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§ A‑12 · FOR RRP + ABATEMENT CREWS

Never fail another dust wipe.

EPA's floor dust‑lead hazard standard just dropped from 40 to 5 µg/ft². The swab kits you've been using were designed for forty. Labs take 3–5 days and charge $15–40 a sample. Fluoro‑Spec resolves single particles of lead paint dust, on site, in seconds, in the palm of your hand.

Buy starter kit, $75 See what changed ↓
✓ Single‑particle sensitivity (40–50 µm) ✓ Result in seconds, not days ✓ TSCA § 5 compliant · made in East Setauket, NY ✓ Open‑source reagent · published 2018
§ A‑12.01 · WHAT CHANGED

The standard just dropped.
Your kit didn't.

01

The rule

EPA finalized lower dust‑lead hazard standards under TSCA § 403. Floors fell from 40 to 5 µg/ft². Sills fell from 250 to 40. Troughs from 400 to 100.

40 CFR § 745.65
Hazard definition
40 CFR § 745.227
Clearance sampling
02

The problem

Colorimetric swab kits (rhodizonate, sulfide) were validated at the old thresholds. At the new floor, they return false‑negative, clean‑looking swabs on surfaces that fail a lab wipe.

EPA validation ref.
40 CFR § 745.88(c)
Visual LOQ
≫ 5 µg/ft²
03

The fix

Fluoro‑Spec uses fluorescence spectroscopy chemistry, the same principle as an XRF, in a bottle. Resolves individual particles of lead paint dust as small as 40–50 µm.

Reagent
Methylammonium bromide
Excitation
UV · 365 nm
§ A‑12.03 · FIELD PROCEDURE

Three steps on site. No lab. No callback.

  1. 01

    Wipe or spray the surface

    Standard dust‑wipe protocol, or spray the reagent directly on floors, sills, troughs, or post‑RRP areas. Works on finished surfaces, no cutting, no gouging.

    Fluoro-Spec spray and drip bottles
    § tut‑00 · drip for single surfaces, spray for area sweeps
  2. 02

    Shine 365 nm UV

    Methylammonium bromide binds any lead on contact and forms microscopic methylammonium lead bromide crystals that fluoresce bright green under UV. High signal, low background.

    Green glow of lead paint dust under UV
    § tut‑03 · individual particles of lead paint dust resolved
  3. 03

    Document, clean, re‑verify

    Photograph the glow. Run interim controls. Re‑spray. If it doesn't glow, it's clean. Do it all before the crew leaves the site, same visit.

    Cracked paint glowing
    § A‑12.05 · one‑direction wipe + re‑verify protocol
§ A‑12.06 · YOUR TOOL OPTIONS

What actually reads 5 µg/ft²?

Colorimetric swab Lab dust wipe Fluoro‑Spec
Resolves at 5 µg/ft² Unreliable Yes Single particle
Time to answer ~30 sec 3–5 business days On site, seconds
Cost per test $2–4 $15–40 + overnight $0.26
Re‑verify after cleaning Limited Next site visit Same visit
Chemical false‑positives Ba, Zn, Cu, rust None None
Works on paint dust Poorly Yes Designed for it
TSCA § 5 compliant supply Varies Yes Verified · List‑1 handler
§ FYI

Fluoro‑Spec is not a replacement for XRF or lab wipes where those are legally required. It is the fastest on‑site tool for finding, verifying, and re‑verifying dust‑lead hazards between official clearances.

§ A‑12.08 · ON THE JOB

Where it fits in your day.

  1. PRE‑WORK

    Screen before you price

    Walk a job with a spray bottle. Know where the hazards are before you bid. Price the real scope, not a guess.

  2. RRP SETUP

    Mark the zones

    Identify every paint-dust source before you drop containment. Post‑2024 rule applies to RRP clearance too.

  3. INTERIM

    Re‑verify after each clean

    One‑direction wipe, spray, check, re‑wipe. Don't leave the site until the floor doesn't glow.

  4. CLEARANCE

    Pre-check before the lab

    Stop sending dust wipes to the lab cold. Spray first. If it glows, clean again. If it's clean, send the wipe with confidence.

  5. DISPUTES

    Document the glow

    Photograph fluorescence with job ticket + date stamp. Carries weight in disputes, insurance, and EPA audits.

  6. TRAINING

    Show new crew what dust looks like

    Best training tool you'll ever own. Spray, glow, point. "That's what we're here to remove."

