According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the EPA is stepping up its enforcement of the RRP lead paint rule.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has stepped up its enforcement of the Lead- Renovation, Repair and Painting rule (RRP) with inspections that focus on company certification and other records required under the rule governing the renovation of older homes, according to remodelers and contractors who have been subject to the inspections.

Under the EPA’s lead paint regulation, remodelers and other contractors working in homes built before 1978 must take precautions to contain lead dust — including using lead-safe work practices, establishing dust containment areas and containing dust during the renovation, cleaning up after the project and maintaining detailed records.

See full article on the NAHB site.

Lead was used historically as paint additive up until it was banned from use in the United States in the 1970′s.  Lead poses a serious to adults and children, especially as a result of dust made during various home renovation projects.

If you own or work on a home that was built prior to 1978, please scan previous posts on RRP and lead paint hazards on this blog and also visit the EPA website for full details.

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Lead was used historically as paint additive up until it was banned from use in the United States in the 1970′s.  Lead poses a serious to adults and children, especially as a result of dust made during various home renovation projects.

If you own or work on a home that was built prior to 1978, please scan previous posts on RRP and lead paint hazards on this blog.

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The EPA’s new lead paint rule (RRP) takes effect April 22, 2010.  Learn more at this free webinar for contractors and those that work on homes built prior to 1978 that may contain lead paint.

The one hour webinar to be held Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at 2pm eastern.  Pre registration is required To register for the webinar, click here.

If you are a homeowner and your house  was built prior to 1978, there is a good chance it contains some lead paint.   Before you have any work that may disturb painted surfaces, your contractor is now required to provide you with this pamphlet available online at www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovaterightbrochure.pdf

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I have talked with a number of other contractors and trades people lately about business and other things.  At some point I ask them what they are doing to get prepared for new EPA lead paint renovation repair and painting rule that goes into effect this April.  The vast majority have not even heard about the law let alone have taken the training to become a Certified Renovator.  This is an important topic that more people, especially those in construction should already know about.

The RRP law will effect anyone that works on homes built prior to 1978 and disturbs lead painted surfaces be they a handyman business, general contractor, remodeler or any tradesperson.  Homeowners and DIYers that live in this target housing need to educate themselves as well.

Learn more at RRP Resources and the EPA.gov.

North Carolina is the third state in the US to administer and enforce a Lead Renovation Repair and Painting (RRP) program.  See EPA RRP and North Carolina Lead program for additional information.

From EPA.gov

The RRP program mandates that contractors working in homes and child-occupied facilities built before 1978 be trained and certified in lead-safe work practices by the state of North Carolina. Similar EPA requirements will be in place nationwide by April 2010, but the North Carolina program will operate in lieu of EPA’s program in that state, allowing for greater local oversight. EPA’s authorization of North Carolina’s program is based on the application letter from North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue and a certification from the Chief Deputy Attorney General, Grayson G. Kelley, that the North Carolina program is at least as protective as the EPA RRP program and provides adequate enforcement.

Read more at www.dbusinessnews.com or at www.CarolinaHandyman.com

If you are doing any work yourself as a do it yourself project, there is some good information on lead paint hazards at www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovation.htm

Other details from the Environment Protection Agency:
Federal law requires that individuals receive certain information before renovating six square feet or more of painted surfaces in a room for interior projects or more than twenty square feet of painted surfaces for exterior projects in housing, child care facilities and schools built before 1978.
-Homeowners and tenants: renovators must give you this pamphlet
before starting work.
-Child care facilities, including preschools and kindergarten classrooms,
and the families of children under the age of six that attend those facilities: renovators must provide a copy of this pamphlet to child-care facilities and general renovation information to families whose children attend those facilities.

Also, beginning April 2010, federal law will require contractors that disturb
lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities and schools, built before 1978
to be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. Therefore beginning in April 2010, ask to see your contractor’s certification.

For more tips, please visit www.HouseFixer.Info