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Does My Business Need XRF Lead Testing?

Name: Exit Mold
Address: 1 Irwin Ct., Lynbrook, New York, 11563, United States
Telephone: (516) 512-7877

Running a business is not for the faint of heart. It takes a lot of work every day to produce a quality product or offer a reliable service. In addition to the daily tasks required for a successful business venture, you also have to take care of your building.

Whether you run a large warehouse or a small storefront, keeping it clean and safe for your team and your customers is vital. This is especially true if your building is older and has aging materials.

If your building was built before 1978, there is a chance that your property has lead paint, which can be dangerous for everyone under your roof.

If this applies to your building, you might be wondering, “Does my business need XRF lead testing?” In some cases, yes! Let’s explore more about what XRF lead testing is and which businesses need it.

What Is Lead Paint?

Technology has come a long way over the last 50 years. Up until the mid 1950s, lead paint was considered a widespread solution for many home and business painting needs. It was vibrant, long-lasting and cheaper to make than other paint, and it was used in many different circumstances.

Unfortunately, lead paint was discovered to be toxic, and ingesting paint chips or airborne lead dust can make you really sick or cause chronic pain and neurological changes. Because of this discovery, it was officially banned from use in 1978. While you can’t buy lead paint these days, it does not mean your building doesn’t have lead paint.

Lead paint was banned from circulation in the 70s, but you might still have lead paint on your walls that was applied before the ban. In some cases, lead paint can be easy to spot, especially if it is breaking down or wearing away.

Look for these signs of lead paint in your business:

Flaking or chipping paint
Alligatoring of the paint (peeling off in a scaly pattern)
Chalky residue left on fingers when rubbed
Bubbling or cracking around the paint

If you notice any of these signs, it’s time to have your property inspected by a lead testing professional.

What Is Lead Testing?

Another unfortunate fact of lead paint is that it can be hard to spot if it is still in good condition. The above signs clearly indicate that you are dealing with toxic paint, but if your paint just looks like regular paint, you probably won’t know whether or not to investigate further.

That’s where lead testing comes into play! Professional lead testing is a simple process that can identify problematic areas around your business without causing damage to your property.

XRF lead testing, or X-ray fluorescence testing, uses X-ray beams to detect the presence of lead in your paint. This process is a simple and non-destructive test that doesn’t require removing paint chips or any other demolition. If lead is detected, you are then equipped with the knowledge you need to take action.

Is Lead Testing Required?

If you operate a residential property or are a landlord, you are required by Local Law 31 to test your property for the presence of lead paint. In fact, the deadline for this test to be done is August 2025!

This law was enacted to help protect children ages 6 and under who live under your roof. Children are most susceptible to the effects of lead poisoning, and it can cause permanent delays or disabilities if the paint is not removed from your property.

If you own a business or are simply inquiring about your residential home, you don’t necessarily need to test for lead. However, knowing what is on your walls is always helpful and can keep you and your family safe.

Testing can also protect you from legal troubles when you eventually sell your home or property. If you know that your property has lead paint but don’t disclose that information or fix the problem, you could wind up dealing with legal recourse upon discovery.

What Happens if Lead Paint is Found?

So, you go through the XRF lead testing process, and lead is found. Now what? Do you have to close or move your families out? Of course not! If you have lead in your building, the next step would be to hire a professional lead paint removal team to assess the situation. In most cases, the paint can be carefully removed with the use of wet vacuums and specialized stripping agents, and the air is carefully filtered to remove any airborne particles.

In other cases, the lead paint can be encapsulated. This process is usually only done if the lead paint is still in good condition or if it is behind many layers of other non-toxic paint. Encapsulation involves applying a sealing agent to the paint to keep it from breaking down and chipping.

Violating a Lead Paint Hazard

One thing you shouldn’t do is ignore a lead paint hazard. If your building is reported to the HPD, you could be liable for civil penalties up to $1,500. In addition to the financial cost of the violation, you are also putting your families at risk of lead poisoning.

Children are naturally curious, and as the paint on your walls or bannisters starts to break down, they may chew or suck on the chips or the wood itself. Over time, lead particles build up in their systems and can lead to symptoms like:

Developmental delays
Sluggishness and fatigue
Loss of appetite
Learning difficulties

It is your responsibility to care for the people in your buildings, so do the right thing by having your property tested for lead paint. Together, we can ensure our community is safe, secure, and lead-free!

Now is the time to test for lead paint. Call the team at Exit Mold today at (516) 512-7877 for quick and reliable XRF lead testing.

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