My very most favorite rebuilding group, Rebuilding Together, (RT) held an orientation for the newest class of volunteers in Washington DC. This in preparation for going out to affiliates in New Orleans, Cali, Denver, St Louis and more to lead rebuilding efforts for elderly and low income families.
Great Stuff.
As an EPA approved RRP trainer through NCHH, I have the opportunity to work with RT and conduct the 8-hour RRP Certified Renovator training.
This was the third class I did with Rebuilding Together.
At the end of the class the students unwind by doing somethng goofy.
A home in the historic Ninth Ward.. a home restored after the levy's broke. Well it is being restored.
Saturday Oct 1 9:00- 1:00: a window restoration workshop.
In this session local window advocate Bill Robinson will guide you through the process of restoring old wood windows.
Identify window parts
Assess level of repair
Replacing glass
Minor patches
Prep for painting
The majority of wood windows can be brought back to good operating condition.
In fact, once the windows are operating correctly we can weatherstrip them and make them nearly air tight and close off the gaps and air leaks where your cooling and heating $$$ go literally out the window.
Please click on the Pay Pal link to sign up.
There will be a $49.00 fee for this session.
You will recieve location information with reciept of your payment.
Directions will be provided with your payment reciept.
There is a potential for the presence of lead-based paint. We will discuss the precautions necessary to reduce exposure to lead-based paint.
There will be an additional fee for personal protective equipment, bring your own if you plan on working on windows after the workshop.
Recently the EPA published changes to the RRP (Renovation Remodeling and Painting) rule.
These changes are posted on the Federal Register: RRP Rule changes
The proposed rule published on May 6, 2010. EPA has decided not to
promulgate dust wipe testing and clearance requirements as proposed.
However,
EPA is promulgating several other revisions to the RRP rule,
including a provision allowing a certified renovator to collect a paint chip sample and send it to a recognized laboratory for analysis in lieu of using a lead test kit, minor changes to the training program accreditation application process, standards for e-learning in accredited training programs, minimum enforcement provisions for authorized state and tribal renovation programs, and minor revisions to the training and certification requirements for renovators. EPA is also promulgating clarifications to the requirements for vertical containment on exterior renovation projects, the prohibited or restricted work practice provisions, and the requirements for high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) vacuums.
From the update:
Renovator trainees must receive hands-on training in using
test kits, renovation methods that minimize creation of dust and
lead-based paint hazards, containment and cleanup methods, and
cleaning verification.
See our DVD for training your crew in LSWP (lead safe work practices)
Vertical Containment:
Vertical containment. EPA's 2010 proposal included more specific
language on vertical containment requirements for exterior projects.
As proposed, the rule would specifically state that vertical containment
is required for exterior renovation projects that are covered by the
rule and that affect painted surfaces within 10 feet of the property
line. In such cases, vertical containment is necessary to ensure that
adjacent buildings or properties are not contaminated by leaded dust or
debris generated by the renovation.
HEPA exhaust control
power tools used to remove painted surfaces are prohibited
unless such machines have shrouds or containment systems and are
equipped with a HEPA vacuum attachment to collect dust and debris
at the point of generation. Machines must be operated so that no
visible dust or release of air occurs outside the shroud or containment
system.''
HEPA Vacuums
EPA has decided to promulgate the requirement that HEPA vacuums be operated
in accordance with manufacturer's instructions,
more...
HEPA vacuum means a vacuum cleaner which has been designed with a
high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter as the last filtration
stage. A HEPA filter is a filter that is capable of capturing
particulates of 0.3 microns with 99.97% efficiency. The vacuum cleaner
must be designed so that all the air drawn into the machine is expelled
through the HEPA filter with none of the air leaking past it. HEPA
vacuums must be operated and maintained in accordance with the
manufacturer's instructions.
Paint Chip Samplingfrom Appendix 13.2 of the 1995 Hud Guidelines
Dust sampling must always be done before paint chip sampling in
order to minimize the prospect of cross-sample contamination.
