EPA Required Safety Certification Training Courses Nearly Full

These HBA-sponsored classes are nearly full -- there are just a few openings left for Wednesday, April 21 and Thursday, April 22. Need to register? Call or email Amanda at the HBA office, 881-3711 or amanda@springfieldhba.com

What Activities Are Subject to the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program?
In general, any activity that disturbs paint in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities, including:
• Remodeling and repair/maintenance
• Electrical work
• Plumbing
• Painting
• Carpentry
• Window replacement

What Housing or Activities Are Excluded and Not Subject to the Rule?
• Housing built in 1978 or later.
• Housing for elderly or disabled persons, unless children under 6 reside or are expected to reside there.
• Zero-bedroom dwellings (studio apartments, dormitories, etc.).
• Housing or components declared lead-free by a certified inspector or risk assessor.
• Minor repair and maintenance activities that disturb 6 square feet or less of paint per room inside, or 20 square feet or less on the exterior of a home or building.
• Note: minor repair and maintenance activities do not include window replacement and projects involving demolition or prohibited practices.

What Does the Program Require Me To Do?
Pre-renovation education requirements - Effective now.
In housing, you must:
• Distribute EPA’s lead pamphlet to the owner and occupants before renovation starts.
• In a child-occupied facility, you must:
• Distribute the lead pamphlet to the owner of the building or an adult representative of the child-occupied facility before the renovation starts.
For work in common areas of multi-family housing or child-occupied facilities, you must:
• Distribute renovation notices to tenants or parents/guardians of the children attending the child-occupied facility. Or you must post informational signs about the renovation or repair job.
•Informational signs must:
•Be posted where they will be seen;
•Describe the nature, locations, and dates of the renovation; and
•Be accompanied by the lead pamphlet or by information on how parents and guardians can get a free copy (see page 31 for information on obtaining copies).
•Obtain confirmation of receipt of the lead pamphlet (see page 23) from the owner, adult representative, or occupants (as applicable), or a certificate of mailing from the post office.
•Retain records for three years.
Note: Pre-renovation education requirements do not apply to emergency renovations. Emergency renovations include interim controls performed in response to a resident child with an elevated blood-lead level.

Training, Certification, and Work Practice Requirements– Effective after April 22, 2010.
•Firms must be certified.
•Renovators must be trained.
•Lead-safe work practices must be followed. Examples of these practices include:
•Work-area containment to prevent dust and debris from leaving the work area.
•Prohibition of certain work practices like open-flame burning and the use of power tools without HEPA exhaust control.
•Thorough clean up followed by a verification procedure to minimize exposure to lead-based paint hazards.
The training, certification, and work practice requirements do not apply where the firm obtained a signed statement from the owner that all of the following are met:
•The renovation will occur in the owner’s residence;
•No child under age 6 resides there;
•No woman who is pregnant resides there;
•The housing is not a child-occupied facility; and
•The owner acknowledges that the renovation firm will not be required to use the work practices contained in the rule.

For more information, visit the EPA's website regarding this new rule as it applies to residential contractors by clicking here

Early Bird Deadline End of This Week for Greening Missouri Homes Conference

March 16-17, 2010

Capitol Plaza Hotel

Jefferson City, MO

CLICK HERE FOR 

REGISTRATION, SCHEDULE, AND MORE!

The University of Missouri-Center for Sustainable Energy in partnership with The Home Builders Associations of St. Louis, Jefferson City, Kansas City and Springfield is delighted to invite you to attend the Greening Missouri Homes Conference; March 16th & 17th in Jefferson City, MO.

A national survey of HBA members indicates that the vast majorities have some level of involvement with Green Building and Remodeling. Through the National Association of Homebuilder’s National Green Building Program (NAHB GREEN) HBAs and talented staff work hard to stay atop housing trends, to provide education for members along with others involved in the Housing and Housing retrofit and remodeling industry. With the Evolution of Building Codes and the Creation of the National Green Building Standard, advancing the experience of those involved with the Housing Industry to safely and economically Develop-Build-Retrofit Missouri’s Housing stock is a top priority!

The University of Missouri and the Home Building Associations across the State encourage you to register for this informative Conference and Networking opportunity to promote Better, Affordable, Greener Home Building, Retrofit and Development.

We are very thankful for the resources of the sponsors who make this conference possible.

