EPA Lead Rules for Disaster Recovery

Lead Paint Requirements Waived for Certain Renovations by EPA

An extremely active hurricane season this year has created widespread property damage impacting many states including Texas, Louisiana and Florida. Since the work is considered an emergency renovation, defined as one that results from a sudden, unexpected event, certain certification and lead-safe work practices are waived. But other provisions remain in place, including post-renovation cleaning and record-keeping requirements.

In the case of emergency renovation, the EPA has a provision that waives some of the rules of Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (RRP Rule), which applies to renovations made to homes built prior to 1978 that must be supervised and/or performed by a certified renovator using lead-safe work practices.

NARI recommends members consult the conditions that dictate the terms of emergency renovation as well as general guidelines regarding post disaster recovery.

The EPA provides a list of frequently asked questions that provides more details. NARI will continue to work with the EPA as more information is available.