Paint chip sampling is a destructive method that may release a
small quantity of lead dust. Although paint chip samples are to
be collected from inconspicuous areas, the occupant must always
be notified that paint chip sampling may be necessary.
Method One: Plastic Sheeting Underneath Sampling Area
A clean sheet of plastic measuring four feet by four feet should
be placed under the area to be sampled to capture any paint chips
that are not captured by the collection device or creased piece
of paper. Any visible paint chips falling to the plastic should be included
in the sample. Dispose of the plastic after each sample is collected by
placing the sheeting in a trash bag. Do not throw away the plastic at
the dwelling. Wet wipes may be used to clean the area.
It is my opinion paint chip sampling will be a PITA for the average renovation contractor and the Lead Check and D-Lead sampling options will be the first choice to determine the presence or absence of LBP
Contractor CEUs/ Certificate of Attendance for all attendees!
Here in New Orleans there are so many old, historic and salvageable wood windows.
In most cases it is not cost effective to replace them. Vinyl windows are less expensive but do not last as long as a well-maintained wood window will.
Replacing with high quality wood windows meeting historic guidelines is prohibitively expensive.
Come join us Saturday August 6
from 10:00-2:00 at 526 Caffin
in the Ninth Ward to learn how Bill Robinson does it!
Be sure to click on the button below to sign up for the class.
There is a $59.00 fee for the session.
If you are having difficulty with Pay Pal it might be the browser.
If you are using Internet Explorer please try Firefox.
You will learn:
Which materials work best and where to buy them.
What tools you will need and
Best practices for applying weatherstrip to wood windows
You can bring your own tools if you prefer, however it is not required.
We will be working in a home built before 1978 and may be disturbing lead-based paint.
Proper PPE is recommended. Respirator (P-100) nitrile gloves, eye protection, coveralls.
There are no restroom facilities. Water will be provided. Bring lunch if you will get hungry.
The 2011 American Institute of Architects conference was held in New Orleans this year.
While the flood waters of the Mississippi raged on the other side of the levee, conference goers attended educational sessions, visited exhibits and even learned some things. Plus, they enjoyed New Orleans food, music and ambiance.
Above, I explain to a crowd of architects the ins and outs of raised floor insulation, ventilation and moisture management.
Michael Shultz, owner of Millbrook Electric in the Town of Washington, says he carries a test kit to determine if lead-based paint is present before he starts a job. / Lee ferris/poughkeepsie Journal
If you're from a "heating climate," one where you spend most of your annual utility bill on heating your home in the winter, you have quite a different experience from those of us in a "cooling climate," where the bulk of our annual utility outlay is spent on air conditioning during the blazing hot summers.
I never considered one type of climate control more important that the other. But I have come across some articles lately on the federal budget cuts, one of which is cutting heating assistance for poor people, and one of the criticisms for the program is that some people use those funds for air conditioning.
This got me thinking: is heating really more vital to human well-being than air conditioning? I say no way! If you live in an area like I do where the temperature can be 100 degrees with 90 percent humidity, that is life-threatening, my friend.
Some people think we're being extravagant down here in the south to use air conditioning. But do they feel they're being extravagant heating their homes in winter? We use very little energy down here in the south during the winter. I guess we could say to the northerners: man up and live in a cold house. But of course, I wouldn't say that.
Others say: Turn off your air conditioner because our ancestors lived without air conditioning. The truth is, houses back then were built to allow for air flow. There were tall ceilings and leaky walls and porches and transoms.
Now the houses are tighter, with windows that barely open, and insulation in the walls.
If we are to cut down on air conditioning costs, we can either restore to our old homes the air-moving features of a century ago, or we can seal them up so a very little bit of air conditioning goes a long way.
No matter what we do, please don't discount our need for air conditioning. If you could experience what we experience down here, you'd know it's a matter of life and death, not just comfort.
In exchange, I won't challenge your need and right to warm your home in the winter. Deal?
Last year, I reported that LeadCheck swabs would soon be approved by the EPA for lead testing on drywall (sheetrock), plaster and stucco (in addition to wood and metal).
