Inspection or risk assessment — which do you need?
| Lead-based paint inspection | Lead hazard risk assessment | |
|---|---|---|
| Question it answers | Is lead-based paint present, and on which components? | Is there a lead hazard right now — deteriorated paint, contaminated dust or soil — and how should it be controlled? |
| Method | XRF analyzer readings on every painted component type, room by room | Visual assessment plus dust wipes, soil samples, and targeted paint testing |
| Typical use | Disclosures, HUD program intake, abatement planning, "lead-free" determinations | HUD-funded rehab, tenant complaints, EBL (elevated blood lead) follow-up, hazard-control planning |
| Result | Component-by-component inventory; a lead-free finding exempts the property from disclosure rules | Hazard report with interim-control or abatement options |
Many projects need one or the other; HUD-assisted rehabilitation often needs both (a combined inspection/risk assessment). Tell us the property and the program and we'll specify the right one.
Who must be certified
In Texas, lead-based paint inspections, risk assessments, and clearance examinations in housing and child-occupied facilities must be performed by individuals certified through the DSHS Environmental Lead Program, working under a certified lead firm. Training alone doesn't make someone certified — ask for the certification number, and check it. TSEC's inspectors and risk assessors carry current DSHS certifications; numbers are provided with every proposal.
Services
- Lead-based paint inspections by XRF, with same-visit component-level results
- Lead hazard risk assessments and lead hazard screens for HUD programs
- Dust wipe, soil, and paint-chip sampling with accredited laboratory analysis
- Clearance examinations after abatement, interim controls, or renovation
- Support for housing authorities, CDBG and HOME rehab programs, and Section 8 inspections
- Guidance on the EPA Renovation, Repair & Painting (RRP) rule for contractors working in pre-1978 housing
Why it matters in Texas
A very large share of the housing in older Texas neighborhoods — from East Austin and San Antonio's West Side to the Heights in Houston, Oak Cliff in Dallas, and the historic cores of El Paso and the Valley — was built before lead paint was banned in 1978. Federal disclosure rules apply to every sale and lease of that housing, HUD programs require testing before rehab dollars are spent, and any renovation that disturbs painted surfaces triggers the RRP rule. A certified inspection is the document that keeps all of it in order.
Frequently asked
How fast are results?
XRF inspections give component-level readings on site; the written report follows within a few business days. Dust and soil samples go to an accredited lab.
Can you inspect a single apartment or a whole property?
Both. For multifamily properties we use HUD's unit-sampling protocols so you don't pay to test every identical unit.
Do you do lead abatement?
No — we're the independent assessor. We'll specify what needs to happen and clear the work when it's done.