Every lead-safe test comes down to a few numbers. The lab measures how much lead is in the dust I wipe from your floors and windowsills, in micrograms per square foot (µg/ft²). If every sample is at or below the limit, you pass.
Starting January 12, 2026, the EPA lowered those limits. They’re now called dust-lead action levels, and they apply to homes and child-occupied facilities built before 1978.
The numbers, old vs new
| Surface | Before 2026 | Since Jan 12, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Floors | 10 µg/ft² | 5 µg/ft² |
| Interior windowsills | 100 µg/ft² | 40 µg/ft² |
| Window troughs | 400 µg/ft² | 100 µg/ft² |
Floors went from 10 to 5. Windowsills went from 100 to 40. Troughs (the channel the window sash sits in when closed) went from 400 to 100. I quote these exact numbers in every results email.
Why more units fail now
The test hasn’t changed: same wipes, same lab. The bar has. A unit that squeaked by at 8 µg/ft² on the floor in 2024 fails at 8 today. In practice, three things trip people up:
- Windowsills. Old windows rub painted surfaces every time they open and close. That friction makes fine dust that settles right on the sill, the exact spot we sample.
- Dust left after work. Painting, sanding or repairs shortly before the test leave dust behind, even when the room looks clean.
- Dry cleaning. Sweeping and dry dusting move lead dust around instead of removing it.
What to do before your test
Passing under the 2026 limits is mostly about cleaning the right way, in the right places:
- Wet-wipe every windowsill and floor in the rooms we’ll test (each bedroom plus one common room).
- Use a HEPA vacuum on floors before wet-mopping. Regular vacuums can blow fine dust back into the air.
- Fix peeling or chipped paint well before the test, then clean again after the dust settles.
- Don’t schedule the test the same day as painting or repair work.
The full room-by-room list is in the prep checklist. I send it to every client when they book.
If a sample comes back over
You’ll know exactly which room and which surface failed. I tell you what likely caused it and how to fix it, and the re-test is 20% off. See what to do after a failed test.
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