Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
Renovation, Repair,
and Painting (RRP)
Information on the Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule
Common renovation activities like sanding, cutting, and demolition can create hazardous lead dust and chips by disturbin lead-based paint, which can be
harmful to adults and children.
To protect against this risk, EPA issued the Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP)
Rule, which went into effect in April 2010.
Frequently Asked RRP Questions
- Where can I find out more information about RRP?
The EPA website has information on the different areas of RRP. There are separate sections for
contactors, firms, property managers, press and the general public (especially families with small children and childcare facilities.)
http://www.epa.gov/getleadsafe
- What role do contractors and renovation professionals play in preventing childhood lead poisoning?
Contractors play an important role in
preventing childhood lead poisoning by ensuring that lead hazards are not created during renovation, repair and painting activities in older homes. Hazards
can be prevented through the use of lead safe work practices. The federal Renovation, Repair, and Paint Rule went into effect April 22, 2010 and requires
training and certification in lead safe work practices for persons who perform renovation or repairs in homes, child care centers, and schools built before 1978.
- Who does the rule apply to?
The rule will affect paid renovators who work in pre-1978 housing (including multi-family housing)
and child-occupied facilities. This includes: contractors, maintenance workers, painters and some other home repair trades.
- What is a child-occupied facility?
Under the rule, child-occupied facilities are defined as residential, public or commercial buildings, or
portion of a building, where children under age six live or frequently visit. (See http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/lead/pubs/sbcomplianceguide.pdf
for a more detailed definition).
- What does the rule not cover?
The rule does not apply to minor maintenance or repair activities where less than six square feet of lead-based
paint is disturbed in a room or where less then 20 square feet of lead-based paint is disturbed on the exterior. Window replacement is not minor maintenance or repair
and is included under the RRP rule.
Complying with the Rule
- What do contractors or professional renovators need to do to comply with RRP?
- Firms and Individuals must be certified. Firms and individuals must be certified. To become certified, professionals must be trained and submit an application
and fee payment to EPA. Information about training and certification can be found on
EPA's website.
- Where can I find a training course?
The EPA maintains a
list of training providers that have been accredited by EPA to provide training
for renovators under EPA's Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Program
- If you previously completed the required renovation training course for abatement work you may take the 4-hour refresher
course instead of the 8-hour initial course from an accredited training provider to become a certified renovator. For more
eligibility information please see the link below:
http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/trainerinstructions.htm
- Supply the residents with the EPA pamphlet "Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for
Families, Childcare Provider and schools."
Contractors must document compliance with this requirement using EPA's pre-renovation disclosure form.
- Workers and contractors must follow lead-safe work practices. Links to more information are provided below.
- Those covered by RRP must keep records to show that individuals have been trained in lead-safe work practices and that you followed lead-safe work practices on the job. To make recordkeeping easier,
you may use the EPA's sample recordkeeping checklist.
- I've heard some states have their own program. Does Florida?
Florida does not have its own RRP program so persons who carry out renovation and repair work on houses, child care centers, and schools built before 1978 in Florida must comply with the federal EPA RRP program.
If you work in multiple states check the EPA website to see if those states have their own RRP Programs. If so, you may need to certify through those states' RRP programs if you will be conducting work within the state.
- If have more questions about RRP, who should I contact?
More information about RRP can be found by calling the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD [5323] or on the EPA's website.
