This practice provides the basic criteria to be used by accreditation bodies and others in evaluating the quality system, qualifications, and competency of organizations engaged in conducting facility and hazard assessments to determine the presence of lead contamination in paint, dust, airborne particulate, and soil in and around buildings and related structures.

4.1.1 The criteria provided should be supplemented by additional specific criteria and requirements.

This practice is for organizations that may be comprised of one or more individuals (7.4.4).

This practice is intended to provide objective guidelines and criteria for judging the quality system, capabilities, and competence needed by organizations to conduct facility and hazard assessments to determine the presence and extent of lead contamination in paint, dust, airborne particulate, and soil in and around buildings and related structures.

This practice is also intended to be used by assessment organizations in the development and implementation of their quality systems. An organization may request or perform an evaluation of its own in-house facilities in accordance with this practice.

1.1 This practice covers the quality system requirements, competency and qualifications, to include minimum requirements for training, sampling design, personnel and equipment, duties, responsibilities, and services of organizations engaged in providing lead assessment services to determine the extent of lead and lead-based paint contamination.

1.2 Organizations evaluated using this practice shall engage in one or more of the following assessment activities: sampling design, sample collection, field testing, data validation, and report writing and recommendations.

1.3 This practice has been developed consistent with the appropriate requirements of Guide E 994 and ISO 9001 and ISO Guide 25.

1.4 Where the testing function exists, it must be evaluated using Practice E 1583.

1.5 This practice is meant to be used with Guide D 4840, Practices D 5438, E 1553, E 1727, E 1728, and E 1729, and Terminology E 1605.

1.6 For information and guidance in applying this practice, see EPA 600/8-91/214 and EPA 600/R-93/200.

1.7 This practice contains notes that are explanatory and are not part of the mandatory requirements of the practice.

1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.