2011 June Steps

Step by Step

Celebra 25 Yeating rs!

June Meeting Published by the Remodelers Council of Lincoln • June 2011

Chairperson’s Message

by Jenny Samek

Thank you to everyone who attended our May meeting and brought donations for the Matt Talbot Kitchen. The donations were greatly appreciated and the building is beautiful. It’s wonderful to see a historic landmark brought back to life.

Many of our members have been proactive about getting educated and certified to remodel pre-1978 homes containing lead paint. If you haven’t become certified, please do. If you are certified, please make sure you are following the correct procedures. The article on the next page came from the May 17 issue of ReNews from NAHB. In the article, NAHB advises remodelers to review the requirements of the lead regulation and use the resources available at www.nahb.org/leadpaint to prepare for compliance. The member-only tools include sample contract language, liability and insurance guidance, materials for educating consumers and more. Please take advantage of these tools provided to members.

Our next meeting is our Picnic in the Park on June 8th at Antelope Park. As the Remodelers Council of Lincoln is coming up on its 25th Anniversary in July, we’ll be recognizing the charter members at the picnic. Hope to see you there!

Tom Powell (Mid-Alliance Insurance Associates, LLC), Delrae Hirschman (Delrae Designs) and Mike Benker (HBAL) visit at the May meeting.

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Picnic in the Park June 8, 2011 11:30 a.m.

Antelope Park • Shelter #2 Lunch from Lee’s Chicken Cost $9/person Please send your RSVP to info@hbal.org or call 402-423-4225 by June 2.

TP Run!

Bring Toilet Paper, Toothbrushes, Soap, Other Necessities to HBAL through July 8 The Remodelers Council is having its fourth TP Run (Toilet Paper Run) to help the clients of the Community Mental Health Center (CMHC). These clients are on fixed incomes, and after rent and medical expenses, often are left with very little money for the basic necessities. And, with a decline in the amount of items given from the Center for People in Need, donations from the Remodelers Council of Lincoln are even more helpful than ever before.

Items that would be greatly appreciated by CMHC & its clients: • Toilet paper • Laundry soap • Shampoo • Toothpaste • Sanitary products for women • Bar soap for men • Bath gel soap for women • Cleaning supplies • Poly-grip Please pick up an extra roll of toilet paper or bar of soap on your next shopping trip, and drop it by the HBAL office before July 8. Thanks for helping to take care of our community!

Step by Step

EPA Takes Enforcement Action on Lead Rule A YouTube video of workers scraping paint from the siding of an old Maine home has led to an enforcement action under the Lead: Renovation, Repair, and Painting rule by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region I (New England) office.

Despite being an EPA-Certified Renovator, the contractor – Colin Wentworth of Rockland, Maine – failed to apply for firm certification and follow the work practices required in the regulation, such as posting warning signs, setting up plastic containment around work areas, collecting dust and debris, using high-speed scraping machines equipped with HEPA filters, and maintaining records to demonstrate compliance with the rule, EPA said. At least six children, one of whom was under six years old, lived in the four-unit building at the time of the project.

“It’s important that remodelers get trained and obtain certification from EPA, as well as follow the lead-safe work practices outlined in the rule to minimize exposing children to lead hazards,” said NAHB Remodelers Chairman Bob Peterson, CGR, CAPS, CGP, and president of Associates in Building & Design, Ltd. in Ft. Collins, CO. “NAHB has created resources for remodelers to help them comply with the rule and adapt their businesses accordingly.”

This is the first action brought regarding lead-safe work practice violations under the rule, which became effective a year ago. The maximum penalty for the alleged violations is $37,500 per violation, per day.

“It’s interesting to note that EPA chose to launch it’s enforcement program by taking action as a result of an anonymous public video posting,” said Amy Chai, senior counsel at NAHB. The specific fine for this enforcement action was not indicated, but the contractor could be liable for a maximum of $37,500 per violation, per day, according to the EPA. “Many renovation firms have done the right thing by becoming certified, sending their employees to training and following the appropriate, health-protective work practices. Enforcement of these rules is important to protecting children and the business interests of those contractors who are following the rule,” said Curt Spalding, the regional administrator of the EPA’s New England office (Region I), in a press release.

NAHB advises remodelers to review the requirements of the lead regulation and use the resources available at www.nahb.org/leadpaint to prepare for compliance. The member-only tools include sample contract language, liability and insurance guidance, materials for educating consumers and more.

Summary of the Lead Rule

Here’s a quick summary of the EPA lead paint rule.

1. Training and Certification

All firms working in pre-1978 homes need to be certified by the EPA. Firms need to complete the application for certification and submit a fee of $300.

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. Find an approved trainer by searching the directory of EPA-approved training providers.

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

Before work starts on a pre-1978 renovation, the Certified Renovator must educate residents by distributing the Renovate Right pamphlet, post warning signs outside the work area and supervise setting up containment to prevent spreading dust. The Certified Renovator must also be present during specific stages of the work.

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.

The EPA has a sample checklist for keeping records of required work practices.

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: 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.

Remodelers are also required to share a copy of records developed under the rule requirements with the customer within 30 days of completing the remodeling work.

4. Exemptions

It is important to note that these work practices do not apply to residential structures or child-occupied facilities built after 1978, and some or all of the rule’s requirements may be waived if: • The repairs are minor, with interior work disturbing less than 6 square feet or exteriors disturbing less than 20 square feet being exempt.

• The house or components test lead-free by a Certified Risk Assessor, Lead Inspector, or Certified Renovator.

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Remodelers Council Golf Tournament

Lincoln Home Builders Care Foundation Scholarship Golf Tournament Friday, August 5, 2011 Registration: 9:00 - 10:00

Shotgun Start immediately following registration

Hidden Valley Golf Course 10501 Pine Lake Road

$65 per golfer • 4-Person Scramble Friday, August 5, 2011 promises to be another day of fun, friendship and competition.

Please join us for the 19th Annual Remodelers Council Golf Tournament. The tournament is open to all HBAL members, Remodelers Council members, spouses and guests.

• Check-in: 9:00 - 10:00 • The tournament format is 18 holes, 4-person scramble.

• Shotgun start.

• Tournament is limited to 36 foursomes.

• Hamburgers & hot dogs will be served all day.

• This will be a handicapped event. Flights will be determined based on a 9 hole score randomly selected.

• $65 includes golf, cart, food & prizes.

• Prizes awarded in the banquet room upstairs following the tournament.

Sponsorship!!! If you are interested in sponsoring a hole or contributing to the Scholarship Golf Tournament, call the HBAL office at 402-423-4225. The cost to sponsor a hole is $100. All sponsors will be listed in the Lincoln Business Builder and a sign will be posted at the golf tournament.

To sign up, you may fax (402-423-4251) or mail this form to HBAL…or call (402-423-4225).

Remodelers Council Scholarship Golf Tournament Registration If you are interested in a designated foursome, please register all four players together. If not, you will be assigned a team.

1st Player ___________________________Company _______________________________________________ 2nd Player __________________________Company _______________________________________________ 3rd Player ___________________________Company _______________________________________________ 4th Player ___________________________Company _______________________________________________ Enclosed is $_________ for_____ players.

Make checks payable to Lincoln Home Builders Care Foundation.

Prepayment is required to play.

Fax this form to HBAL at 402-423-4251.

Or send it to: Lincoln Home Builders Care Foundation • 6100 S. 58th Street, Suite C • Lincoln, NE 68516

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