Traditional paints with white lead pigment or high solvent content are restricted by environmental legislation. Their use is permitted, under licence, to retain authentic finishes for Grade I and II* listed buildings and scheduled monuments.
White lead or basic lead carbonate paint has a long history of use in historic buildings. It provides a characteristic sheen and forms a strong, flexible and adhesive coating. It traditionally contained 80% dry white lead, linseed oil and turpentine as the solvent. As a toxic material, it was gradually supplanted by more benign paints in the latter half of the 20th century. The use of lead paint is now governed by The Controls on Dangerous Substances and Preparations Regulations 2006 SI 3311.
This restricts its application to:
- historic buildings or their interiors - Grade I or Grade II*
- scheduled monuments
- fine or decorative works of art
Lead paint is produced by a small number of manufacturers. Individuals who wish to obtain paints for qualifying structures or artworks must complete a declaration form provided by the supplier, who forwards it to the relevant competent body for approval. In England the 'competent body' regulating its use is English Heritage.
Lead paint is harmful to human health by ingestion. The greatest hazard to human health and to the environment is from paint which is in poor condition, from its removal and its disposal. A full and thorough risk assessment must always precede the decision to strip lead paint. Methods that create dry dust and lead fumes must be avoided.
Substrates with layers of paint applied up to the mid-20th century are likely to contain lead. The presence of lead paint can be confirmed by test kits, obtained from some paint retail and trade outlets. Samples can also be analysed by specialist laboratories.
Professionals should refer to Lead at Work Regulations 1998 SI 543, The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994 SI 3140, and The Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002 SI 2676.
Detailed guidance on the removal of lead paint is provided by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and The British Coatings Federation (BCF).
Organic solvents in paints, or volatile organic compounds (VOCs), react in sunny conditions with nitrogen oxides to form ozone, which is harmful to human health and vegetation. Their use is now restricted by European Union Directive 2004/42/CE, and in England by the Volatile Organic Compounds in Paints, Varnishes and Vehicle Refinishing Products Regulations (Amendment) (England) 2009 SI 3145. Paints affected include oil gloss paints, flat oil and eggshell oil paints, and many oil-based varnishes.
A derogation in the legislation permits the use of decorative paints, varnishes, and vehicle refinishing products with a higher VOC content for the maintenance of historic buildings (Grade I and Grade II*) and scheduled monuments.
A Code of Practice governs the sale of non-compliant paint to customers for use on historic buildings or vintage vehicles. The supplier requires the customer to complete a declaration of intent and proof of historic building status. The declaration form can be obtained from the paint supplier.
