Lead Abatement Versus Lead RRP

Abatement and RRP activities may sometimes look similar, but they are not!

Abatement is a specialized activity designed to address lead in the home. RRP activities (including most home contracting work) disturb paint as a consequence of the activity, but they are often undertaken for reasons unrelated to lead issues.

Lead-Based Paint Activities (Abatement)

Lead-Based Paint Activities include lead-based paint inspections, risk assessments and abatements.
Lead abatement projects are designed to address existing lead-based paint hazards. They may be ordered by a state or local government in response to a lead-poisoned child or other reason, or may be undertaken voluntarily at any time.
Lead risk assessments are designed to identify lead hazards and management strategies, and lead inspections are designed to locate all lead-based paint in a home.
Individuals must be trained and certified to conduct lead-based paint activities, and firms must be certified.
Lead-based activities are regulated differently than renovation, repair and painting jobs, even though, in some cases, the activities are similar.
Learn more about EPA's Lead-Based Paint Activities program.

Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP)

RRP projects are typically performed at the option of the property owner for aesthetic or other reasons, or as an interim control to minimize lead hazards. It is NOT designed to address lead-based paint hazards.
Since RRP projects can disturb lead-based paint in homes and buildings built before 1978, thus creating new lead hazards, individual renovators must be trained and certified lead-safe RRP practices, and firms must be certified.
Learn more about EPA's RRP certification and training program .

Lead Abatement Activities versus RRP Projects

Lead abatement activities and RRP projects may sometimes look similar, but they are two separate programs that require different certifications and are regulated differently by EPA. The similarities and differences between the two are shown in the table below.

	Lead Abatement Activities	Similar or Different	RRP Projects
Purpose	Address existing lead-based paint hazards	Different	Conduct renovations, repairs or painting to reduce lead-based paint hazards
Initiated By	Tribal, state or local government Voluntary request by property owner	Different	Voluntary request by property owner
Certifications	Individuals must be trained and certified in lead abatement activities Firms must be certified to conduct lead abatement activities	Similar	Individuals must be trained and certified in RRP activities Firms must be certified to conduct RRP activities
Occupant Protection	Firms are required to make sure occupants are out of the home, child care facility or preschool	Different	Firms are not required to make sure occupants are out of the home, child care facility or preschool Firms must distribute EPA's The Lead-Safe Certified Guide to Renovate Right before starting renovation work Occupants should not be present in the work area