly defined as 10 mg/cm2)
- Lead dust wipe standards have been lowered, effective June 11, 2021, to:
- 5 ug/ft2 on floors
- 40 ug/ft2 on windowsills
- 100 ug/ft2 on window wells
- Apartments with existing “lead free” exemptions will remain active for an apartment until it is vacated by a tenant (turnover).
Landlords and Managing Agents
Accredited Environmental Solutions can provide expert assistance in removing violations issued by New York City’s Department of Housing, Preservation and Development (HPD) and Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DoHMH). Accredited offers the following services:
- Lead-based paint and mold violation correction
- Violation paperwork management
- HPD violation contestation
- HPD violation correction certifications
- HPD violation postponement requests
- Local Law 1 Exemption inspections and filings
- DoH Elevated blood lead level/lead poisoned child violations corrected
- DoH Bureau of Day Care lead paint testing for new and existing locations
If you don’t see it here, just ask!
Lead Paint Testing & Exemption
Accredited can perform lead-based XRF paint testing to exempt your apartments from receiving NYC HPD Local Law 1 lead paint violations (616, 617). We will guide you through the process and handle all NYC exemption paperwork for you. It may also lower your insurance costs.
We also offer customized training for management companies to ensure that all agents are up-to-date on lead regulations and maintain fully-compliant properties.
Day Care Centers
Accredited is well versed in all the NYC Department of Health guidelines and can perform all necessary testing regarding lead in both paint and water for new and existing day care centers. This includes required water testing for lead every 5 years and testing for any project that disturbs lead-based paint, to ensure that your facility is safe and in compliance with regulations.
About Lead
Lead is a naturally occurring element found in small amounts in the earth’s crust. While it has many beneficial uses, it can be toxic to humans and animals, causing health effects, especially in young children.
Lead was banned from consumer paint in the U.S. in 1977. Lead may be released into the home environment by peeling, chipping paint or paint on friction or impact surfaces. Lead dust may also be released through improper home renovations or clean-ups. Lead-contaminated household dust is the major cause of lead exposure to children in the U.S.
Lead is particularly dangerous to young children because their growing bodies absorb more lead than adults and their brains and central nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging, toxic effects of lead. Even very low levels of lead in the blood of children can result in permanent damage to the brain and nervous system, leading to behavior and learning disabilities, lower IQ, shortened attention span and hearing problems.
The older the house or apartment, the more likely it is to contain higher levels of lead in the paint. The major source of exposure for children is lead dust from deteriorated lead paint or an improper clean-up after a home renovation. Most childhood exposure occurs through children’s normal hand-to-mouth activity after contact with a source of leaded dust. The most effective prevention of childhood lead poisoning is to reduce or eliminate exposure.
Adults can also suffer significant if less severe effects from lead poisoning. Food, water, worksites and consumer products can contain significant amounts of lead. Adults can suffer from high blood pressure, nerve disorders, muscle pain and organ problems.
Accredited can put your mind at ease when it comes to identifying and reporting lead-based paint issues. We use the latest technology and equipment to help you identify the presence of lead and make proper decisions on how to correct or control the risk in your situation.