Educational Updates

Department of Health Memo regarding Window Glaze

Read the New Your Times May 4th Article, "The New Rules of Remodeling" by M.P. Mcqueen 

Blower Door Testing in Action on Multi-family Buildings

Home Star Energy Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 6, 2010

By a vote of 246 to 161 the House of Representatives today voted to approve the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010 (H.R. 5019), which authorizes creation of a national energy retrofit program for American homeowners. The vote marks a significant milestone in the progress of the bipartisan HOME STAR legislation, although it's important to note that the authorization bill passed today must be matched by the Senate, and followed up with an appropriation bill to allocate funds for the $6 billion program.

"We applaud the U.S. House on the [bipartisan] passage of the HOME STAR legislation," Efficiency First chairman Mike Rogers said following the vote. "HOME STAR will create good American jobs in construction, manufacturing and related industries. It will help American homeowners improve the efficiency of their homes and save money. And it will provide a solid foundation for our country's energy policy and energy security. We encourage the Senate to act quickly to get the HOME STAR bill to the President's desk and get our

workers back on the job."
Efficiency First policy chair Matt Golden added that "Today's bipartisan passage of the HOME STAR bill in the U.S. House of Representatives shows how when industry, labor, business and environmental groups cooperate, we can find solution for America. HOME STAR will create hundreds of thousands of good quality jobs, while saving families money on energy bills. Efficiency First, representing companies in all 50 states employing over 150,000 American works, applauds Congress's leadership and vision on this important issue."
In the past four days, approximately 50,000 HOME STAR Coalition supporters called Congress urging their support of HOME STAR. The difference you make in passing this legislation has been essential to its passage. Thank you for your help.
As attention now turns to the Senate, Efficiency First will continue its strong advocacy for the HOME STAR program, which was designed to stimulate rapid job creation in construction and related manufacturing and retail by boosting demand for residential energy efficiency improvements. More information is available at www.efficiencyfirst.org/home-star

Comments Requested on the EPA RRP Update

We would like your feedback regarding the EPA RRP Updates! Please visit the EPA's Lead in the News site to get more information.

To summarize:
The record keeping requirements have been changed. We now must give copies of our records within 30 days of the final invoice or completion of the project to the home owner or resident.  The records that we turn over must demonstrate compliance with the training and work practices of the RRP rule, basically the checklist and the results of any testing.
The Opt-Out provision has been eliminated and lead safe work practices will apply to all pre 1978 houses.  This is something we have been expecting and most of us were informed during our training this provision would be removed.
Both of these amendments are final and will take effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.  The Renovate Right brochure will be amended accordingly by the EPA and NARI will alert its members when the new brochure is available.
The EPA also issued a guidance letter on April 20, 2010 to its Enforcement Division Directors in all regions announcing the rule would be fully effective on April 22, 2010.  EPA will not take any enforcement action against firms who have applied for firm certification before April 22 and are just waiting for their paperwork, they expect these applications to be processed by June.  EPA will still enforce rules about work practices and training requirements for these firms.  This letter makes no mention of firms that apply after April 22 for firm certification so they are telling their enforcement people to go to work and begin enforcement.
If your firm is not certified and you do not have trained renovators on staff you will be breaking the law!
The EPA also published two proposed amendments to the RRP that are now open for comment. Lead: Clearance and Clearance Testing Requirements for RRP will require dust wipe testing after completing the existing cleaning verification procedures for some/most renovations.  The EPA will be accepting comments on this proposal for 60 days and expects to finalize the amendment by July 2011.
Lead: RRP for Public and Commercial Buildings will apply lead-safe work practices and training requirements to public and commercial buildings.  The EPA has set deadlines to issue a proposal by December 15, 2011 and take final action by July 15, 2013.
NARI will be actively involved during the comment period for both of these amendments. The changes to the clearance procures are a huge change and will make the renovation process much more expensive with required dust wipe samples sent to an independent testing lab for verification that lead levels are below prescribed levels.  The current text is very confusing about the types of projects that this will effect, but it seems to be most projects!
In the publications made on the 23rd the EPA asks for specific comments on proposals made in these amendments.  While anyone is free to make comments directly to the EPA, comments that come from an association, grouped together will carry more weight so we ask that you forward any comments directly to NARI so that we may compile an educated response to these amendments.
Look for more information about the proposed clearance testing from NARI in the immediate future.

Sincerely,
 
David Merrick, UDCR, MCR
Chairman, Government Affairs Committee
National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI)

Please comment here about the RRP update.