How To Prepare For A Visual Inspection and Dust Wipe Sampling
Each municipality in the State of New Jersey is different in terms of if a Visual Assessment or a Dust Wipe Sampling (includes the Visual Assessment) is required. It is important to prepare for in advance so you can avoid additional costs if your property fails the inspection. As per the law, all failures must be reported to the municipality where the property is located.
Please note: If a lead-based paint hazard is identified in an inspection of one of the dwelling units in a building consisting of two or three dwelling units, then the lead contractor or permanent local agency shall inspect the remainder of the building’s dwelling units, with the exception of those dwelling units that have a valid lead-safe certification.
A Visual Inspection is an examination of all painted building components for deteriorated paint or visible surface dust, debris, or residue. The inspector will also look for paint chips or dust from painting activities that were not cleaned up and any paint residue on floors. We recommend that you review the checklist below before scheduling an inspection:
Visual Pre-Inspection Checklist
● All windows, window troughs, walls, floors, moldings, etc., (any painted surface in the house) should be free of any visible chipping, cracked or peeling paint.
● All child accessible areas should be free of any paint dust
● In a duplex or multi-unit building, any common area (laundry rooms, hallways, stairs, basements, porches, etc.) should be free of any visible chipping, cracked or peeling paint.
Dust Wipe Sampling testing consists of testing (via a “handwipe like” towel), each bedroom (1 windowsill and 1 floor below) as well as a common area, such as a living room (1 windowsill, 1 and 1 floor below). The dust wipe samples are sent to our EPA Certified Laboratory for detailed analysis.
Dust Wipe Pre-Inspection Checklist
● All windowsills, window troughs, and floors below the sills should be cleaned.
● Carpeted floors should be vacuumed.
● If any windowsill has any visible cracks or peeling paint, it should be repaired and repainted.
● Any painted surface in the house (walls, door frames, etc) should be free of any visible chipping, cracked or peeling
paint.
● All child accessible areas should be free of any paint dust.
● In a duplex or multi-unit building, any common areas
(laundry rooms, hallways, stairs, basements, porches, etc.) should be free of any visible chipping, cracked or peeling paint.
To better understand the NJ Lead Based Paint Law, please see the DCA guide to Lead-Based Paint in Rental Dwellings as per the link below:
Should your property Fail the Visual or Dust Wipe Inspection:
As your property was constructed before 1978, any remediation work may fall under the EPA’s RRP requirements. We advise you to please see the link below to understand what type of work requires a licensed RRP according to EPA guidelines.
https://www.epa.gov/lead/renovation-repair-and-painting-program-contractors
In addition, we have attached a link to the HUD guidelines which will provide more comprehensive information on how to remediate, control and prevent lead hazards in your unit.
HUD GUIDELINES: (VISIT CHAPTER 11 - INTERIM CONTROLS)
https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/healthy_homes/lbp/hudguidelines