LEAD Action News Volume 22 Number 2 June 2024 36 of 73

Lead: Important Dates

We wanted to empower you with lead-awareness so

created this list of important dates so that you can keep

them handy for future reference.

Limiting Lead Content in Residential Paint

● In Australia, from 1997 lead was limited in residential

paint to 1000 ppm.

● From 2021 it was limited to 90 ppm.

● The LEAD Group recommends either assuming pre-

1997 paint should not be dry-sanded or heat-gunned

OR test it.

Phasing Out Leaded Petrol

● In Australia, leaded petrol was phased out in 2002.

● The LEAD Group recommends testing for lead in ceiling void dust in urban homes and other

buildings built before 2002.

Brass Taps

● In Australia, brass taps are still permitted to contain up to 4.0% lead.

● All drinking water from new brass taps installed in the last 3-4 years should be tested at a lab

for lead.

● The LEAD Group recommends that you only install stainless steel taps.

Leaded Flashing on Roofs

● Since 2004 the Australian Building Code has stopped lead flashing being placed on planned

rainwater collection roof areas.

● Rainwater should be tested for lead in any home built before 2004 or any later home where

the rainwater tank was added after the building was built.