Don't Put Your Family and Others at Risk For Toxic Lead Exposure When Renovating Your Home or Child Care Facility Built Before 1978


by John O'Brien - Date: 2010-03-18 - Word Count: 595 Share This!

Beginning April 22nd, 2010, the new Environmental Protection Agency's Renovation, Repair & Painting (RRP) Lead Law goes into effect as a safety measure to protect adults and children from toxic lead exposure in homes and child occupied facilities built prior to 1978.

It is a fact that home remodeling and repairs including sanding, cutting, and demolition can create hazardous lead dust and chips which can be extremely hazardous to children and adults. Lead dust is so toxic that less than 1/16 of a sugar packet will cause irreparable damage to a child's nervous system, cerebral function and general well being.

According to this new law, any activity that disturbs paint in housing and child-occupied facilities built before 1978 must comply with the RRP Lead Law.

Effective April 22, 2010 - What RRP means to you...

* Wood or any painted surface being repaired, renovated or painted (RRP) is assumed to be lead contaminated.
* This applies to all painted surfaces inside or outside your property.
* For interior work, the work area must be lead dust sealed and contained for 6 feet of the work area. For exterior projects, the sealing and containment distance is 10 feet around the work area. Specific disposal and wipe clean test methods with the assist of a HEPA vacuum are required for all interior and exterior projects.
* At the completion of the job, a retest for lead dusting residue is required.
* Penalties for noncompliance are $37,500 for each infraction.

Home Remodeling Activities Subject to the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program...

Remodeling and repair projects for homes and child care facilities that involve sanding, cutting, and demolition require special precautions to prevent lead exposure in all of these areas:

* Remodeling and repair/maintenance
* Electrical work
* Plumbing
* Painting
* Carpentry
* Windows

What This Means for Handy Homeowners Who Want to Do Their Own Remodeling and Repairs...

Although you may be tempted to save yourself money and do your own repairs and renovations, unless you have completed the EPA Renovation, Remodeling & Painting course, you will be creating a serious risk to occupants of your home or facility for children. In the case of a child occupied facility, you also risk a fine of $37,500 per infraction. Hopefully you will see that these risks are far greater than the costs of using lead removal contractors who have completed the required certification.

Contractor Requirements After April 22, 2010...

After April 22, 2010, the federal law requires that anyone paid to repair, replace or paint in or outside of homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the new Renovation, Remodeling & Painting Rule.

For your protection, all home improvement contractors will be required to pass the RRP certification test by completing a course instruction and then file with the federal government for proper licensing.This assures lead-safe work practice standards to prevent lead contamination.

Certified lead removal contractors will adhere to the following required procedures:

* Contain the work area.
* Minimize dust.
* Clean up thoroughly.
* Test for lead dusting
* Wipe down work surface area and surrounding area's
* Retest for lead presence.

Prior to Starting a Renovation, Repair or Painting Project...

Prior to beginning a renovation, repair or painting project on a structure built before 1978, your home improvement contractor should give you a consumer information pamphlet detailing all aspects for the new RRP lead law and what you can expect.

There are only a handful of EPA certified lead removal renovation, repair and painting contractors in the greater Boston and Southshore area of Massachusetts. It is recommended that you only work with certified lead removal contractors for your residential or commercial remodeling, renovation and repair projects.


John O'Brien of MASTERCRAFT is one of only a few EPA certified Renovation, Repair and Painting Contractors in the Greater Boston and South Shore, Massachusetts area since 1986, providing roofing, siding, windows, bathroom remodeling and trim services. Learn more at www.mastercraftnewengland.com or call: 781-829-2222.n
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