EPA Building Components & Lead Paint Inspection

Question 1

Which building component is most commonly associated with lead-based paint hazards in pre-1978 housing?

Accepted Answer

Interior trim, window frames, and door frames

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer

Answer

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'?

Accepted Answer

1.0 mg/cm² or 0.1% by weight

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Through all paint layers down to the substrate

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Certified XRF measurement at or above 1.0 mg/cm²

Answer

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.

EPA - Environmental Protection Agency Certified Lead Contractors Practice Test

EPA - Environmental Protection Agency Certified Lead Contractors Practice Test

EPA Building Components & Lead Paint Inspection