Environmental Inspections

Lead-Based Paint

Residential dwelling built prior to 1978 have the possibility of having lead in the paint and varnishes.  Lead was used in oil-based paints to give them durability and make them easier to clean.  In a few cases, lead was used in varnish as a drying agent and in some cases to give it a particular color.  Lead is also a toxin in the body, especially with young children under the age of 6 whose brains are still developing. 

The presence of lead in a dwelling is not a hazard until it is pulverized into a form that would allow it to be ingested into the body.  A lead hazard would be such conditions as peeling paint or impact and friction surfaces that create lead dust.  Small children typically touch lead dust and then put their fingers in their mouth. 

The US Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) has set forth guidelines for the evaluation and control of lead-based paint in housing (HUD Guidelines) which outlines two protocols for the detection of lead and lead hazards.

A Lead Inspection is the testing of painted and varnished surfaces of the house or building to determine if they are coated with lead-based paint.  The testing is done in a non-destructive manner with an XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence spectrum analyzer) technology that measures the lead concentration on the painted surface.  The HUD Guidelines outlines the procedures to conduct a lead inspection.  Typically one test is conducted on each component in each room.  A written report is prepared that documents the components tested and their concentrations if any of lead.  The lead inspection is important in determining where lead is located, but more importantly where it is not located.

A Lead-Based Paint Risk Assessment determines the presence of lead hazards in a dwelling.  The presence of lead can be assumed, however Assurance Inspection Services likes to conduct limited XRF testing to help determine the painting history.  A visual inspection is conducted that identifies where the paint coating have deteriorated.  The friction and impact surfaces are evaluated for their ability to produce lead dust.  Horizontal surfaces of the rooms where a child would eat, sleep and play are tested with a dust wipe to determine the concentrations of lead in the dust on surfaces a small child would touch.   The results of the XRF testing, visual assessment, dust wipe sampling and soil sampling are assessed and a report is written that outlines the lead hazards and how they can be reduced.  The report will give tips on how to live in a dwelling with lead-based paint.

Radon is an odorless gas that is formed from the deterioration of uranium that was deposited when the glaciers come through Wisconsin thousands of years earlier.  When a house is built over the uranium the radon gas can accumulate in the lower leaves as it tries to escape the lower levels of the earth.  As a health hazard, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer.  The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has studied the concentrations of radon in a house and has found that 4 piCu/L is the action level to remediate the radon.  Remediation involves forming a vacuum under the basement floor to direct the radon gases to the atmosphere. 

The concentration of radon gases can be measured with an electronic machine.  The machine is exposed to the suspected area for 48 hours.  Prior to testing the house needs to be closed up for 12 hours and remain close for the 48 hour testing period.  A report is written that will show the radon concentrations of radon gas and recommendations based on the average concentrations.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was used extensively in building materials.  Asbestos fibers will cause problems with the lungs if breathed in large quantities.  Asbestos fibers can be within most building materials except glass and wood.  Typically materials that can be pulverized into a dust, such as the thermal coverings on heat pipes, are at risk to a home owner. 

Asbestos must be tested in a laboratory to verify its presence.  The EPA and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) has guidelines for the testing of asbestos.   The EPA and the WDNR recommend that at least three samples be tested from different areas of the building material that is suspected. 

An asbestos inspection consists of a visual inspection to inventory suspected asbestos containing materials and then the testing of the materials by an outside laboratory.  The sample gathering is a destructive type test.

Mold in a home is normally caused by the presence of moisture on a surface that will sustain the growth of a mold spore. Mold is suspected to cause repertory problems.  There is very little research on the effects of mold in the body..  Mold is a naturally occurring organism that can be both helpful and harmful.

Assurance Inspection Services follows the Standards of Practice of the International Mold Association to conduct a survey of the readily accessible areas of a dwelling to determine if there are any conditions that create a “red flag” that would be conducive to the growth of mold.   The areas where the “red flags” were found are then tested for the presence of mold spores.  The areas tested on the interior are compared to the natural occurring mold spores on the exterior.  The mold swabs and air samples are tested in a laboratory to determine if they are of concern.