The Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992, known as Title X (ten), is the source of much of the law on lead paint. It requires disclosures of known lead hazards at the time of the sale or lease of a home built before 1978. Sellers and landlords must also provide a pamphlet on lead poisoning to the buyer or renter prior to sale or rent.

   The Federal lead hazard disclosure laws are enforced by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the US Department of Justice (DOJ).

   Similarly, Title X also requires renovators, remodelers, and others who conduct such activities for compensation in homes built before 1978 to provide the pamphlet entitled Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home to the owners and occupants of affected housing, prior to beginning the work.

   At the state or local level, your state or municipality may have enacted additional laws to protect you from lead poisoning. Check with your state and local health and housing departments for details.

   Other important lead paint regulations include the Lead Poisoning Reduction Act, Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), and the Resources Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).  All are administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  The TSCA imposes requirements on any person or company removing or encapsulating lead paint for compensation.  This law set up the certification and training required for lead abatement workers and supervisors, and it establishes lead safe work practices. 

  In April 2010, new regulations from the EPA will require all renovations in pre-1978 houses to follow lead safe work practices.  This essentially outlaws unsafe methods of lead paint removal, requires certification of workers and supervisors, and requires dust sampling to ensure no lead dust remains after work is completed.  Scraping, sanding, burning, or using any power tools that might kick up lead dust will be illegal in houses built before 1978.  The EPA is also requiring dust sampling when the project is completed, because contractors will have to demonstrate that no lead dust remains in the house.  Homeowners who remove lead paint on their own are not subject to these regulations. Check with your local government for lead paint abatement programs.

  Contractors and painters will all have to find new lead paint removal methods or face very harsh penalties for non-compliance.  Some of these methods require expensive equipment.  If you want to scrape or sand the lead paint, you will need to use a wet method and have industrial HEPA vacuums constantly running.  Furthermore, precautions must be taken to contain the hazardous lead dust.  Not only does this include a basic quarantine of the work area and posting warning signs on all entrances, but everyone must wear personal protective equipment such as respirators, goggles, coveralls, and gloves.

    Some of these regulations cannot be avoided such as certification, posting warning signs (see example below), and passing the dust sampling clearance tests.  Many of the precautions, however, become unnecessary when using LEAD-OUT® Paint Stripper.
   This semi-paste paint stripper will virtually eliminate lead dust, because the stripper will dissolve most of the paint and trap the dust in the residue.  LEAD-OUT® Paint Stripper also neutralizes heavy metals such as lead, chromium, cadmium, and zinc. Non-hazardous waste disposal is much cheaper than hazardous waste disposal.  Using such a paint stripper will ensure compliance with the law as well as everyone’s safety.

   The RCRA sets limits for hazardous lead content.  Below 5 mg/L is non-hazardous, and above 5 mg/L is hazardous.  LEAD-OUT® will reduce hazardous lead levels from 400mg/L to below regulatory limits.  See this TCLP Analysis for more information. Also,visit www.EPA.gov/lead.