EPA Lead Project Designer key terms

Any measure or set of measures designed to permanently eliminate lead-based paint hazards, including removal, enclosure, encapsulation, replacement, and the cleanup and disposal that accompany them.

Paint or other surface coating containing lead at or above the regulatory threshold, which under federal rules is 1.0 milligram per square centimeter, 0.5 percent by weight, or 5,000 parts per million.

Any condition that causes exposure to lead from dust, soil, paint chips, or painted surfaces that are deteriorated, friction, impact, or chewable, and that would result in adverse human health effects.

Coating that is cracking, flaking, chalking, peeling, or otherwise separating from the substrate, or that has been damaged enough to create a present or potential exposure pathway.

An interior or exterior surface subject to abrasion or friction, such as window sashes, door edges, stair treads, and floors, where painted coatings can wear into dust.

An interior or exterior surface subject to damage from repeated impacts, such as door jambs and the corners of walls, where paint can chip and become a dust or chip hazard.

A protruding interior or exterior surface that a young child could mouth or bite, such as window sills, railings, and chair rails, and that is evaluated as an exposure pathway.

Settled dust containing lead in amounts at or above the applicable clearance or hazard standard on floors, interior window sills, window troughs, or other surfaces where children may contact it.

A portable field instrument method that measures lead in paint by exciting the coating with radiation and reading the returned signal, reported in milligrams per square centimeter.

A laboratory method in which a measured area of paint is removed, digested, and analyzed to determine lead concentration by weight or mass per area, used to confirm or calibrate XRF results.

An on-site investigation that identifies and reports existing lead-based paint hazards, their causes, and options for controlling them, including dust, soil, and paint condition evaluation.

A surface-by-surface investigation to determine the presence and location of lead-based paint and to report its condition, without the hazard-reduction recommendations that a risk assessment provides.

A limited evaluation using fewer samples than a full risk assessment, intended to determine whether a property is likely to have lead hazards and whether a full risk assessment is warranted.

A standardized method of collecting settled dust from a measured surface area with a treated wipe for laboratory analysis, used in risk assessments and clearance testing.

The numeric limit for lead in dust or soil that must be met after abatement or interim controls before a space is reoccupied, expressed per unit area for each surface type.

A visual inspection plus dust sampling conducted after abatement or hazard control work to confirm that the work area is clean and safe for occupancy.

The documented confirmation that completed work matches the specifications, that containment was intact, and that clearance criteria were satisfied before the project is closed out.

A set of measures such as paint stabilization, dust control, safe cleaning, and soil covering intended to reduce lead hazards temporarily, but not to permanently eliminate lead-based paint.

Repairing deteriorated painted surfaces by removing loose paint, treating bare substrate, and repainting so the coating is intact and no longer a source of chips or dust.

Applying a coating that forms a sealed membrane over lead-based paint to prevent release of lead dust or chips, used as an abatement method when the product is approved for the substrate.

Covering a lead-painted surface with a rigid, durable material such as drywall or paneling that is mechanically fastened and sealed so the original surface is not accessible.

The written project document describing scope, methods, materials, containment, sequencing, worker protection, cleanup, clearance, and waste handling for a specific abatement job.

The detailed written requirements in a project design that state materials, workmanship standards, testing, and acceptance criteria that a contractor must meet.

The portion of a project design that defines which surfaces and areas are to be treated, the methods for each, and what is excluded from the contract.

Physical barriers such as plastic sheeting, taped seams, and negative air pressure used to keep dust and debris inside the work area and protect adjacent spaces.

A condition in which air is exhausted from the work area so that air flows inward from clean spaces, preventing dust from escaping through openings or gaps.

A containment component such as a doorway seal, window covering, or floor covering whose failure would allow dust to escape, and which is checked daily and repaired immediately.

A staged entry and exit arrangement with dirty, transition, and clean rooms where workers remove contaminated clothing and clean equipment before leaving the work area.

A vacuum equipped with a filter that captures very fine particles, used for cleaning dust from surfaces and equipment during abatement and for final cleanup before clearance.

The detailed cleaning sequence at the end of a job, using HEPA vacuuming and wet wiping of all surfaces in the work area, performed before the clearance examination.

Gear such as respirators, coveralls, gloves, and eye protection worn by workers to reduce exposure to lead dust and debris during abatement and related tasks.

A procedure that checks whether a tight-fitting respirator seals against a worker's face, required before use and repeated periodically and whenever facial conditions change.

The concentration of lead measured in a person's blood, used to monitor occupational exposure and to identify children or workers at risk of lead poisoning.

A program of periodic blood lead testing and health review for workers exposed to lead above specified levels, used to detect overexposure and trigger protective action.

A written plan that selects and schedules measures to control identified lead hazards, including responsible parties, timelines, and provisions for ongoing monitoring.

A scheduled program of cleaning, repainting, and re-inspection after interim controls to keep treated surfaces intact and prevent lead hazards from recurring.

The evaluation of abatement debris and wastewater against waste rules to decide whether it must be handled as hazardous waste or can be managed as ordinary construction debris.

A shipping document that tracks regulated waste from the generation site through transport to the disposal facility, with signed copies retained by each party.

The temporary holding of bagged or wrapped abatement debris in a labeled, secured area before transport, designed to prevent dust release and unauthorized access.

The retention and organization of project documents such as inspection reports, work plans, clearance results, waste records, and training certificates for required periods.

The obligation to inform occupants, owners, and the administering agency in advance of abatement work, including the schedule, methods, and available hazard information.

Recognition by a recognized program that a laboratory is competent to analyze lead in paint, dust, or soil samples using approved methods and quality controls.