Unfortunately, that has not yet happened. Below are the EPA-approved test kits for various materials. Note that the State of Massachusetts administers its own program.
(Seattle – April 6, 2011) College Works Painting, a company operating in Oregon, has agreed to pay $32,508 penalty for alleged violations of the federal pre-renovation rule. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency alleged that the Irvine, California based company violated the federal pre-renovation rule while renovating nine properties in Portland, McMinnville, and Hillsboro, Oregon.
The federal Pre-Renovation Education Rule requires painters, contractors, carpenters, property-management companies and others involved in remodeling or renovation of pre-1978 housing to provide home owners and occupants with an EPA Renovate Right lead hazard information pamphlet. In 1978 lead was banned from paint used for housing.
This pamphlet educates home owners or occupants on how to minimize exposure to hazardous lead dust that is often generated during sanding, cutting, demolition or other renovation activities. The pamphlet also provides resources for more information about lead and minimizing lead hazards.
The violations in this case took place during renovation work done in 2008.
College Works failed to establish and maintain records necessary to demonstrate compliance with Toxic Substances Control Act regulations, according to the EPA. College Works has corrected the violations and is now in compliance with EPA’s Pre-Renovation Education Rule.
“Families have a right to know about possible lead health hazards around the home,” said Rick Albright, Director of EPA’s Office of Air, Waste and Toxics in Seattle. “By reading the Renovate Right pamphlet families can learn how to avoid hazardous lead dust during renovations.”
Lead-based paint can be on walls, ceilings, woodwork, windows, or even floors. When lead-based paint on these surfaces is chipped, sanded, or scraped, it breaks into tiny, barely visible pieces that children can swallow or inhale. Even small repair and renovation jobs, including repainting projects, can create enough lead dust and chips to harm children.
Lead poisoning is a silent disease that can cause serious health consequences for children because of its detrimental effects on both physical and mental development. Nearly one million children in the country are affected by elevated lead levels.
For copies of the Federal pamphlet, Renovate Right, the Federal Rule, or information on the hazards of lead paint, call 1-800-424-LEAD or via the Internet at: www.epa.gov/lead.
According to many, lead poisoning is the No. 1 environmental threat to children's health. Experts agree that the most common cause of lead poisoning is exposure to dust from deteriorated lead-based paint in the child's home or daycare.
And the EPA's RRP program is designed to help protect children and their developing bodies from this danger.
Happily, the federal program to reduce this hazard, known as the Lead Hazard Reduction program, escaped the recent federal budget cuts. I can't think of a better use for my tax dollars than protecting children from being poisoned.
See details of the Lead Hazard Reduction program here.
To see all cuts in the recently passed budget, go here. The very last item on this list is the $26 million for Lead Hazard Reduction program.
In order to comply with the RRP rule, renovators will incur costs for EPA certification and costs to take a training course from an EPA-accredited training provider, as well as for supplies needed in order to carry out the required lead-safe work practices designed to reduce exposure to lead dust from renovations.
Firm Certification and Training Costs: The rule requires renovation firms to become certified by EPA or an EPA-approved state RRP program in order to perform renovation, repair or painting activities for compensation in target housing or child-occupied facilities. EPA is required by law to charge firms a fee that covers the government’s cost of administering the program. Firm certification is valid for 5 years. The fee for most firms is $300, which is equivalent to a cost of $60 per year.
The Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule (RRP) does not impose requirements on homeowners, unless they are performing renovations in rental space. However, the hired firm would be in violation of the RRP Rule if it was uncertified and performing a covered renovation.
This week, I gave another large RRP class for Rebuilding Together in New Orleans. These are AmeriCorps folks and they will be traveling around the country to do rebuilding work.
During the class, I told these young folks about my previous class and the fun we had. I showed them this goofy picture and challenged them to top that. They did, as you can see above.
The take-away: When dealing with young people, you have to make the training fun. It's a fact.
