Passing a NJ Lead Safe Paint Inspection

 

When getting a NJ lead safe inspection, ensure all paint is intact prior to inspection. If the paint is deteriorated, hire a trained Renovation Repair & Painting (RRP) contractor to make repairs. Renovation, Repair and Painting Program: Contractors | US EPA   Know this, if you fail a lead paint inspection, you have to fix the paint before it can be reinspected so why not have it fixed prior to inspection?

 

When completing a lead paint risk assessment the inspectors is required to look and ensure all (interior) paint is intact. The NJ Lead Safe law is an interior inspection not exterior, so any point inside that is accessible is inspected.   By inside we mean the interior of a window that a person could access from inside the home gets inspected, common areas and the basement (If the basement is part of the lease and the tenant can utilize the basement).

 

Passing a NJ Lead Safe Paint Inspection

 

Damaged paint including peeling, chipping, cracking, or flaking paint constitutes a fail, as damaged paint constitutes a lead paint hazard.

 

Want to do your own pre inspection?

Visually inspect the following interior components for defective paint.

  • Air Conditioners  (Window units)

  • Balustrades

  • Banisters

  • Baseboards

  • Beams

  • Cabinets

  • Ceilings

  • Chair Rails

  • Closets (backs of closets and painted shelves in the closet)

  • Columns

  • Countertops

  • Crown Moldings

  • Doors (Including jams and threshold)

  • Electrical Fixtures

  • Fireplaces

  • Floors

  • Handrails

  • Newel Posts

  • Radiators, including behind the radiator.

  • Shelf Supports

  • Shelves

  • Stair Stringers

  • Stair Treads

  • Stair Risers

  • Stools and Aprons

  • Trims

  • Walls

  • Window Sills, Wells, Sashes

In short the rental unit should look clean.

There should be no debris on floors.

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If the inspector has to take dust wipe samples know that they are obtained from floors and windowsills. Clean these surfaces thoroughly. Do the following when cleaning up any dust or debris:

  • Use a HEPA vacuum to clean up dust and debris on all surfaces, followed by

  • Wet wiping with plenty of clean rinse water (at least twice) or preferably

  • Hire a professional to clean

The inspector will not take dust wipe samples if any paint is not intact or dust or debris is found on the floor.   In addition, if deteriorated paint is found, you must have a reinspection, which will 100% require dust wipe sampling of rooms where damaged paint was found and repaired.

 

Following EPA’s Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule (RRP) covering housing built before 1978, and clearance examinations under HUD’s Lead Safe Housing Rule, wipe samples are required to provide clearance where lead paint was disturbed:

 

If the work area is a single room, hallway, or stairwell, or a smaller area, take:

One windowsill sample and one floor sample.

One floor sample adjacent to the work area, but not in an area that has been cleaned.

If there is more than one room, hallway, or stairwell within the work area, take: 

One windowsill sample and one floor sample within each room, hall way, or stairwell (no more than four rooms, hallways, or stairwells need be sampled).

 

Confusing?  Call the Lead Experts

 

888-301-1050