[Greenbuilding] Reusing Painted Wood

[Brad Guy]

Hardik, et al,
If this wood/paint is older than 1978, when LBP in
paint was outlawed, please consider:

1) purchase lead-based paint (LBP) test sticks and
take several samples of per any different paint colors
in whatever batch you have. If it has several layers,
scrap away top to get little bit of top and what is
underneath. While this is not technically the EPA or
OSHA official method, it is better than nothing to
determine if LBP.

2) if test positive and heavily flaking, your local
jurisdiction may consider this a hazardous material,
use extreme care in considering passing this off to
anyone else - without at minimum removing the flaking
paint. Also use care yourself, such as gloves,
handwashing, etc.  If paint tests positive and intact
not flaking, then at least consider who you might pass
it off to (i.e not going to start sanding it in front
of a child, or use for interior use without either
removing the paint or coating it with a sealer of some
kind, or throw it into a mulcher and then all over the
ground somewhere) and use some judgement in letting
them know if tested positive for LBP. 

I am not remotely suggesting you throw the baby (the
wood) out with the bathwater (paint), but be aware and
be a good steward to the next user, thanks.

Brad 

Brad Guy
Ph.D. Program
School of Architecture
Carnegie Mellon University
Cell: 814-571-8659

President
Building Materials Reuse Association
www.buildingreuse.org

Please note: the email address "gbg2 at psu.edu" is no longer valid.

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
http://mail.yahoo.com