§ tut‑00 · IN THE WILD

What lead actually looks like.

Every photo below is a real Fluoro‑Spec reaction under 365 nm UV. Green signal = lead, full stop.

Cracked paint under UV
§ spray · paintPOSITIVE
Dust under UV
§ spray · floor dustPOSITIVE
Wall under UV
§ spray · drywallPOSITIVE
Metal fastener under UV
§ drip · metalPOSITIVE
Trim edge under UV
§ drip · trimPOSITIVE
Ceramic under UV
§ drip · ceramic glazePOSITIVE
§ L‑7 · THE CHEMISTRY

Fluorescence spectroscopy,
in a $75 bottle.

The reagent, methylammonium bromide in isopropyl alcohol with hydrochloric acid, was published in 2018 for solar‑cell research. We re‑purposed it for the dust‑lead problem it's shockingly good at.

§ Open‑source chemistry · manufactured by a DEA‑regulated List‑1 chemical handler in East Setauket, New York · fully TSCA § 5 compliant.

Reagent
CH₃NH₃Br + IPA + HCl
Reaction product
(CH₃NH₃)PbBr₃ microcrystals
Excitation
365 nm UV
Emission peak
~530 nm · bright green
Stokes shift
Wide · hidden excitation
Particle resolution
40–50 µm naked eye
Solution stability
Stable · no smell · non‑toxic
Chemical false+
None (Ba, Zn, Cu safe)
Detects
Paint dust · glaze · metallic lead · debris
Tests per bottle
170 · 500 w/ spray ring
GET THE KIT

Rack‑priced for a crew truck.

Ships from East Setauket, NY. Most orders out next business day.

FIELD KIT

Fluoro‑Spec Starter

  • 1 spray bottle · 170 tests
  • 1 drip bottle · ~300 drops
  • 365 nm UV penlight
  • Quick‑start card
$79

≈ $0.46 / test

PRO PACK

Starter + Spray Ring

  • 1 spray bottle · 500 tests with ring
  • Spray‑ring extender for area sweeps
  • 365 nm UV penlight
  • Laminated § A‑12 job‑site protocol
$129

≈ $0.26 / test · built for clearance sweeps

CREW PACK

Fluoro‑Spec × 5

  • 5 starter kits · 850 tests
  • 5 UV penlights
  • 5× § A‑12 site protocols
  • Bulk discount vs. singles
$349

≈ $0.41 / test · save $46

§ NET‑30

Running a larger operation? We invoice net‑30 for established contractors, lead abatement firms, and municipalities. Email Eric.

§ FAQ · CONTRACTOR EDITION

The questions you actually have.

Is Fluoro‑Spec an "EPA Recognized" test kit?

No, and no chemical test on the market is, for paint. EPA recognition under 40 CFR § 745.88(c) requires a kit to distinguish lead paint (above 1 mg/cm²) from non‑lead paint at that exact boundary. The validation protocol uses the same paint formula across surfaces, which forces any real chemistry to false‑positive. Fluoro‑Spec isn't trying to replace XRF for paint classification, it is the on‑site tool for dust‑lead hazard identification, which is now the binding standard for clearance.

Can I use it for EPA clearance under the new standards?

For legally binding clearance you still send dust wipes to an accredited lab. Fluoro‑Spec is for the work in between, pre‑screening so you don't ship wipes cold, verifying interim controls before the crew leaves, and documenting hazards when disputes happen.

Why can it see 40 µm particles when a lab wipe samples a square foot?

Fluorescence spectroscopy hides the excitation wavelength in UV while emission is in visible green. That gives a very clean signal‑to‑background ratio. Even a single microcrystal is visible against a dark field. A swab color change needs bulk lead to produce a visible shift against ambient reflection.

Will rust or cheap paint trigger a false positive?

No. Barium, zinc, copper, iron oxide, and soap residue are all blind to methylammonium bromide. It only forms the fluorescent perovskite with lead. That's the breakthrough, no chemical false positives.

How do you handle TSCA § 5 compliance?

Fluoro‑Spec reagent is manufactured by a DEA‑regulated List‑1 chemical handler in East Setauket, New York, with TSCA § 5 pre‑manufacture notices filed, clean customs paperwork, and full chain‑of‑custody documentation from synthesis to your truck. We're the only supplier that does it.

Does it expire?

24 months sealed. Once open, keep the bottle out of direct sunlight and recap tightly, the reagent is solution‑stable and won't precipitate like sodium rhodizonate does.