EPA's Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (RRP) Rule requires that firms performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities and pre-schools built before 1978 be certified by EPA (or an EPA-authorized state), use certified renovators who are trained by EPA-approved training providers and follow lead-safe work practices.
What are the rules for lead paint?
These activities can create hazardous lead dust when surfaces with lead paint, even from many decades ago, are disturbed. The rule requires workers to be certified and trained in the use of lead-safe work practices, and requires renovation, repair, and painting firms to be EPA-certified.
What is EPA’s 2008 lead-based paint rule?
EPA’s 2008 Lead-Based Paint Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule (as amended in 2010 and 2011), aims to protect the public from lead-based paint hazards associated with renovation, repair and painting activities. These activities can create hazardous lead dust when surfaces with lead paint, even from many decades ago, are disturbed.
What is the RRP Rule for renovations?
The RRP rule requires the use of lead-safe work practices to ensure that common renovation activities like sanding, cutting and demolition, which can create hazardous lead dust, are conducted properly by trained and certified contractors or individuals. Kindred Painting, LLC is a residential renovation and remodeling company located in Dover, NH.
What are the requirements for lead-safe renovation work?
The rule requires workers to be certified and trained in the use of lead-safe work practices, and requires renovation, repair, and painting firms to be EPA-certified. These requirements became fully effective April 22, 2010. Read EPA's regulations on residential property renovation at 40 CFR 745, Subpart E.
Can you remove a wall with lead paint?
The paint may be removed by wet scraping or wet sanding with a HEPA vacuum attachment, or using a wet-sanding sponge. Wipe the area you are sanding often and rinse the sponge in a bucket of water. n Chemical strippers may be used to remove paint, but those containing methylene chloride are not recommended.
What is the first step in the lead hazard response procedures?
Lead-based paint is serious business. Lead inspections and lead risk assessments are useful first steps, which can lead to more thoughtful decisions on managing lead-based paint and lead hazards. Lead abatement is an activity designed to permanently eliminate lead-based paint hazards.
When lead Safe certified Renovators work on lead remediation they?
pre-1978 homes are known to have lead, and it's a good way to protect all parties. When Lead-Safe Certified renovators work on lead remediation, they? Use approved work practices such as containing the work area, using HEPA vacuum attachments and disposing of the waste correctly.
How do you cover up lead paint on windows?
Using encapsulants is the best and safest way to cover lead paint in order to prevent it from producing dangerous lead-containing dust. Encapsulants are thicker than regular paint primers and work to seal or “encapsulate” the lead paint behind a membrane.
What is the difference between lead abatement and remediation?
Abatement is the removal of a contaminant from a site or encapsulating it in a way that it no longer poses a risk. Remediation addresses the underlying cause of the contamination to prevent future exposure and often includes an abatement strategy.
Do all homes built before 1978 have lead paint?
If your home was built before 1978, it is more likely to have lead-based paint. In 1978, the federal government banned consumer uses of lead-based paint, but some states banned it even earlier. Lead-based paint is still present in millions of homes, normally under layers of newer paint.
Is painting considered remodeling?
Installing new flooring, replacing kitchen faucets, and painting bedroom walls are all great renovation examples.
What does lead certified mean?
Certification is required for work that may disturb paint or coated surfaces in older properties. The Environmental Protection Agency has established many different certification courses depending on the type of work activity that you will be doing.
What does lead safe mean?
A lead-safe home is a home in which there are no lead hazards. Lead hazards include lead-based paint in poor condition, lead-based paint on friction surfaces such as doors and windows, high levels of lead in exposed soil, and lead in drinking water.
How do I deal with lead paint in my house?
To completely remove lead paint hazards and protect your family's health, you need to hire a certified lead abatement contractor. Permanently removing lead's hazards then requires either removing the paint or sealing or enclosing it with special materials.
What happens if you paint over lead paint?
Is it safe to paint over lead paint? Yes, you can start painting over lead paint and it's safe. It forms a barrier against the toxins in the lead paint. However, it's only safe and effective if the lead paint's old finish is in good condition.
Can you put siding over lead paint?
Prefinished vinyl siding, having a life expectancy of at least 20 years, may be installed over a variety of existing exterior wall surfaces to enclose lead-based paint.
What is lead OSHA?
The NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL) for lead is a Time Weighted Average of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air (µg/m3) over 8-hours. The required (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for lead is also no greater than 50 µg/m3 averaged over an 8-hour period.
