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EPA Compliant Steps for Lead Renovation

January 27, 2011

Educating Owners and Residents

Before work can begin, firms are required to provide the Renovate Right pamphlet to owners and residents in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities. Confirmation of receipt of the information must be signed by the recipient and documented. Information must be distributed or made available no more than 60 days before beginning a renovation. Prominently displayed warning signs notifying residents to stay away from the work area are also required.

Determining if Lead-Based Paint is Present

Lead paint was banned in 1978 but is still present in 35% of all American housing, and in higher percentages depending on the age of the house. There are several methods of determining if lead-based paint is present, with the most common being the use of an EPA-recognized test kit. If unable to perform or draw a conclusion on the result of the test, it must be assumed that any pre-1978 building contains lead paint.

Containment During Renovation

Once it has been determined that a structure contains lead-based paint, before renovation can begin, a containment area is required to be set up. Containing the work area includes:
Removing objects and furniture from the work area, or covering them with plastic sheeting.
Covering floors or the ground with plastic sheeting -- a minimum of 6 feet for interior work or 10 feet for exterior work beyond the surface being disturbed.
Closing and using plastic sheeting to seal all windows, doors, and air ducts in the work area.
Covering doors used to enter the work area with plastic sheeting in a way that allows workers to pass through, but contains dust and debris within the work area.

Cleaning and Checking Work Post-Renovation

After renovation is completed, before the job can be considered finished, a full cleaning and inspection must be performed. Workers should follow a “top to bottom, back your way out” approach to cleaning. After all paint chips, debris, and plastic covering have been carefully removed, and all surfaces have been HEPA vacuumed, a visual inspection must be conducted by a lead renovation certified person. Only after passing an inspection can the project be considered complete.

For additional information, see the EPA’s website: www.EPA.gov/lead

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