Common renovation activities like sanding, cutting, and demolition can create hazardous lead dust and chips by disturbing lead-based paint, which can be harmful to adults and children.

To protect against this risk, on April 22, 2008, EPA issued a rule requiring the use of lead-safe practices and other actions aimed at preventing lead poisoning. Under the rule, beginning in April 2010, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.

Until that time, EPA recommends that anyone performing renovation, repair, and painting  projects that disturb lead-based paint in pre-1978 homes, child care facilities and schools follow lead-safe work practices.

• All contractors should follow these three simple procedures:
  • Contain the work area.
  • Minimize dust.
  • Clean up thoroughly.
• Beginning in December 2008, the rule will require that contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint provide to owners and occupants of child care facilities and to parents and guardians of children under age six that attend child care facilities built prior to 1978 the lead hazard information pamphlet Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers, and Schools (PDF)
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• The rule will affect paid renovators who work in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities, including:
• Renovation contractors
• Maintenance workers in multi-family housing
• Painters and other specialty trades.

Under the rule, child-occupied facilities are defined as residential, public or commercial buildings where children under age six are present on a regular basis. The requirements apply to renovation, repair or painting activities. 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.

October 21, 2009 -– EPA is proposing to expand coverage of its 2008 Renovation, Repair and Painting rule as part of its ongoing commitment to eliminate lead poisoning. The proposed rule would eliminate an exemption from the RRP rule. Read about EPA's action. The Agency will take comments on the proposal for 30 days

Stephen Issler & Sons is Proud to be RRP Certified ( Renovation, Repair, and Painting ) and to use Safe Lead Practices in your Home and Business.   Keeping up with the laws, Rules and Regulations is everyones responsibility.  Hiring any non certified Contractors could result in a costly remodeling project.  The fine for not complying could cost as much as $ 32,500.00 per day, per incident.  

Remodelers like ourselves are worried that the new regulations will continue to widen the increasing gap between professional firms and the fly-by-night "Chuck in a truck" businesses.  Just like many other small operations that don't get licensed, have liability insurance, nor do they follow other legal requirements like being EPA Certified, the fear is that they won't bother following the regulations and could possibly contaminate your home or business with harmful lead.  

We understand that there will be additional costs associated with keeping your project lead  safe, but it is certainly a small price to pay to keep our workers and your family healthy. 

There are some exceptions to the RRP Rules:
1.   Renovation activities where affected components do not contain lead based paint.
2.   Emergency renovations (requires cleanup and cleaning verification).
3.   Minor repair and maintenance activities.     
Note: this exclusion does not apply to window replacement, demolition or activities involving prohibited practices. 
4.   Renovations performed by homeowners in their own homes.

RRP Rule:  Opt-Out Provision 
Homeowners may sign a statement to opt out of the work practice requirements in the Rule, if all the following are true:
1.   The owner resides in the house
2.   No child under 6 years old resides in the house and the house is not a child occupied facility
3.   No pregnant women resides in the house
4.   No child occupied facility exists on the property
5.   The owner signs a written acknowledgment that the certified firm is not required to use work practices found in the RRP Rule

Note: HUD does not allow owners to opt out of safe work practices in its assisted housing.  The HUD lead safe housing rule applies to every home built prior to 1978 that receives Federal housing assistance where greater than 2 square feet of interior or 20 square feet of exterior lead based paint will be disturbed during renovation, repair or painting

If you need additional information you can contact us or visit   www.epa.gov/lead