NAHB — After a somewhat slow start because of a lack of certified trainers and training facilities, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has now certified more than 511,000 trained lead-safe renovators and 64,000 remodeling firms to date, putting them in compliance with the Lead: Renovation, Repair, and Painting rule enacted earlier this year, agency officials told NAHB during a meeting at the National Housing Center on Nov. 4.
The agency also reported that it has stepped up its campaign to inform consumers of the need to use certified remodelers when remodeling homes built before 1978.
Are you worried about moisture damage to your New Orleans home? You should be.
Nationally there are somewhere between $5 billion and $9 billion in moisture damage claims each year.
In New Orleans we are especially susceptible to moisture damage, not only from the rising tide but from the moisture in the air in the form of rain and humidity.
As we repair, restore or renovate our homes we must keep the basics of moisture management in mind so our work is not only attractive but durable, energy efficient and healthy.
This session will use the Four D’s to identify the basics of moisture management.
The USGBC just announced its 2010 Leadership Awards for green building and the Recovery School District in New Orleans is in the mix. Here's the announcement:
The Recovery School District received an award for its steadfast commitment to rebuilding healthy, high-performing schools for New Orleans community. Five years after the devastating hurricanes that ravaged New Orleans and much of the Gulf Coast, the District made rebuilding sustainably a priority, committing to build all public schools to a minimum of LEED Silver and reducing energy use by 30 percent. When phase one of the master plan is completed in 2013, there will be 17 new and 13 renovated LEED schools. The first of those schools opened in August 2009, with double-digit increases in test scores just in the past school year.
Above: L.B. Landry School in Algiers with solar hot water and other sustainable features. Congratulations to the district.
Green House — USA TODAY: U.S. homeowners will be able to get low-cost energy audits that rank a home's efficiency on a scale of one to 10 and get federally insured loans for upgrades, under an Obama administration plan to be announced today.
With the new Home Energy Score, consumers will find out how their home compares with others and how much money they could save by adding insulation, sealing air leaks or doing other upgrades.Nine U.S. communities will test the score, similar to a miles-per-gallon label for cars, before it's rolled out nationally next summer.
Vice President Joe Biden, facing center, dicusses home weatherization at a private home in Manchester, N.H., on August 26, He's slated to announce Tuesday a new initiative to score homes for energy efficiency and offer low-cost audits and federally-insured homes for upgrades.
"Together, these programs will grow the home retrofit industry and help middle-class families save money and energy," says Vice President Joe Biden, who plans to unveil the initiative at a meeting of his Middle Class Task Force.
Just FYI, I'll be part of the team putting on this CEU workshop Nov. 18 and Dec. 2. If you need CEU credits, and are in the area, register below:
Raised Floors with a Touch of Green
CEU Training for Builders and Code Officials
Nov. 18, 2010
Dec. 2, 2010
BREAKING IN to new methods or markets is such a challenge. Consumers are more energy conscious. Building codes are more demanding. The learning curve is steep and the first-time do-overs are too costly, right?
NOW - for just a few months - you can benefit from a builder's experience with :
Question: Does the Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule apply where no paint at all is present, such as in a 100-year-old unfinished basement?
Answer: No.The RRP Rule applies to activities that result in the disturbance of painted surfaces.Where there is no paint to disturb, the RRP Rule does not apply.
Have you seen Daily 5 Remodel, the new offering led by Leah Thayer, a former senior editor at Remodeling Magazine?
d5R, as it's known, is a daily blast of news and features custom made for remodeling contractors and others in the industry. Here's the shout-out I got today:
He Trains, They Build
"I've taught thousands of remodeling professionals and teach at least one RRP class a week, but the most fun I've ever had has been since Kathy (my wife) and I moved to New Orleans two years ago to be part of the rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina. Kathy and I live in a house facing the 1,300-acre New Orleans City Park with oak trees that were here when Columbus landed."
Question: Under the RRP Rule, can the required records and documentation be stored electronically rather than as paper copies?
Answer: Yes. The renovation firm is responsible for retaining and making available to EPA all records necessary to demonstrate compliance with the RRP Rule for a period of 3 years following completion of the renovation. The RRP Rule does not specify the format in which records must be kept.
