Learn the Issues
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How will the RRP Rule affect the work of non-profit or not-for-profit groups? Will the rule apply, for example, to church groups who, as part of their missionary work, are making improvements for low-income residents?
The Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule applies to renovations performed for compensation. Compensation includes pay for work performed, such as that paid to contractors and subcontractors; wages, such as those paid to employees of contractors, building owners, property management companies, child-occupied facility operators, State and local government agencies…
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I am a contractor a couple years from retirement and I am closing down my business. I do not plan to become certified under the RRP Rule. My understanding is that I can continue working on homes built after 1978?
The Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule does not apply to renovations in housing built in 1978 or later. Question Number: 23002-17978 Find a printable PDF copy of all frequent questions pertaining to lead .
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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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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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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…
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Does drilling holes in window frames to install window treatments such as shades and shutters qualify as minor repair and maintenance?
Yes, as long as the installation does not disturb more than six square feet of painted surface per room within a 30-day period. Question Number: 23002-15404 Find a printable PDF copy of all frequent questions pertaining to lead .
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As a floor covering installer I use an undercut saw to remove a small amount of wood at the bottom of baseboards and door casings. How do I calculate the area of the paint that is affected for purposes of the minor repair and maintenance provision?
As a floor covering installer I use an undercut saw to remove a small amount of wood at the bottom of baseboards and door casings. I am only disturbing the paint in the 1/8 inch cut of the blade. How do I calculate the area of the paint that is…
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Are sleeping areas in buildings built before 1978, such as those in fire and police stations, considered target housing?
Firehouses and police stations are not target housing. Therefore, places of temporary rest for employees in these buildings, such as sleeping rooms, are not subject to the Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule . Question Number: 23002-33291 Find a printable PDF copy of all frequent questions pertaining to lead…
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Are state and local government employees who often do renovation work required to be certified?
Answer: If the state or local government uses its own employees to do the work, the state or local government must be a certified firm and at least one of the employees assigned to each job must be a certified renovator. If the state or local government hires a renovation…
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School Community Mosquito IPM Webinar Report
This is the webinar report for School Community Mosquito IPM that includes participation statistics and responses to questions and comments.
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Are Department of Energy weatherization projects covered under the RRP Rule?
Answer : The Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule defines “renovation” to include weatherization projects such as cutting holes in painted surfaces to install blown-in insulation or to gain access to attics, and planing thresholds to install weather stripping. Other types of weatherization projects, such as window replacement, are…