Compliance Assistance Resources

F E D E R A L

L E A D - B A S E D  P A I N T  R E N O V A T I O N,  R E P A I R,  A N D  P A I N T  P R O G R A M

Lead Paint Rules on Renovation and Repair to Housing, Child-care Facilities, and Schools

Effective April 22, 2010

Are you a general contractor, renovation contractor, property manager, painter, plumber, carpenter, electrician?

Are you paid to do work that disturbs painted surfaces?

Do you work in homes, schools, day-care facilities or other buildings where children are present?

Were these buildings or any houses, apartments and residences where you work constructed before 1978, when lead-based paint was still in use?

If you answered Yes... the new federal Lead-Based Paint Renovation, Repair and Painting requirements may be applicable to you.

Now is the time to become an EPA-certified renovator and follow the specific work practices that prevent lead contamination. 

The new requirements kick in starting in April 2010. Failure to comply with the new requirements is a violation of the law: it can cause exposure to lead and result in serious health consequences, especially for young children. Penalties can be significant.   The new requirements include notification to property owners and occupants before work begins of the potential hazards from lead-based paint disturbed during the project, certification of renovation companies, training and certification of workers, implementation of work practice standards for controlling lead-based paint dust, post-renovation cleanup requirements and post-renovation cleaning verification.

EPA set new rules for contractors who renovate or repair housing, child-care facilities, or schools built before 1978.  Workers must follow lead-safe work practice standards to reduce potential exposure to dangerous levels of lead during renovation and repair activities. The “Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program” rule will take effect in April 2010 and covers all rental housing and non-rental homes where children under six and pregnant mothers reside.  The requirements apply to renovation, repair or painting activities where more than six square feet of lead-based paint is disturbed in a room or where 20 square feet of lead-based paint is disturbed on the exterior.  The affected contractors include builders, painters, plumbers and electricians.

For hard copies of the educational brochures on this new program, call 1-800-424-LEAD (5323) or download the Compliance Guides below.

Contractor Training in Vermont

Approximately 75% of the housing in Vermont was built before 1978, the year lead paint was banned.

Anyone working on these buildings is at an increased risk for exposure to lead paint. While the majority of lead poisoning cases are children, it is possible for anyone to contract lead poisoning if proper work-safe practices are not observed.

To address this risk, the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board sponsors free Essential Maintenance Practices (EMP) classes around Vermont.

More than 8,000 people have attended these classes to learn lead-safe work practices that reduce health risks related to lead-based paint.

Information covered in the classes includes:

• The requirements of Vermont's lead paint law and related federal regulations
• The health effects of lead in children and adults
• Lead-safe work practices and maintenance procedures
• Specialized cleaning techniques and equipment for removing lead-contaminated dust

EPA's Lead-based Paint Program Resources

EPA Compliance Guides

• Small Entity Compliance Guide to Renovate Right EPA’s Lead-Based Paint Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program [PDF, 2.18 MB]
• Enforcement Alert Brochure  [PDF, 119.4 KB]

EPA Websites

• EPA Lead in Paint, Dust, and Soil - for contractors
• 40 CFR Part 745 Lead; Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program; Lead Hazard Information Pamphlet; Notice of Availability; Final Rule (Federal Register)

Don't Forget!

Vermont Contractors Must Also Comply with the VT Department of Health's, Lead Regulatory Program

For more information contact:

Asbestos and Lead Regulatory Program
P.O. Box 70 , 108 Cherry St .
Burlington, VT 05402
1-800-439-8550, first ext 4, then ext 3
802-863-7220
Fax: 802-863-7483

The documents above are in PDF format and require Adobe Acrobat Reader. If Adobe Acrobat Reader is not currently installed on your computer, the software can be downloaded, at no cost, from Adobe's Web site.