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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Renovation, Repair, and Painting  (EPA RRP) rule went into effect April 22, 2010. It requires contractors who work on homes built before 1978 to be trained and certified in using lead-safe work practices.

Homes built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint. If painting and home-improvement activities disturb lead-based paint, they can create a lead hazard by producing paint dust, chips, or fumes. Even common activities, such as sanding and scraping an old painted windowsill, removing cabinets, and removing paint with a heat gun, can produce lead hazards. Lead dust cannot safely be cleaned up by traditional cleaning methods, like sweeping or vacuuming with an ordinary vacuum cleaner.

Lead is especially dangerous to young children. If children breathe the lead fumes or swallow even small amounts of lead-paint dust or chips, they can become poisoned. Very young children, who crawl on the floor and put toys in their mouths, are usually at higher risk and are more susceptible to damage.

If you own property built before 1978, click to learn

5 reasons you should hire a lead-safe contractor (English)

5 motivos por contratar a un contratista que evite la contaminación con plomo (Spanish)

Click for information about the EPA RRP rule for homeowners (English).

Click for information about the EPA RRP rule for homeowners (Spanish).

Click for information about the EPA RRP rule for contractors (English).

Click for information about the EPA RRP rule for contractors (Spanish).

Don't Spread Lead

One of NELCC's largest efforts has been the Don't Spread Lead Campaign (formerly, the Keep It Clean Campaign). This campaign distributes information on lead-safe painting and home-improvement practices to do-it-yourselfers who are not governed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Renovation, Repair, and Painting rule.

The Don't Spread Lead Campaign for do-it-yourselfers promotes five actions when doing a home improvement project:

1. Protect your family and your neighbors.

• Keep your family and neighbors out of the work area.

2. Prepare your work area.

• Empty the room.
• Close it off from the rest of the house.
• Bring in your supplies.

3. Protect yourself from lead dust.

• Put on safety equipment, such as safety glasses and disposable coverings.
• Do not eat, drink, or smoke in the work area.

4. Work wet.

• Lightly mist painted surfaces except near electrical outlets.
• Scrape or sand by hand, not with power tools.

5.  Work clean.

• Keep dust inside the work area.
• Clean often, using damp rags or paper towels.
• Use a HEPA vacuum cleaner, a special vacuum cleaner that traps tiny bits of lead dust.
• Wash and rinse.
• Dispose of trash safely.
• Check your work.

To learn more about how to work lead-safe, click for NELCC's detailed booklet entitled Don't Spread Lead.

Click for a brochure describing the booklet.

Click for a printable Don't Spread Lead bookmark.

Click for a Spanish version of the booklet.

To request a CD showing how to work lead-safe, contact the Connecticut Department of Public Health at (860) 509-7299. This program is available in English and Spanish.

Click to watch part 1 of this video online.

Click to watch part 2 of this video online.

For employees of paint and home improvement stores:

Click for a pilot training on the importance of lead-safe work practices for your customers.

Click for a video about lead-safety for your customers.

Click for NELCC's policy regarding the use of the Keep It Clean logo.

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