Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule

EPA Renovation, Repair, and Painting webpage

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EPA Requirements

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.

Resources

EPA Renovation Fact Sheet

EPA Renovation Fact Sheet (Spanish)

Background on EPA Requirements (Fact Sheet - Alliance for Healthy Homes)

EPA's Renovation, Remodeling, & Painting Rule (Illustrated Brochure - PDF)
Summarizing Key Work Requirements - Alliance for Healthy Homes

Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers, and Schools (Information Pamphlet - PDF)

Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers, and Schools (Spanish - PDF)

EPA Small Entity Compliance Guide to Renovate Right (Contractor's Guide - PDF)

EPA Small Entity Compliance Guide to Renovate Right (Spanish - PDF)

Contractors: Lead Safety During Renovation (Pamphlet - PDF)

Contractors: Lead Safety During Renovation (Spanish - PDF)

Pre-Renovation Lead Education Rule  TSCA 406(b)
EPA Pre-Renovation Lead Education Rule webpage

The Lead Pre-Renovation Education Rule was issued under the authority of Section 406(b) of Title IV of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), and became effective in June, 1999.  It required that contractors, property managers, and others who perform renovations (including paint removal) for compensation in residential housing that may contain lead based paint, to distribute a lead hazard information pamphlet ("Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home") to housing owners and occupants before renovating.

Beginning on June 23, 2008, in addition to residential housing, renovators became required to distribute a lead hazard information pamphlet to the owners and administrators of child-occupied facilities before beginning renovations in these facilities. Renovators must also make renovation information available to the parents or guardians of children under age six that attend these facilities.  As defined in the rule, child-occupied facilities are residential, public or commercial buildings built before 1978 where children under age six are present on a regular basis.  Child care facilities and kindergarten and pre-kindergarten classrooms are examples of child-occupied facilities.

After December 22, 2008, only "Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers, and Schools" may be used to comply with the pre-renovation information distribution requirements.  This replaces the “Protect Your Family from Lead in your Home” pamphlet that was previously used to comply with the pre-renovation information distribution requirements. 

“Protect Your Family from Lead in your Home” will continue to be used to meet general education needs and Disclosure Rule requirements that requires disclosure of known lead-based paint and/or lead-based paint hazards by persons selling or leasing housing constructed before the phase-out of residential lead-based paint use in 1978.