Lead Paint

Up until the mid 1960’s, lead was used to make some kinds of paint for windows, doors and other woodwork as well as for some metal items, like radiators. A few minor uses continued until the 1980’s. We provide fast and accurate testing of paint to confirm if it contains lead. There are two main ways of sampling for lead in paint, these are; swab/pen test and laboratory analysed sample.

Lead paint is dangerous as lead is a toxic substance that can be harmful to health when inhaled or ingested. When lead based paint is scraped, sanded or deteriorates, it can create lead dust and chips, posing risks, especially to children and pregnant women. Lead affects the nervous system and causes cognitive impairment, behavioural issues, and reduced IQ in children. Pregnant women exposed to lead may experience complications, and lead exposure can also harm other organs. Even low levels of lead exposure can have long-term consequences, making it essential to address the issue safely, following regulations for the removal and handling of lead paint in older buildings.

This type of testing is simple, fast and accurate, however, it only confirms if lead is present but does not confirm the percentage of lead in the paint. To fully understand the risk we recommend getting samples tested at the lab. These results will detail the level of lead in the paint and give a much better insight into the risks posed by the paint.

A sample of paint analysed in the lab will detail the percentage of lead in the paint and give a much better insight into the risks posed by the paint. Understanding the percentage of lead in the paint allows us to recommend the most appropriate methods to manage the risks.

To obtain a sample our surveyors will need to attend you premises and take samples of any paint that may potentially contain lead. The samples are analysed in a UKAS accredited lab for lead content. We provide a certificate of analysis which details where the samples were taken and the percentage of lead they contain.