EPA - RRP - Renovation Repair and Painting Rule

Lead Paint Warning Sign

Lead Paint Warning Sign

I'm a landlord and do my own home remodeling on my properties.

I'm hearing about new laws from the EPA RRP rules.
Something about getting certified and taking classes
to allow me to work on my own properties.

It sounds like all repair work that has paint on it is being treated like asbestos because of the lead in paint.

How do I keep up with the EPA RRP rules so I don't get fined?
I hear the fines for non-compliance are $37,000.

Answer
by Joe the Rehabber

The EPA is the Environmental Protection Agency
RRP is the Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule...

...Is to contain and properly dispose of lead contaminates found in paint and or any building materials found in residential homes and some commercial buildings regarding the safety of children primarily because their most susceptible to lead poisoning.

Read the RRP rules EPA.Gov/Lead

Landlords not only have to get certified in RRP,
we will also have to become a RRP Certified Firm, that's an additional $300 fee to the EPA, just to work on our own properties, and...

...The documentation is lengthy!

The alternative is

Hire a licensed contractor that is certified in RRP - Renovation, Repair, and Painting, plus...

...Is a Certified Firm.

The lead safe certification program is a U.S.A. Federal program.
Read up on the rules to protect yourself.

Subscribe to the Rehabber Newsletter to keep up with this and other home remodeling and real estate investing topics.

Joe the Rehabber

Comments for EPA - RRP - Renovation Repair and Painting Rule

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Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		EPA - RRP
by: Anonymous

Excellent goods from you, man. I have understood your stuff previously and you are just too great.

Thanks!
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Painting Rule, Lead Based Paint
by: Alex

Unquestionably believe that which you stated.

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I say to you, I certainly get annoyed while people consider worries that they just don't know about.

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Will likely be back to get more.

Thanks,

Alex
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		RRP Renovation Repair and Painting Tools
by: Anonymous

Here is the list of the EPA's RRP Renovation Repair and Painting tools I'm going to need to continue working on homes 1978 and older or any home that contains any lead paint.


  • HEPA filter vacuum

  • Negative air machine

  • Duct-work for the negative air machine

  • Rolls of 4-mil to 6-mil plastic sheeting

  • Approved respirator and dust masks

  • Rolls of painters tape

  • Rolls of plastic tape

  • Protective jumpsuits

  • Protective booties to cover shoes

  • Additional supply of plastic trash bags

  • Water sprayer

  • Approve lead test kit

  • Lead paint brochures

  • Filing system to document all the work

  • Digital camera for proof of work



And that's just of the top of my head from taking the RRP Renovation Repair and Painting course.

It's not like I have a crew to set up the pre-repair work area, I work alone.

The EPA says it should only cost $50.00 per job in additional expense, but I'm estimating it's going to cost me about $3000.00 just to buy my initial protective lead paint tools and equipment.

The fear of a $37,000 fine for not following the rules is quite scary. Don't get me wrong, I don't want anyone to get lead based paint poisoning because I fixed up the walls and painted a room.

I'm thinking I'll have to turn down any work on the houses with lead based paint built in 1978 and before until I can get a handle on this new EPA-RRP Rule.

Is there anyone out there that can offer some suggestions on how a one man painting company can survive this ordeal?

Sure would appreciate your comments and suggestions.

Betty,
Michigan

Answer
by Joe the Rehabber

I'm in the same situation you are, I'm a do-it-yourself home remodeling rehabber.

I don't think I have to buy a negative air machine at the start to do repairs but a HEPA vacuum cleaner is a must, plus...

Making or finding HEPA vacuum cleaner attachments to connect to my sanders, zip tool, and saws.

Until I get set up to comply with the RRP rules, I'm thinking my next fixer-upper will be targeted to 1979 and newer.

Still, it does make sense to set up plastic wall barriers to confine the dust to one room to greatly reduce dust migration through out the house and be sure to cover registers and return air grills to prevent dust getting into the furnace duct work.

I'll keep posting comments as I work my way into the RRP renovation repair and painting rules.

We'd like you hear any suggestions from our visitors - just click the link below. Thanks.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		RRP Rule Excludes Homeowners
by: Joe the Rehabber

In response to questions I've received.

The RRP Rule: Exclusions
from the EPA rules as of Feb 09, 2010


  • Renovation activities where affected components do not contain lead-based paint.

  • emergency renovations (requires cleanup and cleaning verification).

  • Minor repair and maintenance activities. Note: This exclusion does not apply to window replacement, demolition or activities involving prohibited practices.

  • renovation performed by homeowners in their own homes.



So

Homeowners can work on their own homes, it appears, without following the EPA RRP Rules.

The concern is

When we do our own remodeling as a homeowner on our homes that contains lead, a house built in 1978 and before probably does contain lead in the paint unless tested otherwise.

Just because we homeowners are allowed to do our own work, and if our projects contain lead,
we could possibly contaminate our entire home with lead dust - consider lead as a Poison!

The Problems that could arise are...


  • Do we have children in the house?

  • Do we expect children visiting our home?

  • A future sale of our home to a family?

  • Will the sale of our home trigger a lead test?



OOPS...

Hiring someone to work on our homes that is not RRP Certified working under a RRP Certified Firm, in our Pre-1978 homes.

We should still be able use our Handy-workers on a leaky faucet if it's a rubber gasket, but the RRP Rules are so lengthy,
if lead is present, using a flame or torch can airborne lead in the fumes and that's against the Rule!

What shocked me...

Power washers can't be used to clean my pre-1978 rental houses that are vinyl sided unless, I have proof of testing of the materials behind the vinyl siding, to be lead free.

The Bright Side of the EPA RRP Rule

We have to clean up after every job anyway!

Now we have guidelines to work in a clean and dust free way at the start of our projects that greatly reduce clean up at the end of our projects.

We may be able to work on our own homes.
When it comes time to sell our home,
if we contaminated it with poisonous lead dust,
if the buyers have a lead test performed, and lead testing will be more of a concern "Now That We Know".

Well... I hear decontaminated a medium size home that contain lead dust costs hundreds of thousand of dollars to decontaminate, and the house doesn't sell!

This is Joe-the-Rehabber,
I just became a certified renovator and still learning.

I'll be updating my construction equipment and practices because, "Now I Know!"

If you have a question about lead paint rules,
click the link below, ask your question, and be sure to check the box after you submit your question to keep up with the reply.

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