Which of the following is a common task that could expose workers to lead?
Workers are exposed to lead as a result of the production, use, maintenance, recycling, and disposal of lead material and products. Lead exposure occurs in most industry sectors including construction, manufacturing, wholesale trade, transportation, remediation and even recreation.
What made lead attractive for use in construction?
Because lead-based paint inhibits the rusting and corrosion of iron and steel, however, lead continues to be used on bridges, railways, ships, lighthouses, and other steel structures, although substitute coatings are available.
How long is lead based paint certification?
February 10, 2016 -- EPA finalized revisions to the Lead-based Paint program to reduce burden and costs to industry and clarify language for training providers. A key component of the final rule allows on-line training for every other recertification. Renovators who take the online training will be certified for three years; renovators who take the hands-on training will be certified for five years. Read more.
When did the EPA start certifying renovators?
Under the rule, beginning April 22, 2010, firms performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and kindergartens built before 1978 must be EPA- or state-certified and must use certified renovators who follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. This includes in-house maintenance staff and many types of outside contractors. In order to become certified renovators, individuals must take training from an EPA-accredited training provider. For firms to be certified, they must submit an application and fee to EPA online.
Overview of Kindred Painting, LLC
Kindred Painting, LLC is a residential renovation and remodeling company located in Dover, NH. The settlement involves a residential renovation project conducted at one property located in Exeter, NH during July 2012. The property was constructed prior to 1978.
Violations
The final order (PDF) 9pp, 535K, About PDF) settles alleged violations of the Toxic Substances Control Act (“TSCA”), the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act, and the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (“RRP Rule”), 40 C.F.R. Part 745, Subpart E. The order alleges the following RRP Rule violations:
Pollutant Reductions
It is expected that potential lead exposures and environmental contamination will be significantly reduced because Kindred Painting has certified that it has corrected all violations and is in full compliance with the RRP Rule including obtaining renovator and firm certification and training prior to performing additional regulated activities.
Health and Environmental Effects
Lead exposure affects the nervous system and can cause a range of health effects, from behavioral problems and learning disabilities, to seizures and death. Children six years old and younger are most at risk. If not detected early, children with high levels of lead in their bodies can suffer from:
Civil Penalty
Kindred Painting will pay a penalty of $2,730 pursuant to the Pilot RRP Penalty Program for Micro-Businesses. Under the Micro-Business pilot, significantly reduced penalties are offered to respondents who have annual sales or gross pre-tax revenue of $300,000 or less.
Overview of Universal Remodeling and Building, LLC
Universal Remodeling and Building, LLC is a residential renovation and remodeling company located in Stratford, CT. The settlement involves a residential renovation project conducted at one property located in Stratford, CT during July and August of 2011. The property was constructed prior to 1978.
Violations
The final agreement (PDF) (5pp, 298K, About PDF) settles alleged violations of the Toxic Substances Control Act (“TSCA”), the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act, and the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (“RRP Rule”), 40 C.F.R. Part 745, Subpart E. The agreement alleges the following RRP Rule violations:
WILL IT AFFECT ME AND MY HOME?
Like many confusing regulations handed down from the EPA, the answer to that question is… “It depends”. First, the easy answer. If your Cincinnati home was constructed in or after 1978, your home is exempt. If your home is a zero-bedroom dwelling like a loft apartment, you’re exempt.
NOW THE TRICKY PART
If your home tests positive for the presence of lead paint, there are still a few ways your project may avoid the additional expense of lead-safe work practices.
OKAY, MY PROJECT IS NOT EXEMPT, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO ME?
The biggest impact seen by homeowners will be in the form of increased project costs. The EPA has estimated that the new regulation will add approximately $35 – $375 to each project, but that amount is considered very unrealistic by professional remodelers.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR REMODELERS?
Remodelers that plan to perform work on homes covered by the new LRRP rules must be certified by the EPA. To be certified by the EPA a firm must have at least one Certified Renovator on staff. A Certified Renovator is a person who has completed the EPA-approved eight-hour course in lead-safe work practices.
THE BASIC STEPS THAT COMPANIES MUST ADHERE TO ARE AS FOLLOWS
Give the homeowners the EPA lead brochure “Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers, and Schools” before the project starts. A signature form will be required as proof that the owners have been given the pamphlet.
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