Working with JSA
Lead inspections
Lead inspections, risk assessments, LIRA services, dust and soil sampling, and post-work ClearanceA post-work evaluation against the criteria that apply to the project. It may include visual examination and sampling; it is different from the original material inspection. examinations.
Start with your questions.
Lead-based paint may be present in homes and buildings constructed before 1978. Paint in good condition may not create an immediate hazard, but deteriorated paint and renovation work can produce lead-contaminated chips and dust.
New to this topic? Read our lead guide →
Your agreed ScopeThe work included in the assignment: areas, materials, methods, reporting, and any exclusions. will describe the areas we assess, the work included, and any limits on access or testing.
Understand the context
What this service looks at
Lead can affect nearly every system in the body. Young children and pregnant people are especially vulnerable, and even small renovation projects can spread dust beyond the immediate work area if lead-safe practices are not used.
EPA: Reducing lead exposure at home ↗Common materials, locations, or project types
- Interior and exterior painted walls, ceilings, trim, and siding
- Windows, doors, jambs, stairs, railings, and other friction or impact surfaces
- Paint chips and settled dust on floors, sills, and troughs
- Bare soil near older painted buildings, roadways, or former industrial uses
- Older plumbing, fixtures, solder, and service lines as potential water sources
When an assessment can help
- Before renovation or paint-disturbing work in a pre-1978 home
- When paint is peeling, chalking, cracking, or creating visible debris
- When a child has an elevated blood lead level or an exposure source is suspected
- When a housing, insurance, rehabilitation, or compliance program requires an assessment
- After lead hazard-control work when clearance is required
What you may receive
- Room-by-room or component-specific findings
- Laboratory and instrument results with clear interpretations
- Hazard-control or lead-safe work recommendations when needed
- Clearance documentation following eligible work
What the work involves
- Discuss the property, occupancy, planned work, and reason for testing
- Use the appropriate combination of XRF testing, visual assessment, dust wipes, soil, or paint-chip sampling
- Evaluate the results against the applicable project or regulatory criteria
- Provide a report that distinguishes lead-based paint, lead hazards, and clearance findings
Prepare for a useful conversation
Before your visit
Share the property address, how the building is used, the work being planned, and the areas of concern. Include previous reports, photographs, drawings, access restrictions, and deadlines when available.
Agree on the scope
Confirm which areas and materials are included, whether sampling or follow-up visits are planned, and who needs the report. A limited assessment describes the areas evaluated; it does not automatically cover every part of a property.
Use the complete report
Read conclusions alongside the scope, laboratory or instrument results, photographs, and limitations. If the planned work changes or additional materials are discovered, ask whether further assessment is needed.
Prepare your project details →Your questions are welcome
Let’s talk about your property.
You don’t have to choose a test on your own. Tell us what you’ve noticed or what work you’re planning, and we’ll help you understand the next step.