On April 22, 2008, the EPA issued a rule requiring the use of lead-safe practices and other actions aimed at preventing lead poisoning. Under the Lead-Based Paint Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program (RRP), 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.
What is the Lead-Based Paint Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program (RRP)?
- RRP is a federal regulatory program that affects anyone that disturbs painted surfaces.
- The program applies to houses, apartments, and child-occupied facilities.
- A child-occupied facility is a pre-1978 building that:
- Is visited regularly by the same child, under 6 years of age
- The visits are on at least two different days within a week, provided that each day's visit lasts at least three hours
- And combined weekly visits last at least six hours, and the combined annual visits last at least 60 hours.
- Requires the distribution of the lead pamphlet Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers and Schools before work begins.
- Requires firms to be certified and employees to be trained in the use of lead-safe work practices that minimize lead exposure.
What is covered by the rule?
The rule applies to paid contractors working in pre-1978 housing, child care facilities and schools with lead-based paint. Contractors include home improvement contractors, maintenance workers in multi-family housing, painters and other specialty trades. The covered facilities include residential, public or commercial buildings where children under age six are present on a regular basis, as well as, all rental housing.
The rule applies to renovation, repair or painting activities. It does not apply to minor maintenance or repair activities affecting less than six square feet of lead-based paint in a room or less than 20 square feet of lead-based paint on the exterior. Window replacement is not minor maintenance or repair.
Prohibited Practices
The Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule prohibits the use of some dangerous work practices by contractors regardless of the size of material impacted. These "Prohibited Practices" are:
- Open-flame burning or torching of lead-based paint.
- The use of machines that remove lead-based paint through high-speed operation such as sanding, grinding, power planing, abrasive blasting or sandblasting, unless such machines are used with a HEPA exhaust control.
- Operating a heat gun on lead-based paint at temperatures greater than 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit.
What does all this mean for Aurora Public Schools' Maintenance and Operation Employees?
Lead survey-report-list
- If under 6 sq ft inside or 20 sq ft outside and does not involve prohibited activies, begin work.
- If over 6 sq ft inside or 20 sq ft outside OR involves prohibited activies, contact Environmental.
- If contractor is performing work under 6 sq ft inside or 20 sq ft outside and does not involve prohibited activies, must sign acknowledgement before beginning work.
- If contractor is performing work over 6 sq ft inside or 20 sq ft outside OR any work involving prohibited activies, contact the Environmental Compliance Branch. Firm must be certified, sign acknowledgement, have certified renovator assigned to project, and complete renovation recordkeeping checklist.
Additional Information
Further information on how to protect yourself, including safe work practices, are available from the APS Environmental Compliance Branch, the National Lead Information Center (800-424-LEAD), and on the internet at www.epa.gov/lead.
RRP Documents
