Absolute Resource

May, 2010

EPA Introduces New RRP Rules

Lead paint has been an ongoing concern in homes and buildings constructed or renovated before 1978. Lead exposure occurs most commonly via ingestion of dust created over time from deteriorating paint. Children are at the highest risk of developing lead poisoning, as the dust settles on window sills and floors where children crawl and play with toys. This creates an environment that can contaminate their hands, which inevitably go into their mouths.

On April 22, 2010 the EPA implemented a new RRP (Renovation, Repair and Painting) rule, which contains more stringent remediation requirements when contractors are disturbing lead based paint in child-occupied buildings. These targeted buildings are defined as any which could be occupied by children under the age of 6 on a regular basis. These include homes, and child-occupied facilities such as day care centers and schools. Any building, or part of a building, that a child resides or visits more than two times a week and for three or more hours per day is considered a target building and will fall under these new regulations.

The first step in determining lead based paint is to do a lead survey. There are many ways to make the determination of the presence of lead. The EPA is recommending any of the following: Utilizing an EPA approved spot test, hiring an inspector to perform on-site analysis of lead based paint with a hand-held XRF analyzer, or hiring a licensed individual to come evaluate the area(s) in question and submit paint chips or wipes to a laboratory for analysis. One of the referenced determination methods must be done prior to disturbing a painted surface in a building built or last renovated before 1978.

Contractors need to be an EPA approved Certified Renovation Firm. There are EPA accredited training courses for Lead Safe Work Practices.

Once a renovation project is completed where lead based paint had been disturbed, wipe tests are required  to ensure that no lead dust remains. If the wipe tests indicate a presence of lead, re-cleaning of the area is required, until re-testing indicates an absence of Lead.

Exceptions? Yes. Homeowners doing renovations on their own single-family property are not required to comply with  this rule. Further, any work which is being done by a contactor or individual who is NOT receiving compensation does not fall under these regulations. So, if you do all of your remodeling yourself or if you know a contractor who will work for free, you are not required to adhere to these new regulations.  But, please keep in mind the risks involved.  

If you have material in question, Resource Laboratories can analyze your paint chip or wipe samples. If you’d like a complete lead survey our indoor air quality division, Absolute Air Quality, can provide this service.  Please contact us for more information, questions or concerns on your upcoming projects.

The Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program is offering three Lead Safe Renovator Training courses in June.  These courses are FREE and will be held at 29 Hazen Drive in Concord.  Participants will get a FREE lunch.

For More Information, Contact:

Beverly Baer Drouin
Health Promotion Advisor
Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP)
29 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301-6504
603.271.8128 Phone
603.271.3991 Fax

How We Do It: The GC Racer

Introducing the little GC accessory that saves a whole lot of time: The GC Racer, from Zip Scientific. Resource Labs purchased a GC Racer in hopes of speeding up the GC-FID semi-volatile analyses. RL was pleasantly surprised to find the Racer lived up to its promises: 12 minutes were knocked off the DRO/TPH/MeDRO analyses, and 8 minutes were knocked off the EPH analyses. When dealing with the volume of samples we run on a daily basis, 12 or 8 minutes saved per sample really adds up fast! The GC Racer works by overcoming the limitations of a conventional GC oven by adding a second convection heater to the oven. What a time saver, especially during those busy spring and summer months that we all know so well!

Free Seminar: Mold In Schools

NH Partners for Healthy Schools, in collaboration with Absolute Air Quality and the Manchester Health Department would like to invite all interested parties, especially NH School Principals, Facility Managers, Business Officials and Custodians to attend a FREE seminar:

Mold In Schools:

Identification, Prevention, and Communication

June 15, 2010, 8:00 am – 12:00pm

NH Local Government Center

25 Triangle Park Dr, Concord NH

Our own Guy Sylvester will be presenting, along with Phil Alexakos, MPH, REHS, Chief of Environmental Health and Emergency Response for the Manchester Health Department, and Matt Comai, CPSI, a School Risk Management Specialist for the NH Local Government Center. Although school faculty will receive first priority, the seminar is free to all who wish to attend. (If attendance fills up, a waiting list may be established).

To Register Contact: Jessica Morton at [email protected]

or (603) 271-3911. Please register before Tuesday, June 8, 2010.

The Resource Rambler is brought to you by your friends at

Resource Laboratories, LLC & Absolute Air Quality
124 Heritage Ave., Portsmouth, NH 03801
www.reslabs.com   www.airqualitycounts.com