Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
trim, sills, aprons, doors, baseboards, porch components, etc. Replacement
is appropriate when there are no historic preservation or aesthetic concerns
associated with rehabilitation activities. Replacement can produce moderate
to significant quantities of lead-contaminated dust. As a consequence, care
must be exercised in removing building components to minimize lead dust
production and dispersal. Component removal and replacement must
always be followed by specialized cleaning activities.
Replacement is one of the easiest and quickest ways to abate LBP. It truly
is a permanent abatement measure. It can be combined with other rehabili-
tation activities to upgrade the quality of the building environment. Replace-
ment can, however, be expensive, both in the costs of new materials and labor.
Enclosure is also commonly used in LBP abatement. An
enclosure is a sealed, dust-tight barrier. It is designed to isolate LBP from
building occupants. Materials used as enclosures include wood paneling,
plywood, fiber board, wood underlayment, drywall, vinyl tile, and alumi-
num. Enclosures are affixed to floors, interior walls, and exterior wood siding.
They are designed not to be easily breached, particularly by small children.
Since LBP remains, enclosures must be monitored periodically to assure
they are in good condition. Because they can be disturbed during renovation
activities, future owners must be informed of their presence.
The use of aluminum or vinyl materials to cover exterior wood siding
with LBP is a low-cost, long-term solution to controlling the production of
lead paint chips and dust around the perimeter of residential buildings. It
reduces maintenance requirements and, in most cases, enhances the appear-
ance of building structures.
b.
Enclosure.
Encapsulation is recommended for materials that
are in good condition. It involves the application of specially formulated
coating materials over painted surfaces to form a strong, flexible, and durable
surface that cannot be easily broken or chipped. Encapsulants are designed
to prevent the production of paint chips by impact or friction and exposures
that may be associated with children chewing encapsulated surfaces. Encap-
sulants, as a consequence, should be relatively nontoxic.
Encapsulants vary in their quality, reliability, and compatibility with
painted surfaces. Because of incompatibility problems, encapsulants must
be patch-tested on painted surfaces before they are permanently applied.
Encapsulation is often less expensive than other lead abatement mea-
sures. Though it reduces lead exposure hazards, lead nevertheless remains.
Subsequent repair and renovation activities may disturb encapsulated sur-
faces. In some cases, encapsulants fail and separate from the covered LBP.
The use of encapsulation as a lead abatement method, as a consequence,
must be coupled with an ongoing monitoring program to assess damage or
deterioration.
c.
Encapsulation.
LBP can be abated directly by using techniques that
remove it from painted substrates. Paint removal can be conducted both
d.
Paint removal.
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