Essential lead paint surveys performed in London and the South East
Here at Abastra, we have been conducting lead paint surveys for our thousands of satisfied clients in London, Luton, Basildon, Chelmsford, Maidstone, Eastbourne, Brighton, Southampton, Portsmouth, and further afield, right across the UK. An important part of any commercial project involving the disturbance of paintwork, lead paint surveys are a legal requirement for all businesses.
Abastra has held an asbestos licence since 1989. The company has been an ARCA (Asbestos Removal Contractors Association) member for over two decades, and recently had its 2018 asbestos licence renewed.
Lead paint surveys
The paintwork on most buildings, whether they are public, domestic, or commercial, is likely to include a certain amount of lead content, and with older paintwork the lead content tends to be higher. The existence of lead in paint is not necessarily a hazard, but a survey determines the concentration of lead, the state of repair of the paint, whether the planned work will cause the paint to deteriorate, and whether these items combined result in an acceptable level of risk.
Why is lead paint dangerous?
Heavy concentrations of lead in your paint can prove to be poisonous. Generally speaking, while the paint is intact, you should be fine. However, once it starts flaking and disintegrating, particles of paint dust can filter into the air. Long-term exposure to lead paint can lead to medical problems with the brain, kidneys, and nervous system. Young children are particularly at risk, owing to their tendency to put things in their mouths, which could include flakes of paint.
Do I need a lead paint survey?
At the moment, lead paint surveys are only a legal requirement for commercial premises, and then only if some new development is likely to damage the paint. Domestic properties and certain public buildings, such as schools, are not legally obliged to have a lead paint survey conducted. However, if you know or suspect that your building was painted prior to 1992, when lead paint was banned in the UK, it is worth arranging for a survey, especially if the paint is cracked or flaking.
What happens next?
Once we’ve assessed the potential health implications of the levels of lead in your paint, we can advise on the next step. Sometimes it can be safely patched up and encapsulated; other times, a complete lead paint removal may be in order. Based in Basildon, Essex, we mainly operate in London and the South East (including Luton, Basildon, Chelmsford, Maidstone, Eastbourne, Brighton, Southampton and Portsmouth), as well as providing lead paint surveys for clients across the UK.