Lead paint
If you own a home built before 1978, read the following information:
Lead paint has terrible health consequences for adults and children alike.
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After April 22nd 2010, renovating your home will become much more complicated
and expensive. |
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The EPA's rules, the Lead Based Paint Renovation, Repair and Painting Program, also referred to as "RRP", affects contractors, property managers, and others who disturb painted surfaces.
It applies to residential houses, apartments, and child-occupied facilities
such as schools and day-care
centers built before 1978.
It includes pre-renovation education requirements as well as training,
certification, and work practice
requirements.
See below for some excerpts from the EPA fliers:
Pre-renovation education requirements:
- Contractors, property managers, and others who perform renovations for compensation in residential houses, apartments, and child-occupied facilities built before 1978 are required to distribute a lead pamphlet before starting renovation work.
Training, certification, and work practice requirements:
- Firms are required to be certified, their employees must be trained (either as a certified renovator or on-the job by a certified renovator) in use of lead-safe work practices, and lead-safe work practices that minimize occupants’ exposure to lead hazards must be followed.
- Renovation is broadly defined as any activity that disturbs
painted surfaces and includes most repair,
remodeling, and maintenance activities, including window replacement.
Who Must Follow the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule’s Requirement?
In general, anyone who is paid to perform work that disturbs paint in housing
and child-occupied facilities built before 1978, this may include, but is not
limited to:
– Residential rental property owners/managers
– General contractors
– Special trade contractors, including:
- Painters
- Plumbers
- Carpenters
- Electricians
What Activities Are Subject to the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program?
In general, any activity that disturbs paint in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities, including:
- Remodeling and repair/maintenance
- Electrical work
- Plumbing
- Painting preparation
- Carpentry
- Window replacement
What Housing or Activities Are Excluded and Not Subject to the Rule?
- Housing built in 1978 or later.
- Housing for elderly or disabled persons, unless children under 6 reside or are expected to reside there.
- Zero-bedroom dwellings (studio apartments, dormitories, etc.).
- Housing or components that have been declared lead-free. Such a declaration can be made by a certified inspector or risk assessor. Also, a certified renovator may declare specific components lead-free using an EPA recognized test kit.
- Minor repair and maintenance activities that disturb 6 square feet or less of paint per room inside, or 20 square feet or less on the exterior of a home or building.
- Note: minor repair and maintenance activities do not include window replacement and projects involving demolition or prohibited practices.
For a list of certified lead testing professionals in your
area, contact the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD (5323) or
visit http://cfpub.epa.gov/flpp.
EPA brochures:
Protect your family from lead.
Test your home for lead in paint, dust and soil.
Guide to Renovate Right.
Steps to lead safe Renovation, Repair and Painting