Lead Paint Surveys & Lead Paint Testing XRF

Expert Lead Paint Surveys by EnviroHive Ltd

EnviroHive Ltd is the UK’s leading authority in lead paint surveys and testing. With over a decade of specialist experience, we provide detailed assessments across all types of properties — from listed residential homes to commercial and industrial buildings.

We were one of the first companies to deliver professional lead paint testing using XRF (X-ray fluorescence) technology in the UK, and we continue to set the benchmark through precision, speed, and compliance with HSE and EPA guidance.

Why Lead Paint Surveys Are Essential

Lead-based paints were commonly used in UK buildings up until the 1992 and, in some sectors, even beyond. Exposure to deteriorating lead paint can cause serious health risks — especially to children, pregnant women, and vulnerable occupants.

That’s why CDM Principal Designers, architects, building contractors and property managers are increasingly required to obtain reliable data about historical coatings prior to refurbishment, demolition or redecoration works.

In many cases, lead paint surveys are now a compliance expectation during pre-construction or maintenance planning — particularly in older or listed buildings.

When You Might Need a Survey

You may require a lead paint survey in situations such as:

• Renovation or refurbishment of a building constructed pre-1992

• Occupied buildings for management & compliance where maintenance may disturb coatings (e.g., hospitals, schools, council flats)

• Property transactions of all types involving heritage buildings

• Commercial risk assessments under HSE and COSHH compliance

• Prior to the removal or disturbance of decorative coatings, doors, woodwork, or steelwork

How the Survey Works: Our Non-Destructive XRF Process

We use handheld XRF analysers to identify lead and other heavy metals within surface coatings. This method allows us to:

• Detect lead at very low concentrations (measured in percentage or ppm or mg/kg)

• Instantly read results on-site, without laboratory delay

• Avoid destructive sampling — no scraping, no flaking

• Work efficiently across large areas or multi-room properties

Our surveyors will inspect every relevant room or section based on your project’s scope, collecting and logging readings which are then compiled into a clear, professional report. We can often deliver same-day or next-day reporting depending on the urgency.

Why EnviroHive’s Method is Superior

Compared to older sampling techniques (e.g. lab analysis of scraped paint), XRF offers:

• Faster turnaround — immediate readings without lab delay

• Non-invasive analysis — no surface damage or restoration needed

• Cost efficiency — ideal for projects with multiple sampling areas

• Improved accuracy — reduces false positives and negatives common in DIY swab kits

We are proud members of FOLPA – The Fellowship of Lead Paint Assessors, and are recognised for our contribution to setting industry standards in environmental coatings testing.

Where Lead Paint is Commonly Found

🏠 In Residential Buildings

• Doors, architraves, skirting boards, and dado rails

• Box sash windows, shutters, and timber wall panels

• Stair spindles, banisters, and decorative mouldings

• Floorboards, cupboards, and ceiling features

Many of these areas may have been overpainted several times — preserving underlying lead layers beneath newer coatings.

🏢 In Commercial and Industrial Properties

• Metal roof trusses and RSJ beams

• Cladding, steel window frames, and metal pipes

• Large-scale brick or concrete surfaces

• Industrial units, workshops, and boiler rooms

Even in partially refurbished or semi-derelict buildings, historic paintwork can pose risks if disturbed.

Our Reports: What You Get

Every EnviroHive report includes:

• A Lead Paint Register: listing all identified or suspected lead-based coatings

• Marked floor plans with sample/reference points where provided in advance

• Condition ratings and risk assessment

• XRF readings or lab results in ppm, mg/kg, or percentage format

• Clear recommendations for compliance, safety, or removal and meeting your legal obligations.

If needed, we can also produce contractor method statements and risk assessments tailored for removal projects, in accordance with HSE regulations.

Need Just Testing? We Offer Standalone Lead Paint Tests Too

Don’t need a full survey report? We also offer standalone lead paint testing using the same XRF analysers.

• Suitable for spot checks, single-room testing, or client verification

• Certificates issued for each tested area

• Turnaround available from 6 to 48 hours

• Advice provided where lead is identified

This is often used by homeowners, landlords, or contractors who only need confirmation on specific surfaces or materials.

Property Types We Cover

We serve all sectors and building types, including:

• Private homes (including listed properties and heritage buildings) sellers, buyers & occupiers

• Social housing stock and residential blocks

• Schools, Nurseries, and Care Facilities

• Offices, Commercial Premises, Retail Units

• Industrial buildings, workshops, and storage facilities

Nationwide Coverage with Local Expertise

EnviroHive operates across the UK, with regional coverage from our offices in:

• London & Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire, Sussex, Kent, Wiltshire, Dorset, Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire

• Somerset, Bath & Bristol

• Additional locations serviced upon request

Let’s Talk About Your Project

Whether you’re managing an occupied property or preparing for refurbishment, EnviroHive Ltd can deliver a tailored lead paint survey to meet your legal, practical, and safety needs.