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New EPA Guidelines, Renovation Repair And Painting Rule (RRP)

Common renovation activities like sanding, cutting, and demolition can create hazardous lead dust and chips by disturbing lead-based paint, which can be harmful to adults and children. To protect against this risk, on April 22, 2008, EPA issued a rule requiring the use of lead-safe practices and other actions aimed at preventing lead poisoning. Under the rule, beginning in April 2010, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.

Beginning in December 2008, the rule will require that contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint provide to owners and occupants of child care facilities and to parents and guardians of children under age six that attend child care facilities built prior to 1978 with a copy of the lead hazard information pamphlet.

Under the rule, child-occupied facilities are defined as residential, public or commercial buildings where children under age six are present on a regular basis. The requirements apply to renovation, repair or painting activities. The rule does not apply to minor maintenance or repair activities where less than six square feet of lead-based paint is disturbed in a room or where less then 20 square feet of lead-based paint is disturbed on the exterior. Window replacement is not minor maintenance or repair.



Information for Property Owners of Rental Housing, Child-Occupied Facilities

Property owners who renovate, repair, or prepare surfaces for painting in pre-1978 rental housing or space rented by child-care facilities must, before beginning work, provide tenants with a copy of EPA's lead hazard information pamphlet After April 22, 2010, property owners who perform these projects in pre-1978 rental housing or space rented by child-care facilities must be certified and follow the lead-safe work practices required by EPA's Renovation, Repair and Remodeling rule.



Information for Homeowners

If you are a homeowner performing renovation, repair, or painting work in your own home, EPA's RRP rule does not cover your project. However, you have the ultimate responsibility for the safety of your family or children in your care. If you are living in a pre-1978 home and planning to do painting or repairs, please read a copy of EPA's: Renovate Right Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers, and Schools. You may also want to call the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD (5323) and ask for more information on how to work safely in a home with lead-based paint.

Contractors who perform renovation, repairs, and painting jobs in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities must, before beginning work, provide owners, tenants, and child-care facilities with a copy of EPA's lead hazard information pamphlet.

Read EPA's Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting rule



NEWS From U.S. CPSC

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

RELEASED January 8, 2010

About 951,000 Home Improvement Books recalled by Oxmoor House due to faulty wiring instructions. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Oxmoor House Inc. announced a voluntary recall of the following products. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately.

The books contain errors in the technical diagrams and wiring instructions that could lead consumers to incorrectly install or repair electrical wiring, posing an electrical shock or fire hazard to consumers.

The recall involves nine home improvement books as listed below, sold at home improvement stores and bookstores nationwide from January 1975 through December 2009 for between $13 and $35 and were printed in United States.


Title: AmeriSpec Home Repair Handbook

Publication Date: January 2006

ISBN: 978-0-376-00180-1


Title: Lowes Complete Home Improvement and Repair

Publication Date: September 2005

ISBN: 978-0-376-00922-7

Publication Date: December 1999

ISBN: 978-0-376-01098-8


Title: Lowes Complete Home Wiring

Publication Date: May 2008

ISBN: 978-0-376-00928-9


Title: Sunset Basic Home Repairs

Publication Date: February 1995

ISBN: 978-0-376-01581-5

Publication Date: January 1975

ISBN: 978-0-376-01025-4


Title: Sunset Complete Home Wiring

Publication Date: December 1999

ISBN: 978-0-376-01594-5


Title: Sunset Complete Patio Book

Publication Date: January 2006

ISBN: 978-0-376-01411-5

Publication Date: January 1998

ISBN: 978-0-376-01397-2

Publication Date: April 1990

ISBN: 978-0-376-01399-6


Title: Sunset Home Repair Handbook

Publication Date: October 1998

ISBN: 978-0-376-01258-6

Publication Date: February 1985

ISBN: 978-0-376-01256-2


Title: Sunset Water Gardens

Publication Date: January 2004

ISBN: 978-0-376-03849-4


Title: Sunset You Can Build- Wiring

Publication Date: January 2009

ISBN: 978-0-376-01596-9


For additional information contact Oxmoor House toll-free at (866) 696-7602 anytime, or visit the there website at www.sunsetrecall.com