As a contractor, you play an important role in helping to prevent lead exposure. Ordinary renovation and maintenance activities can create toxic lead dust that can harm your customers, workers, and even yourself. But by following lead-safe work practices, you can prevent lead hazards. The Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule establishes requirements for firms and individuals performing renovations.

Contractors and training providers working in Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin must contact the state to find out more about its training and certification requirements. These states are authorized to administer their own RRP programs in lieu of the federal program. By following the state links above, you will leave the EPA web site.  Exit

Get your firm certified

Federal law requires all renovation, repair, and painting firms (including sole proprietorships) working in housing, or facilities where children are routinely present, built before 1978, to be certified. Certification is simple and quick for firms intending to comply – just submit an application and fee to EPA. It's easy to apply today.

Renovating HUD housing? In addition to EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting regulations, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires compliance with its Lead Safe Housing Rule in target housing receiving HUD assistance. Read about HUD's requirements.

Becoming Lead-Safe Certified isn't just the right thing to do for the safety of your workers and customers, it's also good for business. EPA recommends that consumers hire only certified contractors for renovations in homes and child-occupied facilities built before 1978.

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Get your employees trained

Federal law requires that a “Certified Renovator” be assigned to each job, and that all involved individuals are trained in the use of lead-safe work practices.

A Certified Renovator must provide lead-safe work practices training to all non-certified renovation workers on a job site.

To become a Certified Renovator, a person must complete a renovator training course accredited by EPA or an EPA authorized program which will teach you how to work lead safe.

• Locate an RRP training class or provider in your area.

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Work lead safe

Remember three key points:

• Set up the job site safely
• Minimize dust on the job
• Clean up carefully and completely

Read about the rule and how to comply in the EPA Small Entity Compliance Guide to Renovate Right (PDF) | en español (PDF) .

• The certified firm must assign a Certified Renovator to each renovation job it performs.
  • The firm must notify the homeowner or tenants about lead hazards. Download EPA's lead hazard information pamphlet Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers, and Schools (PDF) | en español (PDF) .
    • The firm must document compliance with this requirement; EPA's pre-renovation disclosure form (PDF)  may be used for this purpose.
  • The certified renovator must perform or direct certain key tasks during the renovation and be present on-site during those key tasks, including while:
    • Signs are being posted before the job;
    • The work area is being contained; and
    • The work area is being cleaned post-renovation.
  • The certified renovator must perform cleaning verification after the job is finished.
• The certified firm and renovator must make sure that other workers on the renovation job follow lead-safe work practices.
• The certified firm and renovator must prepare and maintain records. Use EPA's sample recordkeeping checklist (PDF) .

Materials and downloads for firms related to Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule.

Learn more about the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule.

Get information on purchasing EPA-recognized lead paint test kits.

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