The Air, Land and Water Engineering (ALWE) staff has been performing lead paint testing & surveys since 1994. We have the expertise and experience to help you with the compliance requirements associated with lead paint. ALWE has completed all phases of lead based paint projects including surveys, abatement design and monitoring.
ALWE has qualified lead inspectors and risk assessors trained on both the Niton and RMD x-ray fluorescence (XRF) lead paint testing devices. Licensed in Maryland, DC and Virginia, ALWE can perform lead paint testing throughout the Mid-Atlantic area and have multiple inspectors and risk assessors who can perform lead paint testing. ALWE has a corporate office in Columbia Maryland and satellite locations in DC and Silver Spring, MD.
The National Institute of Building Sciences has estimated that dangerous levels of lead based paint exist in 42 million of the estimated 80 million housing units in the country.
Homes containing deteriorating lead-based paint are a health threat, especially to children under five. When surfaces with lead paint are sanded or scraped, the paint breaks into tiny, sometimes invisible pieces that can be swallowed or inhaled.
Individuals can also ingest dust and soil contaminated with lead from paint that flakes as it ages. Lead dust can settle on floors, walls, and furniture.
Lead paint cause damage to the nervous system, stunted growth and delayed development in children. Lead paint is also dangerous to adults and can cause reproductive problems in men or women. Lead is considered a possible and likely carcinogen.
Lead regulations are enforced by multiple agencies and jurisdictions. The EPA, OSHA, HUD, State Environmental agencies and Housing agencies each have certain requirements.
Rental Property has special requirements that must be complied with before a tenant moves in:
- In Maryland, rental properties built before 1978 need a lead inspection certificate before the first rental and then another inspection at turnover.
- In Washington, DC rental properties occupied by children or pregnant women must follow the DC DDOE lead testing protocols, and XRF lead free and / or the dust wipe clearance testing (two samples per room) must be performed.
If you are buying a house, you should learn where the lead paint is present so you can maintain it in good condition or plan for proper removal. An XRF survey for lead paint is usually done in these cases. If lead paint is found, we can collect dust wipes samples to see if there is hazardous lead dust concentrations present.
If you are renovating a house, you should learn where the lead paint is present so you can maintain it in good condition or plan for proper removal. We can use our XRF testing equipment to help you comply with regulations. The XRF gives you quick test results that can keep your renovation project on track. Our inspectors and risk assessors can collect dust samples for clearance testing after repairs and renovations are complete to ensure the lead paint hazard is under control.
Please call us if you need assistance with DC, MD, VA or EPA lead paint testing requirements
Most dust wipe sampling jobs are under $250 for the full risk reduction certificate. Lead based paint XRF inspections for the lead free certifications range from $299 for a small house to $499 for larger homes. Multi-family inspections and assessments are our specialty. Please call for pricing.
In Maryland:
ALWE has four MD licensed lead paint inspectors. The firm is also licensed to do MD lead inspections and risk assessments and the principal engineer is a MD licensed environmental Professional Engineer.
- There are various types of acceptable Maryland lead certifications:
If the property has been renovated and no lead paint is now present, it will qualify for a one time lead paint free certification which never expires.
To do this type of inspection we use XRF testing. The XRF equipment gives us quick results at the site and if no lead paint is found we can issue a certificate with no laboratory testing delay.
- If lead paint is not detected on the interior, but some lead paint is found on the exterior, a limited lead paint free certificate can be issued if the paint on the exterior is intact. This certificate needs a simple visual inspection of the exterior paint every two years in order to be renewed.
- Or, the owner can simply assume lead paint is present pursue a Full Risk Reduction Certificate. Our inspectors will then conduct a visual inspection to confirm all paint is intact, inside and out. If the paint is intact we then collect dust wipe samples for laboratory analysis. At least one sample per room is required. In rooms with older windows, a window well sample must also be collected. Therefore, in units that have older windows throughout, two samples per room with windows are required. If the laboratory results are less than the standards, a Full Risk Reduction certificate can then be issued.
Call us and we can guide you as to what certificate is best for your rental property.
In Washington, DC:
- The current DC lead paint regulations were passed in 2013 and they require DC licensed inspectors and/or risk assessors perform lead inspections in DC. ALWE has four DC licensed risk assessors to do lead paint inspections in DC. The firm is also licensed to do DC lead inspections and risk assessments and the principal engineer is a DC licensed environmental Professional Engineer.
- Washington, DC now requires that apartments with pregnant women and children have clearance test data at each lease renewal or turnover.
Call us and we can guide you as to what certificate is best for your rental property.
Some of our Lead Paint Testing Projects Include:
- Thousands of Apartments Tested in Mid-Atlantic Area for multiple property managers.
- Hundreds of Homes Tested in Mid-Atlantic Area.
- Frederick Housing Authority - Project design and removal monitoring.
- City of Rockville - Various lead paint surveys.
- City of Baltimore - Various lead paint surveys.
- Wesley Homes - Colonial Village in Arlington, Virginia - Removal monitoring and wipe sampling.
- University of Maryland College Park -Greenhouse Phase II.
- Oliver Street Renovation - Baltimore.
- Davidge Hall - University of Maryland Historical Building
- Prince George's Towers - XRF Testing of 90 unit building
- Lafayette Building in DC - Personal and background air monitoring
- Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission - XRF testing, assessments, and clearances of houses statewide.
- Woodlawn Stone Barn and Carriage House - Lead XRF and paint chip testing, and lead and asbestos removal specification for a historic structure in Montgomery County, MD.
- DARO Management Services - Provided lead compliance testing and consulting to their historic properties throughout the Metropolitan DC area.
- Expert witness, testing, and deposition for lead paint inspections.