The RRP Rule and Lead Inspection in Worcester, MA

The EPA's RRP Rule

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (RRP Rule) went into effect on April 22, 2010. Any renovation work that will disturb more than 6 square feet per room in the interior of a home and 20 square feet total on the exterior of a home's coated surfaces falls under the RRP Rule.

Failure to comply with RRP Rule could result in criminal and civil penalties, with fines up to $25,000 per day. The EPA estimates nearly three million professionals in the building trades are subject to the new law, including painters, carpenters, drywall workers, lathers, and electricians and more than 200,000 property managers. 

The federal law will require contractors that disturb lead-based paint in target housing built before 1978 to be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. Also, the EPA's information pamphlet, Renovate Right (available in English and Spanish), must be distributed to tenants and/or owners of the property prior to beginning work. If you need lead inspection in Worcester, MA, give us a call today.

Coated surfaces that are determined to be free of lead-based paint are exempt from the Rule. You have three options to determine if the coated surfaces to be distributed contain lead-based paint:

• You must assume that lead-based paint is present and follow lead-safe work practices during the renovation, repair or painting job.
• You may also test for lead using a lead test kit approved by the EPA available at most hardware stores.
• You can hire a certified risk assessor for a professional lead inspection in Worcester, MA or anywhere in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts took over the implementation and enforcement of the EPA's RRP Rule in July of 2010. The Massachusetts RRP Rule does have some differences from the EPA's RRP Rule. To get more information regarding the RRP Rule in Massachusetts please visit the Department of Labor Standards.

Depending on your needs, ASAP Environmental Inc can perform a Lead Determination on specific surfaces you may be disturbing during the renovation, repair, or painting project.

We can also perform a Lead Inspection/Risk Assessment of the entire housing unit including all common areas. With our comprehensive lead inspections in Worcester, MA, all surfaces are tested and documented on a report.

Training Links

• MA Environmental Training Institute
• Institute for Environmental Education
• Leadsmart Training Solutions