Laws & Regulations
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I am a facilities manager for a church with daycare and preschool programs. I recently became a certified renovator. If my staff and I do our own painting and remodeling work, do we need to be a certified firm?
Answer: Yes, if you perform, offer, or claim to perform renovations in a portion of the building that is a child-occupied facility. The RRP Rule defines a child-occupied facility as a building, or portion of a building, constructed prior to 1978, visited regularly by the same child, under 6 years…
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How do the RRP requirements apply to renovations on a pre-1978 building that contains both multi-room apartments (i.e., target housing) and zero-bedroom dwellings?
In pre-1978 buildings that contain a mix of target housing and zero-bedroom dwellings, the Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule applies only to renovations performed in target housing and common areas. Common areas are those portions of a property generally accessible to residents/users of target housing, and can exist…
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How do I know if a child has an Elevated Blood Level (EBL) prior to my work if he or she hasn't had their blood lead tested recently?
Answer: It is never the renovation firm’s responsibility to determine whether a child has an elevated blood lead (EBL) level. Question Number: 23002-16822 Find a printable PDF copy of all frequent questions pertaining to lead .
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How do RRP requirements apply to pressure washing? What containment and other preparation are required?
Pressure washing is not a prohibited practice under the Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule . Pressure washing is subject to the same containment requirements as other permissible work practices. Before beginning the renovation, the firm must isolate the work area so that no dust or debris (including in…
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How long will it take EPA to process my application to be a lead-safe certified firm?
EPA is required to process your application to be a lead-safe certified firm within 90 days of receipt. In most instances, properly-completed firm applications are processed in about one month. Question Number: 23002-17543 Find a printable PDF copy of all frequent questions pertaining to lead .
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How does a firm or renovator document or confirm the age of the structure? Is a signed statement by the occupant sufficient? Can publicly available information such as tax records, etc. be sufficient?
Renovation firms are responsible for determining the age of the property. The property owner is likely to be a good source of information on the age of a home or other building, but the firm may not rely on the statement of the property owner as to the construction date…
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If working in target housing occupied by persons who are blind, how should a firm comply with the pre-renovation information distribution requirements?
EPA’s pamphlet titled Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers and Schools is currently not published in a Braille format. In addition to distributing the regular pamphlet, a firm working in such an environment should take extra precaution to ensure that the owner and occupants are…
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For purposes of cleaning the work area following a renovation, is the interior floor of a garage considered interior or exterior space?
In general, the interior floor of a garage is considered an interior space for purposes of post-renovation cleanup. EPA recognizes the fact that it may occasionally be impossible for firms to meet all of the cleaning and verification requirements under the Rule for garage floors such as those that are…
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How can I find an accredited renovation trainer?
The list of accredited training providers is available on EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting website using the Locate an RRP Training Class or Provider in Your Area locator or from the National Lead Information Center, 1-800-424-LEAD. Question Number: 23002-16220 Find a printable PDF copy of all frequent questions pertaining to…
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How can I use plastic sheeting in exterior renovations without creating a safety hazard? Moisture on the plastic from precipitation can cause plastic sheeting to become slippery.
Answer: For exterior renovations, cover the ground with plastic sheeting or other disposable impermeable material extending 10 feet beyond the perimeter of surfaces undergoing renovation or a sufficient distance to collect falling paint debris, whichever is greater, unless the property line prevents 10 feet of such ground covering. Ground containment…
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Track 1b: Small Format Batteries - Collection
Small format battery collection
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Track 1b: Small Format Batteries - Collection Systems and Locations
Information about the first virtual meeting "Small Format Batteries Collection Systems and Locations" as part of EPA’s battery collection best practices initiative.
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Does the RRP Rule apply where no paint at all is present, such as in a 100 year old unfinished basement?
No. The RRP Rule applies to activities that result in the disturbance of painted surfaces. Where there is no paint to disturb, the RRP Rule does not apply. Question Number: 23002-15691 Find a printable PDF copy of all frequent questions pertaining to lead .
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Does the RRP rule require people working on a renovation to wear respirators, Tyvek(R) suits or other personal protective equipment (PPE)?
Answer: EPA would like to clarify the requirements for personal protective equipment. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has requirements for personal protective equipment, EPA does not. For many years, EPA has recommended the use of personal protective equipment as a way to protect workers and to help ensure…
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Does zoning affect the target housing determination? For example, would a pre-1978 house that is zoned for commercial or office use, but used for residential purposes be considered target housing?
In determining whether a pre-1978 property is target housing, it is the actual or intended use of the property that matters, not its zoning classification. Therefore, a pre-1978 house that is used or intended to be used as a residence, even if only temporary, is target housing regardless of its…
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During exterior power washing, instead of plastic, can landscaping fabric or a similar material be used to capture any paint chips or other debris, but permit the water to seep through?
No. Landscaping fabric is not an impermeable m aterial. Question Number: 23002-15754 Find a printable PDF copy of all frequent questions pertaining to lead .
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Does the RRP Rule apply to renovations that disturb ceramic tile where the glaze on the tile contains lead at regulated levels?
No. Ceramic tile glaze is neither a surface coating nor a painted surface. Therefore, renovations that disturb ceramic tile glaze are not subject to the RRP Rule. Question Number: 23002-15691 Find a printable PDF copy of all frequent questions pertaining to lead .
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Does the RRP rule apply to simple painting activities that occur when rental properties turn over? Approximately half of the rental units in the country get new tenants each year. This means a large number of properties are being repeated.
If there is no surface preparation that disturbs the existing paint prior to painting, the RRP Rule does not apply. If you disturb paint by scraping or sanding while preparing the surface, the RRP Rule applies. Question Number: 23002-15692 Find a printable PDF copy of all frequent questions pertaining to…
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Does the RRP Rule apply to removing a roof that is not painted?
The RRP Rule applies to work that disturbs painted surfaces. Where there is no paint to disturb, the RRP Rule does not apply. Question Number: 23002-15689 Find a printable PDF copy of all frequent questions pertaining to lead .
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Does the RRP Rule apply to office buildings, stores, and other commercial buildings?
No, unless the renovation is taking place in a child-occupied facility that is located in a commercial building. “Child-occupied facility’’ means a building, or portion of a building, constructed prior to 1978, visited regularly by the same child, under six years of age, on at least two different days within…