Standardization News

Permanently removing all traces of lead-based paint hazards is a crucial element in the rehabilitation of older buildings, particularly those built prior to 1970. Lead-based paint abatement techniques will be aided by two new ASTM International standards that focus on composite wipe sample preparation for analysis following lead abatement activities in buildings.

The new standards are E2913, Practice for the Hotplate Digestion of Lead from Composited Wipe Samples; and E2914, Practice for Ultrasonic Extraction of Lead from Composited Wipe Samples.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires wipe clearance testing of settled dust for reoccupancy of target housing (housing built before 1970) that has undergone lead abatement. In addition, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires that target housing owned by the federal government or receiving funds from HUD undergo wipe clearance testing of dust for reoccupancy following renovation that disturbs a surface coated with lead-based paint.

E2913 and E2914 cover recognized methods of composited wipe sample preparation, and each method uses a composited sample of up to four individual wipe samples of settled dust as collected from the floor of a single room.

"Four-wipe composite dust sampling provides a very reliable method for correctly detecting clearance failure of a floor versus a randomly selected single dust wipe sample of the floor," says ASTM member Kenn White, principal, Consultive Services.

The standards will be primarily used by laboratories that are recognized under the EPA National Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program as capable of performing the analysis of wipe samples for the presence of lead. The standards will provide these labs with reference methods on which to base their standard operating procedures for pre-analysis preparation of composite wipe samples. In addition, E2913 and E2914 will have a secondary/informational audience of certified/licensed Lead-Based Paint Inspectors and Risk Assessors.

E2913 and E2914 were developed by Subcommittee E06.23 on Lead Hazards Associated with Buildings, part of ASTM International Committee E06 on Performance of Buildings.

To purchase ASTM standards, visit www.astm.org and search by the standard designation, or contact ASTM Sales (phone: 877-909-ASTM; sales@astm.org).

CONTACT Technical Information: Kenneth T. (Kenn) White, Consultive Services • Virginia Beach, Va. • Phone: 757-499-4420 | ASTM Staff: Stephen Mawn • Phone: 610-832-9726 | Upcoming Meeting: Oct. 5-8 • October Committee Week • New Orleans, La.