Non-destructive XRF inspections with the SciAps X-550 Pb analyzer. Zero inconclusive readings. EPA-certified inspectors, 24-hour turnaround, all five boroughs.
Schedule TestingBefore December 1, 2021, New York City defined lead-based paint for this purpose at ≥1.0 mg/cm². Local Law 66 lowered the city threshold to ≥0.5 mg/cm², effective December 1, 2021.
mg/cm² threshold (pre-2021)
mg/cm² threshold (since Dec 2021)
Surfaces that previously tested "negative" for lead under the 1.0 mg/cm² standard may now test positive under the 0.5 mg/cm² standard. This affects all Local Laws 1, 31, and 111 testing performed after December 1, 2021.
The implementation of Local Law 66 on December 1, 2021 fundamentally changed how lead paint is identified in NYC properties. By lowering the lead detection threshold from 1.0 mg/cm² to 0.5 mg/cm² — aligning with the federal standard — the law effectively doubled the number of surfaces that qualify as lead-based paint. For property owners, this means that buildings previously considered "lead-free" under the old standard may now have lead hazards that require identification, disclosure, and remediation under Local Laws 1, 31, and 111.
Our XRF analyzers are calibrated to the current 0.5 mg/cm² threshold and provide definitive digital readings in seconds. Unlike the old 1.0 mg/cm² standard, which required laboratory confirmation for borderline readings, the SciAps X-550 Pb analyzer eliminates ambiguity at the lower threshold. Every surface tested receives a clear pass or fail reading, documented with the exact lead concentration in mg/cm². This precision is essential for HPD compliance documentation and protects you against disputes over test accuracy.
Our SciAps X-550 Pb analyzer represents the current state of the art in portable X-ray fluorescence lead detection. Unlike paint chip sampling — which requires physically removing material from surfaces, sending samples to a laboratory, and waiting days for results — XRF testing delivers definitive, mathematically precise readings on-site in just three seconds. The X-550 uses a miniaturized X-ray tube and silicon drift detector to measure lead content through all paint layers simultaneously, eliminating the subjective interpretation that plagues visual assessments and single-layer paint chip analysis.
Traditional paint chip sampling has significant limitations: it tests only the specific spot where the chip was removed (typically 1-2 sq cm), it cannot distinguish between layers without cross-section laboratory analysis, and it misses areas where lead paint has been fully covered by non-lead layers. The SciAps X-550 detects lead through all paint layers simultaneously and logs each reading with exact GPS-tagged coordinates. For Local Law 66 compliance at the 0.5 mg/cm² threshold, this multi-layer detection capability is essential — surface layers may test clean while underlying layers contain hazardous lead concentrations that only XRF can identify.
All our XRF testing uses the Local Law 66 threshold (0.5 mg/cm²).
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