EPA Building Components & Lead Paint Inspection 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which building component is most commonly associated with lead-based paint hazards in pre-1978 housing?
- Concrete basement floors
- Interior trim, window frames, and door frames (Correct answer)
- Ceramic tile in bathrooms
- Asphalt roof shingles
Correct answer: Interior trim, window frames, and door frames
Interior trim, windows, and doors are prime locations for lead-based paint because contractors historically used durable oil-based lead paint on high-wear surfaces.
Question 2: What device is the standard tool for non-destructive lead testing in the field?
- Colorimetric swab test kit
- X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer (Correct answer)
- Scanning electron microscope
- Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectrometer
Correct answer: X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer
XRF analyzers use X-ray fluorescence to measure lead concentration in paint layers without destroying the surface, providing immediate results on-site.
Question 3: Under EPA regulations, what is the lead concentration threshold that defines paint as 'lead-based paint'?
- 0.5 mg/cm² or 0.05% by weight
- 1.0 mg/cm² or 0.1% by weight (Correct answer)
- 2.0 mg/cm² or 0.2% by weight
- 5.0 mg/cm² or 0.5% by weight
Correct answer: 1.0 mg/cm² or 0.1% by weight
EPA defines lead-based paint as paint containing 1.0 mg/cm² or more by XRF measurement, or 0.1% or more by weight from laboratory analysis.
Question 4: When using paint chip sampling to test for lead, where should samples be collected from?
- From the center of large flat surfaces only
- Through all paint layers down to the substrate (Correct answer)
- From the topcoat only
- From exterior surfaces only
Correct answer: Through all paint layers down to the substrate
Paint chip samples must include all paint layers down to the bare substrate to capture any lead-based paint that may be covered by subsequent non-lead paint coats.
Question 5: Which type of surface testing is allowed as a presumptive determination of lead-based paint without laboratory analysis?
- Colorimetric spot test (positive result only)
- Certified XRF measurement at or above 1.0 mg/cm² (Correct answer)
- Visual inspection alone
- Moisture meter reading
Correct answer: Certified XRF measurement at or above 1.0 mg/cm²
An EPA-recognized XRF instrument measuring 1.0 mg/cm² or above is a definitive field measurement; colorimetric tests can indicate presence but XRF provides a regulatory-grade determination.
Question 6: In a lead inspection report, which component designations must be recorded for each tested surface?
- Room name and wall color only
- Room, component type, substrate material, test result, and lead-based paint determination (Correct answer)
- Building address and contractor name only
- Date of construction and occupancy status
Correct answer: Room, component type, substrate material, test result, and lead-based paint determination
EPA lead inspection reports must document each tested component with room location, component type, substrate, the test result, and whether the surface is defined as lead-based paint.
EPA Building Components & Lead Paint Inspection 1
Which building component is most commonly associated with lead-based paint hazards in pre-1978 housing?