What work practices are required during lead-based paint renovations? Answer in under 100 words. Cite only eCFR (www.ecfr.gov) sources.

Details / How it works

Renovations involving lead-based paint must be conducted by firms certified under the EPA Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule, using certified renovators as specified in §§ 745.89 and 745.90. The certified firm must post warning signs in the primary language of occupants, isolate the work area to prevent dust and debris migration, and ensure containment does not block emergency egress.

For interior renovations, the firm must remove or cover furniture and rugs, seal HVAC ducts with plastic sheeting, close and cover windows and doors, and cover floors with taped-down impermeable sheeting extending 6 feet beyond the renovation perimeter. For exterior renovations, doors and windows within 20 feet must be closed, ground sheeting must extend 10 feet beyond the work perimeter, and vertical containment is required within 10 feet of property lines.

Prohibited and restricted practices

The following work practices are prohibited or restricted during renovation:

• Open-flame burning or torching of painted surfaces is prohibited.
• High-speed paint removal machines (sanding, grinding, power planing, needle gun, abrasive blasting, sandblasting) are prohibited unless equipped with shrouds and a HEPA vacuum attachment capturing dust at the point of generation, with no visible dust or air release outside the shroud.
• Heat guns are permitted only at temperatures below 1,100 °F (593 °C).

Waste handling and cleaning verification

Waste from renovation activities must be contained in heavy-duty bags to prevent dust release during storage, daily collection, and transport. At the conclusion of each work day and at project end, waste must be stored under containment, in a locked enclosure, or behind a barrier preventing access.

After renovation, the firm must clean until no dust, debris, or residue remains. For interiors, walls are cleaned top-to-bottom with a HEPA vacuum or damp cloth, surfaces are HEPA-vacuumed (with a beater bar on carpets), and uncarpeted floors are mopped using a 2-bucket method. A certified renovator must then perform post-renovation cleaning verification by wiping windowsills and floors with wet disposable cloths compared against a cleaning verification card; if the cloth is darker, re-cleaning is required. Optional dust clearance sampling by a certified inspector or risk assessor may substitute for the cloth verification.

Numbers & thresholds

Exceptions & edge cases

If warning signs have already been posted under the HUD Lead-Safe Housing Rule (24 CFR 35.1345(b)(2)) or the OSHA Lead Standard for Construction (29 CFR 1926.62(m)), additional signs are not required under § 745.85. Floor and ground containment may terminate at the edge of a vertical containment system (impermeable barriers sealed floor-to-ceiling).

Exterior vertical containment or equivalent precautions may also be required in other situations — such as near playgrounds or schoolyards — to prevent contamination of adjacent properties. Cleaning verification is not required if the contract or applicable Federal, State, Territorial, Tribal, or local law mandates dust clearance sampling by a certified inspector, risk assessor, or dust sampling technician, with results below the § 745.227(e)(8) action levels.