In April of 2010 the Federal Government passed a law that any home built in 1977 or prior has to have lead safety practices used during the installation of their windows UNLESS they opt out. Opt out is not an option for homes with;
- Pregnant women
- Children ages 6 or younger
- Rental properties
- Schools, churches, daycares, and businesses
Lead Safe Window Replacement
At Advanced Windows all of our installers, sales reps, and staff are lead safe certified. We are also certified with both UTDAQ and the EPA. We take seriously the role we have in protecting homeowners in terms of physical and financial mishaps. Working with Advanced Windows, your home will be tested the right way and when you have your new windows installed, that your home will be safe for all the most important people in your life.
Because we are meticulous with this extensive process, we avoid the $32,000 daily fine that comes to many window replacement companies as a result of mistakes in lead testing and removal.
- Interested in learning more about Important Lead Hazard Information from the EPA? Click here for the EPA Lead Safe Renovate Right Brochure.
- Click here to visit the EPA website
Lead Safe Window Replacement FAQ
Lead is a naturally occurring element which provides many useful functions such as in car batteries, ammunition, solder, and protection against radiation. It was used as an ingredient in paint and other building materials for years, before people realized how dangerous it can potentially be. Unfortunately, it is also poisonous and requires special considerations when working with older houses built before 1978 with lead paint when conducting repairs or renovations.
Lead based paint is not especially dangerous in and of itself when it is in good shape and properly maintained. The problems occur when the paint is chipped or worn, such as what happens over time as windows are opened and closed. Once paint begins to peel or otherwise becomes damaged, it can become dangerous, especially in homes with small children, elderly people, and in some cases even pets can be at risk. Lead paint can have horrible health consequences when inhaled or otherwise ingested.
Not all old paints contained lead, so older windows may not have lead paint. It's generally considered good practice to treat older windows as if they do have lead paint and handle it accordingly as there is a good chance the paint does have lead in it.
In the situation of immediate concern, a blood test administered by a doctor can determine the amount of exposure to lead a person has experienced, and whether they have levels which indicate lead poisoning and the need for further steps toward treatment.
There isn't really a way to determine whether paint has lead in it, or at least not a means which would be considered economically feasible for most people. Theoretically, an X-ray would detect lead, but nobody has access to such a machine at home. A better solution is to understand lead paint was rare, but still legal to use until 1978. It is more likely to occur the older a building is, and anything built before 1940 is nearly a given to have lead paint.
Because there is no easy way to determine whether the paint contains lead, any contractor working on houses older than 1978 is required to be certified and use appropriate RRP (Renovation, Repair, and Painting) strategies. Essentially, the rule requires proper containment of any dust or waste produced while grinding, sanding, scraping, or otherwise removing old paint before it becomes airborne and potentially inhaled by either the work crew or anyone else on the site.
The rule especially applies to painters and demolition workers, as they tend to be the ones who work with and remove old paint. However, the reality is that it applies to any paid employee working in a building which is older than 1978. As such it can apply to a worker with any construction specialty, a maintenance person, or even a real estate agent or interior designer who might come into contact with lead based paint.
