Does an older BC house have lead paint, and is it safe to renovate?

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Lead paint was common in BC homes built before 1960 and used less until 1990; it's a hazard once it chips or turns to dust, so test before sanding, scraping or tearing out walls. Lead paint is mostly a renovation question: paint in good condition, out of children's reach, is not a hazard on its own, but sanding, scraping, burning or knocking down a painted wall makes lead dust that young children and pregnant people should not breathe or swallow. Look up the address or PID on PlaceDossier to see the record for that lot. Which houses: Lead-based paint was commonly used in homes built before 1960, and both inside and outside paint made between 1960 and 1990 may hold lead in smaller amounts. Consumer paint for indoor use made in Canada or the US since 1992 is virtually lead-free (HealthLink BC File #31). A newer coat can hide older lead paint under it. Why it matters: Lead paint is a health hazard once it chips, flakes or is crushed or sanded into dust, mostly by swallowing it. Infants, children and pregnant people are at highest risk, and there is no known safe level of lead exposure (HealthLink BC File #31). Doors, windows, stairs and railings wear it into dust over time. Testing: A home test kit, a paint chip sent to a certified laboratory, or a licensed contractor with an x-ray instrument can tell whether a surface has lead paint; the health authority's environmental health officer can advise (HealthLink BC File #31). Leave it, cover it or remove it: Leaving lead paint alone can be safer than removing it, as long as it isn't chipping or within children's reach; paint in good condition can be covered with non-lead paint, vinyl wallpaper, wallboard or panelling. Disturbing it makes lead dust even under a newer coat (HealthLink BC File #31). Doing the work yourself: HealthLink BC's advice: move toddlers, young children and pregnant people out until the work is done, seal the room and the heating vents, wet surfaces before scraping, prefer chemical stripping to sanding or grinding, clean up daily with wet wipes and a HEPA vacuum, bag the waste, and wear a NIOSH-approved respirator. It suggests a trained professional for harder jobs. Hired renovation or demolition: Before work begins on renovating or demolishing a building, every employer responsible for the work, and the owner, must have a qualified person inspect the building and the site and identify any hazardous materials, asbestos and lead among them (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation s. 20.112 (1) to (3); see asbestos). WorkSafeBC names removing lead paint and tearing down walls coated with it among the work that exposes workers to lead. Paint sold today: Paint and similar coatings sold in Canada must not contain more than 90 mg/kg of total lead, with exceptions for anti-corrosive and anti-weathering coatings on farm buildings and equipment and a few other uses (Surface Coating Materials Regulations s. 2). What it means for a buyer: On a house built before 1990 that you plan to renovate, price lead testing and safe removal into the work, and plan where young children and anyone pregnant will live while it's done. Ask the seller whether the paint was ever tested or removed.

Does an older BC house have lead paint, and is it safe to renovate?

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