Lead-Safe (RRP) Renovators

Paint in homes built before 1978 often contains lead. Sanding, scraping, cutting or demolishing it makes dust that poisons children and workers, and a tiny amount is enough. EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule says how paid contractors must work on these buildings.

• Construction
• Renovation
• Painting

Who the RRP rule covers

• Buildings: homes and apartments built before 1978, and “child-occupied facilities” like day cares and kindergartens built before 1978.
• Work: any paid renovation, repair or painting that disturbs painted surfaces, including window replacement, demolition, plumbing and electrical work that cuts walls.
• Who: contractors, property managers, landlords and maintenance staff who are paid to do the work.
• Small jobs: the rule doesn’t apply to minor repair that disturbs less than 6 square feet per room inside or 20 square feet outside. Window replacement and demolition are never “minor,” and banned practices are never allowed.

Certification

• The firm must be certified by EPA or by a state that runs its own RRP program.
• Each job needs a certified renovator, someone who took an 8-hour accredited course. Refresher training keeps the certificate current (usually every 5 years).
• Other workers must be trained on the job by the certified renovator.

Before work starts

• Give the owner and occupants EPA’s Renovate Right pamphlet no more than 60 days before work starts, and get a signed receipt.
• Test the paint with an EPA-recognized test kit or a paint inspection, or assume it has lead.
• Post warning signs and keep residents, kids and pets out of the work area.

Lead-safe work practices

• Contain the dust: plastic sheeting on floors and over doorways, HVAC vents closed and covered, and for outside work, sheeting on the ground at least 10 feet out.
• Mist surfaces before scraping or sanding by hand.
• Use tools with HEPA vacuum attachments for any power sanding, grinding or planing.
• Clean up daily with a HEPA vacuum and wet wipes. Never dry sweep.
• When finished, do cleaning verification: wipe floors, sills and counters and compare the cloths to EPA’s verification card.
• Keep records for 3 years.

• No open-flame burning or torching of painted surfaces.
• No power sanding, grinding or planing without HEPA shrouds.
• No heat guns above 1,100°F.

Protect yourself and your family

The RRP rule protects residents. OSHA’s lead standard for construction (29 CFR 1926.62) protects you: exposure assessment, respirators when needed, hand washing, and no eating, drinking or smoking in the work area. Change clothes and shoes before going home so you don’t carry dust to your kids. See Lead and Take-Home Contamination.

End-of-day checklist

• Debris misted, bagged and sealed
• Work area HEPA-vacuumed and wet-wiped
• Containment intact and warning signs still up
• Tools and equipment wiped or vacuumed
• Hands and face washed; work clothes changed

Last updated: October 2, 2026