Lead based paint

[Kieran]

Chaps,

We're starting to redecorate KieranCorp towers - However, having just used a test kit, it seems that some of the old layers of paint are lead based.

I've just been reading a lot of scary information about the dangers. The 'best practice' approach for the DIY peep seems to be loosening the paint with a heat gun and scraping the debris into a sealed bag, or using a chemical stripper.... Though most places say to stop work and run away!!!

Anyone had any experience?

We're thinking, lots of ventilation, following the stripping advice, and wearing face masks to minimize the potential exposure.... Will this cover it?

[kornstar]

yeah mate this could be real dangerous, its not to betaken litely it will f**k you up if your not very carefull. proper resperators needed.

[Spirit]

Regardless of who carries out the work, it is imperative that:

• all steps are taken to avoid the creation of lead containing dusts and fumes

• anyone not involved in the work is prohibited from the area, and preferably the building concerned, until the area has been thoroughly and effectively cleaned

Children and pregnant women should not be present in any area where renovation work, which involves the disturhance of lead-containing paint surfaces or the removal of painted surfaces, takes place. They should not reoccupy that area until it has been thoroughly and effectively cleaned.

The decision to remove old lead containing paint should not be made lightly. If the paint is in good condition, it is often a safer option to carefully prepare the existing surface and to repaint or cover it.

Where old lead paint is being renovated or removed by professional painters and decorators, the relevant requirements of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act, the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations and the Control of Lead at Work Regulations must be complied with before any work commences.

To prepare surfaces in good condition (no flaking, abrasion or loss of adhesion from the underlying surface) for repainting, the surface should be lightly rubbed down wet with waterproof abrasive paper to provide the key for the new coats of paint. The debris from rubbing down should not be allowed to dry out and form dust. It should be removed with a damp rag and the rag, abrasive paper and all other debris placed in a sealed, plastic bag for disposal. Doing the job in this way will avoid the creation of lead-containing dust and contamination. Redecoration can then be carried out using an appropriate primer, undercoat and gloss system. It is then important to maintain the surfaces in good condition.

In the case of:

• walls and ceilings: these are best treated with wallcoverings or lining paper painted with emulsion paints

• doors: a specialist stripping company, which can remove the paint safely and completely in stripping baths, can be used.

If the decision has been made to remove old lead paint, it is important that all of the paint is removed. Following the advice below, surfaces can be prepared safely, prior to repainting with an appropriate paint system.


Preparation for removal:

During removal or disturbance of any painted surface that is thought to contain lead, these instructions must be followed:

• keep all other people away from the area whilst working, particularly children and pregnant women

• remove furniture, soft furnishings, curtains and carpeting, wherever possible. If this cannot be done, cover these and all other permanent items (including the floor) with plastic sheeting sealed with heavy duty tape. Beware of slipping on these surfaces

• seal off the work area with heavy duty plastic sheets to collect paint flakes, dust etc and cover all openings, including doors and air ducts for any heating and cooling systems

• maintain plastic sheeting so that as soon as a tear is detected, it can be repaired or replaced

• wear overalls, shoe covers and rubber gloves within the work area, and remove them before leaving the area

• when working outside, contamination of soil should be avoided. Cover all lawns, garden beds etc in the near vicinity with heavy-duty plastic sheets. Avoid working in windy conditions.

Removal:

To remove the old paint,
EITHER

• use a chemical paint stripper, ensuring that all the instructions on the container are carefully followed. A suitable face mask to protect from exposure to solvent fumes may be required¹. Such masks will not protect against dusts and should not be used for such purposes. If stripper residues are allowed to dry before removal, the clean up instructions shown below should be followed

OR

• use a hot air gun to soften the paint film sufficiently to be able to scrape it off. The softened paint should be scraped immediately into a suitable container before it rehardens. A suitable face mask to protect from exposure to lead-containing dusts may be required². Take care that the paint film does not burn. Any subsequent surface preparation should be done wet with waterproof abrasive paper.

DO NOT

• rub down with dry sandpaper, as this will put lead-ricb dust into the air and into the rest of the house

• rub down witb a power sander or use other powered tools, such as drills, planers etc, which disturb the painted surface. Such tools would put lead dust into the air, even if fitted with dust collection bags. The filters on these are unlikely to trap very fine, lead containing dusts

• burn off the paint with a blow-lamp or gas torch, as this will produce lead-containing fumes when the paint is burnt.

1 Contact your retailer or trade merchant for suitable solvent vapour face masks

2 Contact your retailer or trade merchant for suitable dust masks

Surface clean up prior to repainting:

• thoroughly wash all surfaces, both those from which lead containing paints have been removed and others in the work area, with a solution of dishwasher detergent¹ in hot waler and then rinse with clean water

• vacuum all surfaces with a vacuum cleaner fitted with high efficiency particle air (HEPA) filter². Do not use a normal vacuum cleaner as the filters are not fine enough to retain the lead-containing dust.

1 These are triphosphate based detergents, which are an efficient reagent for complexing lead

2 These are often quoted as complying with British standard BS 5415, or are referred to as S-class filters. Contact your local equipment hire shop or retailer for suitable equipment.


Disposal of debris:

• place all debris, including dust masks and filters, in plastic bags and seal them with tape

• householders should place the bags in the dustbin

• professional painters should dispose of the waste in accordance with the Luvironmental Protection (Duty of Care) Regulations 1992. Lead-containing paint wastes do not fall within the definition of special wastes, but the Encironment Agency/Scottish Fnvironmental Protection Agency may classify them as such. Professional painters are advised to check with their local waste regulator on appropriate disposal routes

• clean up all debris frequently, as well as at the end of each day. Remove all debris from the work area before redecorating.

D0 NOT

• burn or incinerate lead-containing wastes.


Personal cleanliness:

• all people involved in the work should shower after the work has finished

• smoking, eating and drinking should be strictly prohibited in the work area

• all clothing and overalls, gloves etc should be washed separately from general household washing.

(Don't you just love Google )

[Nick Mann]

You want to avoid inhalation/ingestion.

I would suggest a chemical stripper and a mask. You should be fine as long as you avoid creating dust and have a good wash before eating/drinking.

The foundry I work in uses lead, which we receive in the solid form to add to the melt. We use gloves to handle it, but nothing special. We have a safety sheet that says don't eat/drink/smoke after handling without washing your hands etc. We are not high risk because we don't machine it and it is a minor part of the alloy, so neither fume or dust is an issue.

Fundamentally, be sensible and it should be fine.

[Kieran]

Thanks for the replies guys, that's about what we thought.

Alex and I now look like rejects from a science lab as we trudge around in white all-over suits, dust/vapour respirators, gauntlets and goggles!!

[I-S]

I work in a semiconductor fab.... there are people wandering about in "bunny suits", and we deal with lovely safe chemicals like arsenic... And the new european RoHS standards which reduce lead (meaning that we can't solder stuff together because the lead-free solders are useless) do nothing for a lot of the nastier compounds within semiconductor devices (and could do nothing because without them they would not work).

[Roberto]

Hey I work in a semi-conductor fab, wearing a bunny suit ( and no it does not have a fluffy tail or ears).

The chemical I love best is SALINE, it explodes when it comes into contact with the rare element called AIR.....

Now thats fun

[I-S]

That would be at intel?

[Kieran]

Bloody 'ell.... I'm glad that Alex and I thought 'Sod this!!' at about 8pm and went to the pub instead!!

[Roberto]

That would be at intel?

THAT WOULD BE RIGHT