May 04 2010
New Lead-Based Paint, Renovation & Repair Painting Program Regulations Affect Homeowners & Landlords
Renovation work such as window replacement, sanding and demolition can create lead dust and chips in properties built prior to 1978 when lead based paint was still a legal substance and used quite extensively. Lead can harm children and adults and to protect against these risks, the EPA is now requiring new lead-safe renovation practices known as the Lead Based Paint, Renovation and Repair Painting Program (RRP).
If you are thinking of hiring a contractor and have a home built prior to 1978 you need to know that effective April 22, 2010, contractors and painters must be certified and must adhere to specific work practices as outlined by the EPA to prevent lead contamination.
These new rules affect:
- Renovation contractors, maintenance workers in multi-family housing, painters and other specialty trades.
- Renovation, repair, painting activities.
- Homes, child-care facilities (residential, public, or commercial) and schools built prior to 1978.
- Property owners who perform renovation projects in pre-1978 rental housing.
These new rules don’t affect:
- Homeowners performing renovations, repair, or painting work in their own homes.
- Minor maintenance or repair activities where less than six square feet of lead based paint is disturbed in a room or less than 20 square feet of lead based paint is disturbed on the exterior of the home. (Window replacement is not considered a minor repair or minor maintenance.)
If you are hiring contractors or painters or are considering window replacement, you need to now make certain that whomever you hire has been properly certified.
Resources you can use to find out more:
- Quick Answers
- Complete EPA Guidelines
- Renovate Right Booklet/Guidelines (must be provided to tenants in advance by property owners who renovate, repair or prepare surfaces for painting in pre-1978 rental housing or space rented by child-care facililties before beginning work.)