Dr. Robert Reed, P.E., PhD, Co-Director
University of Missouri Center for Sustainable Energy

Matt Belcher, Chairman
Greening Missouri Homes Conference

MU Conference Office © 2010

"Ask A Remodeler" Segment to Air on KY3 in March

At its February meeting, the HBA Remodelors Council received an update about Legislative Day from Government Affairs Chairman Matt Bailey who encouraged all remodelers to attend Legislative Day on February 23rd. The Council also discussed the EPA Lead Safety Certification Classes being hosted by the HBA. All of the Council-member remodelers will have attended the course by March 12th. Classes are scheduled for March 4, 5 and 11 at the Springfield Contractors Association and the final class is set for March 12 at OTC's Workforce Development Center. (Space is limited! Get your registration in ASAP -- download form by clicking here.) The Council will focus its April meeting on discussing the course and how best to implement all of the changes and most cost-effectively obtain the necessary supplies.

Andy Flint, Chairman, notified the Council that Cara Restelli with KY3 had contacted him about having an “Ask A Remodeler” segment on the 5:00 and 6:00 newscast on KY3 on March 10th. Remodelors Council members Shannon Lee, Scott Bracy, Adrian Rhoads, Chris Oberhansley and Andy Flint volunteered to appear on the “Ask A Remodeler” segment.

Lead Safety Class Certifies 30

The HBA sponsored EPA Lead Safety Certification classes are underway and the remaining classes are filling up fast. Above, HBA Remodeler Member Adrian Rhoads, Rhoads Design & Construction, was among the 30 attendees of the February 5 class conducted by Titan Environmental Services at the Safety Council of the Ozarks training room. The one day class provides instruction and hands-on training to prepare firms for compliance with new EPA rules related to disturbing painted surfaces in homes built before 1978. Those who complete the course successfully are then "certified" to work under the circumstances set forth in the newly expanded regulations for pre-1978 homes. Application for firm certification must also be made to the EPA.

Additional classes are scheduled on March 4, 5, and 11 at the Springfield Contractors Association's training room. The March 12 class will be conducted at OTC's Workforce Development Center. You can download the class registration form by clicking here or call Amanda at the HBA office for more information, 881.3711.

If you have questions about this new rule, effective April 22 of this year, visit the EPA's website regarding these new contractor requirements by clicking here.

HBA will Host EPA Required Lead Renovator Certification Training

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's "Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting" rule governing renovation in homes where there is lead-based paint will take effect in April 2010.

The rule addresses remodeling and renovation projects disturbing more than six square feet of potentially contaminated painted surfaces for all residential and multifamily structures built prior to 1978 that are inhabited or frequented by pregnant women and children under the age of six. As well, the rule applies to certain non-residential structures built prior to 1978 including schools and any child-related facility. Renovator training/firm certification will be required for those working on projects meeting these criteria. The HBA is hosting six of these one-day training courses, taught by an EPA accredited training firm, in the coming weeks at various locations. To download the training registration form click here.

The rule requires a cleaning inspection after the work is completed and grants the remodeler flexibility in determining the size of the work area, which can reduce the size of the area subject to containment.

The EPA rule also lists prohibited work practices ― including open-torch burning and using high-heat guns and high-speed equipment such as grinders and sanders unless equipped with a HEPA filter.

Additionally, the rule establishes required lead-safe work practices, including posting warning signs for occupants and visitors; using disposable plastic drop cloths; cleaning the work area with HEPA vacuuming and wet washing; and individual certification through a training course.

The full rule and brochures for consumers and renovators can be downloaded from the EPA’s Web site by clicking here.

A 2006 NAHB study on lead-safe work practices showed that a home was better off after a remodel than before, as long as the work was performed by trained remodelers who clean the work area with HEPA-equipped vacuums, wet washing and disposable drop cloths.

Summary of the Rule:

Review the points below for a quick summary of the new EPA lead paint rule.

1. Training and Certification

Beginning in April 2010, firms working in pre-1978 homes will need to be certified. Along with the firm certification, an employee will also need to be certified as a Certified Renovator. This employee will be responsible for training other employees and overseeing work practices and cleaning. The training curriculum is an eight-hour class with two hours of hands-on training. Both the firm and Certified Renovator certifications are valid for five years. A Certified Renovator must take a four-hour refresher course to be recertified.

