Painting is often scheduled late in a refurbishment project, when walls are closed, services have been installed and attention has shifted towards finishes. That timing can make the work look straightforward. In practice, decorators may be working around chemical products, recently altered service penetrations and areas of compartmentation that have already been inspected or are about to be concealed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The combination matters in 2026 because building fire-safety guidance is still changing. Approved Document B was updated in September, while the Building Safety Regulator continues its wider review of fire-safety guidance for existing buildings. For refurbishment teams, this adds weight to a basic project-management principle: finishing work should not obscure unresolved safety defects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paints and coatings vary widely. Some water-based products present relatively low inhalation risk when used normally, while other coatings, solvents, hardeners and spray products need tighter controls. HSE specifically identifies isocyanates in polyurethane paints, coatings, foams, glues and flooring products. Spraying can produce very high exposure because fine droplets are easily inhaled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations require employers to assess exposure and control it adequately. Online COSHH training<\/a> can help workers and supervisors understand how to assess hazardous substances, what information to check and why the method of application affects the controls required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A safety data sheet is useful, but it is not a completed COSHH assessment. The assessment still needs to consider how much product is used, whether it is sprayed, brushed or rolled, how long the task lasts, ventilation, who else may be exposed and whether the work takes place in a confined or occupied area. Substitution, local exhaust ventilation and changes to the method may control exposure more effectively than relying on personal protective equipment alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Surface preparation<\/a> may create a different set of hazards. Sanding, scraping and mechanical removal can generate dust and disturb older coatings. Contractors should understand what they are removing before work starts, particularly in older buildings where previous materials may not be well documented. Wet methods, extraction and suitable respiratory protection may be needed depending on the substance and task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Refurbishment also creates coordination problems. One contractor may be preparing surfaces while another installs services or completes fire-stopping work nearby. Dust extraction, ventilation and access arrangements should therefore be planned across the area rather than by each trade in isolation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Respiratory protective equipment, when required, also needs more thought than simply issuing a mask. The equipment has to be suitable for the contaminant and work method, compatible with other protective equipment and, for tight-fitting facepieces, supported by appropriate face-fit arrangements. Filters and cartridges have limitations and replacement requirements. These details are easy to miss when a decorating package is treated as low risk because the work is familiar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Occupied refurbishments add another complication. Offices, retail spaces, schools and residential buildings may remain partly in use while painting during refurbishments continues elsewhere. The assessment should consider people who are not carrying out the work but could still be affected by vapours, aerosols or dust. Segregation, timing and ventilation can be more useful than trying to manage exposure after contaminants have spread into neighbouring areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fire stopping is intended to maintain the fire resistance of walls, floors and other elements where services pass through them. On a busy refurbishment, penetrations can be created late in the programme for cables, pipes or ventilation. If these openings are not treated correctly, the intended compartmentation may be weakened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Decorative finishes can then make the defect harder to find. A boxed-in riser, newly painted wall or completed ceiling may conceal gaps that would have been obvious a few days earlier. This is why inspection sequencing matters. Areas that require verification should be checked before they are covered or visually blended into the finished space.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPreparation Is As Important As Application<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Decoration Can Hide Evidence <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n