LaHouse Home and Landscape

Resource Center

2858 Gourrier Avenue - LSU

Baton Rouge, La. 70820
225-578-7913
lahouse@agcenter.lsu.edu

Contact: Claudette Reichel

Professor and Extension Housing Specialist
Director, LaHouse Resource Center
For release on August 15, 2016
Lead-safe Certified Renovator (RRP) Class on September 15
BATON ROUGE, La. Lead contaminated water has been in the news, but leadbased paint in pre-1978 homes is a far more common source of serious leadpoisoning. Even very low levels of lead in children can cause irreversible damage.
It can lead to learning and behavior disorders, impaired hearing, and other health
effects without any symptoms of poisoning.
The risk is especially high when home repairs and remodeling activities disturb lead
paint. Thats why contractors who work on pre-1978 homes and child-occupied
facilities are required by the EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule to be
certified and use lead-safe work practices.
LSU AgCenters LaHouse Resource Center offers the EPA Lead-safe Certified
Renovator training as part of its healthy homes educational outreach initiative. The
next one-day class and certification exam will be held on September 15 at LaHouse
on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge, La. This class qualifies for either initial or
renewal certification.
Contractors who were initially certified before March 31, 2011 have six years before
it expires. Initial certifications after that date last five years. Contractors may renew
before the expiration date through a shorter Refresher class, but after certification
expires, the full-day initial RRP certification class is required.
Non-compliance with RRP puts the contractor at risk of substantial EPA penalties
and liability in the event of lead poisoning, advised Dr. Claudette Reichel, LaHouse
Director and Extension Housing Specialist. For example, EPA fined two firms in
California more than $46,000 in penalties for noncompliance. Of course, the most
important reason to use lead-safe work practices is to protect children and workers
from the serious health hazards of lead.
LaHouse Resource Center is an approved trainer through EnviroEd, LLC a nationwide
EPA accredited RRP training provider. The class also qualifies for CEUs for Louisiana
Residential Contractors.
Course registration includes the course booklet, hands-on activities and exam.
Participants who pass the exam will receive their official EPA certificates from
EnviroEd. Registration, course fees and further information about the classes and

LaHouse Home and Landscape

Resource Center

2858 Gourrier Avenue - LSU

Baton Rouge, La. 70820
225-578-7913
lahouse@agcenter.lsu.edu

the RRP rule are available at www.lsuagcenter.com/LaHouse. For additional

questions, email lahouse@agcenter.lsu.edu.

LaHouse is a research-based showcase of solutions for sustainable, high

performance housing for the southern region climate and conditions. The
mission of LaHouse is to shape the future with homes that offer more
comfort, durability, value, convenience, environmental quality, safety and
better health with less energy, water, pollution, waste, damage and loss.
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