2. Work Practices

Once work starts on a pre-1978 renovation, the Certified Renovator has a number of responsibilities. Before the work starts this person will post warning signs outside the work area and supervise setting up containment to prevent spreading dust. The rule lists specific containment procedures for both interior and exterior projects. It forbids certain work practices including open flame or torch burning, use of a heat gun that exceeds 1100°F, and high-speed sanding and grinding unless the tool is equipped with a HEPA exhaust control. Once the work is completed, the regulation specifies cleaning and waste disposal procedures. Clean up procedures must be supervised by a certified renovator.

3. Verification and Record Keeping

After clean up is complete the certified renovator must verify the cleaning by matching a cleaning cloth with an EPA verification card. If the cloth appears dirtier or darker than the card the cleaning must be repeated.

A complete file of records on the project must be kept by the certified renovator for three years. These records include, but aren't limited to: verification of owner/occupant receipt of the Renovate Right pamphlet or attempt to inform, documentation of work practices, Certified Renovator certification, and proof of worker training. NAHB believes that record keeping will be a major enforcement tool for the regulation.

4. Exemptions

It is important to note that these work practices may be waived under these conditions:

-The home or child occupied facility was built after 1978.
-The repairs are minor, with interior work disturbing less than six square feet or exteriors disturbing less than 20 square feet being exempt.
-The homeowner may also opt out by signing a waiver if there are no children under age six frequently visiting the property, no one in the home is pregnant, or the property is not a child-occupied facility. EPA has proposed removing this opt-out from the rule.
-If the house or components test lead free by a Certified Risk Assessor, Lead Inspector or Certified Renovator

Important Deadlines

December 2008:
Remodelers must start distributing the new EPA pamphlet Renovate Right when working in pre-1978 houses.
April 2009:
Training providers may begin applying for accreditation. Once training providers are accredited, they may offer training courses that will allow renovators to become certified.
October 2009:
Renovation firms may begin applying to EPA for certification.
April 2010:
New rule becomes fully effective. Work practices must be followed.

Will You Need to Be In Compliance with EPA's New Lead Paint Rules?

In February and March, the HBA will be hosting the Lead Safety Renovation Training course locally on six different dates, taught by an EPA accredited training firm. Does this rule affect you? Do you need the training? Does your firm need to be certified? See the Q & A below and for a more full explanation of the rule and its requirements, download information by clicking here. For training course registration form (includes the dates and locations of the scheduled classes) click here.

What Is the Lead-Based Paint Renovation, Repair and Painting Program (RRP)?

• The Lead-Based Paint Renovation, Repair and Painting Program is a federal regulatory program affecting

contractors, property managers, and others who disturb painted surfaces.

• It applies to residential houses, apartments, and child-occupied facilities such as schools and day-care centers built before 1978.

• It includes pre-renovation education requirements as well as training, certification, and work practice

requirements.

Who Must Follow the 2008 Lead Rule’s Requirements?

In general, anyone who is paid to perform work that disturbs paint in housing and child-occupied facilities built before 1978, this may include, but is not limited to:

-Residential rental property owners/managers

-General contractors

-Special trade contractors, including

•Painters

•Plumbers

•Carpenters

•Electricians

•HVAC

Builder Breakfast & Best Business Practices Program Well Attended

On Thursday, December 17, 2009, Steve Hays and Felicia Malter from RubinBrown, a regional accounting firm that conducts research for the National Association of Home Builders, provided a presentation to the HBA Builders, Remodelers and Developers at the December Builder Breakfast.

The Best Business Practices presentation covered many topics that Builders need to know in regards to accounting practices that can provide the best "real time" business performance data. This helps builders identify their best opportunities for cutting costs and improving the bottom line. The information included a home building industry update, account classifications and where the numbers need to go, how to figure net income and the break-even point, ideas on how to improve gross profit, how to detect and prevent fraud, tips in preparing for your 2009 financial year end, banking requirements, home buyer tax credit provisions, and the NOL (Net Operating Loss) Carryback.

The NOL provision expands the two‐year carryback period to five years for 2008 tax year losses. Carryback expansion only applies to business with average gross receipts of no more than $15 million for tax years 2005, 2006 and 2007. The potential benefit for small businesses is that this provides an immediate cash refund for losses in cases where the taxpayer has exhausted taxable income in the prior two tax years.

Many thanks to Breakfast Sponsor Connell Insurance, represented by Randall Gammill, pictured below in top photo; and Program Sponsor Bob Fitzgerald, First Venture, bottom photo.