Jacksonville, FL – November 24, 2009 - Paul Davis Restoration, Inc., a national franchisor and leader in residential and commercial loss mitigation, reconstruction, and restoration services, has been named by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an Accredited Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program (RRP) Training Provider. The company is the only restoration company with a certified trainer who has been accredited by EPA to provide training for renovators and technicians under the program.

  Paul Davis Restoration’s Ray Berger will serve as the company’s Training Manager and Principle Instructor for the program. Berger is also a Senior Field Representative and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Outreach Trainer and has been with Paul Davis since 1999.

  Berger is approved to serve as a trainer for the company’s EPA Lead Safety for Renovation course for renovations, repairs and painting methods specific to lead based paint. Specifically, he will provide training for the company’s office owners and staff restoration professionals at the Paul Davis Restoration National Training Center in Jacksonville, FL, along with field training at franchise office locations and for any groups nationwide.

Students that successfully complete the course will be certified renovators and are able to work on projects using lead safe practices in accordance with the RRP.

According to Berger, on April 22, 2008, the EPA issued a rule requiring the use of lead-safe practices and other actions aimed at preventing lead poisoning. Under the rule and beginning in April 2010, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.

  “The EPA now recommends that anyone performing renovation, repair, and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in pre-1978 homes and child care facilities and schools must follow lead-safe work practices,” said Berger. “We will instruct all of our Paul Davis Restoration office contractors on procedures including how to contain the work area, minimize dust and how to clean up thoroughly, among others,” he said.

  To date, Berger has instructed 22 students from Paul Davis offices who are now Certified Renovators in the EPA’s Renovator Initial Course for renovation, repair and painting under Section 402 of Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 (TSCA). TSCA provides the EPA with authority to require reporting, record-keeping and testing requirements, and restrictions for the respective discipline.

Additionally, Paul Davis Restoration is offering the “Certified Renovator” training courses nationwide. The one-day course costs $225 per person. Seating is limited and pre-registration is required. For course training schedules, call 904.737.2779, ext. 236 or visit the website at www.pdrestoration.com/lead-training.

  “We chose to become an accredited trainer to comply with the EPA program and to help Paul Davis offices achieve and maintain the industry’s highest standards in restoration services. The accreditation further promotes the company’s use of the latest technologies available in our field,” Berger said.