Certified Lead Renovator Training - Optional Demonstrations

If time allows, NCHH encourages its instructors to use several optional demonstrations when conducting he Certified Lead Renovator Training. The instructor may integrate elements into the hands-on training.

Cleaning Up Dust
Maintaining the HEPA Vacuum
Working with Plastic Sheeting
Planning the Project
Videos

Cleaning Up Dust: EPA's model curriculum and hands-on exercises take the student through the steps they must follow to comply with the rule. But they are not particularly good at helping the student how difficult it is to clean-up dust. There are several ways to make this point:

Paprika During Hands-on: During the hands-on, sprinkle paprika on the plastic sheeting before they begin cleanup. The red dust will leave red marks, especially when it gets wet. Check the student's coveralls, gloves, and bottom of their booties for red marks or stains. They will quickly understand how difficult it is to control dust once they make it.
Chalk on Black Paperboard: Buy some black foamboard or paperboard and sidewalk chalk. Have the students mark the board with the chalk. Then let them try to vacuum it up with a HEPA vacuum and then try it with a wet wipe. The vacuum is relatively ineffective at removing the dust. The wet rag is better but leave smudges of chalk. As a final step, sprinkle the board with baby powder and repeat the vacuum and wet wipe. Baby powder is an especially fine dust that is harder to clean-up once made. High-speed paint removal or dry sanding with a fine grade of sandpaper makes dust that is particularly hard to clean-up.

Remind the students that EPA does not require the use of wet methods to prevention the generation and spread of lead dust. Wet methods are only required on clean-up. Still wet methods are a wonderful technique to simplifying cleanup of dust by reducing the amount of dust generated.

Maintaining the HEPA Vacuum: EPA's hands-on exercises make use of a HEPA vacuum, but they do not train the student to properly use it. Yet, a HEPA is one of the most important tools the Certified Renovator needs to control the spread of dust, especially since EPA does not require vertical containment (walls or plastic sheeting) to prevent the spread of dust. Without proper use or maintenance, the HEPA vacuum could spread lead dust and its filters could be plugged up.

Tape Hose: The hose contains dust. If the HEPA vacuum is turned off with the hose uncovered, the dust will fall out - sometimes just when the work is almost done. Make sure the students put tape over the open ends of all hoses and attachments before the HEPA vacuum is turned off. They should turn on the HEPA vacuum before removing the tape. Make a point of it during the hands-on exercises and make the students practice it.
Maintaining the Vacuum: Using a HEPA vacuum that has never been used on lead, open the unit and show the students how it works. There should be two or three pre-filters to reduce the load on the HEPA filter and make it last longer. Describe how the air flows and how the air should not be able to bypass the filter.
Emptying the Vacuum: Demonstrate how they should empty the vacuum and prefilters of potentially contaminated dust and debris from the vacuum without spreading it around. It is difficult but an essential skill. It is especially important on HEPA Exhaust Controls used on high-speed machines since it will quickly become loaded with dust and debris.

When students understand how to maintain and empty the HEPA vacuum, they will be able to buy ones that will work best for them. Click here for more information on HEPA vacuums and the RRP Rule.

The instructor may want to encourage students to bring in their HEPA vacuums so they learn how to work with their units.

Working with Plastic Sheeting: EPA requires plastic sheeting or other impermeable materials to control the spread of dust. But its model curriculum and hands-on exercises do not help the students understand the key questions how to work with plastic sheeting. Show the students some techniques and let them experiment with the materials. Key issues:

How thick? The easy - but incomplete - answer is that it must be thick enough not to tear or lead through it. Buy plastic sheeting of various thicknesses and let the student work with it. Generally, anything thinner than 3-mils will be sucked into the HEPA vacuum. It is also likely to tear. 6-mil thick plastic sheeting is helpful outside where rough concrete and debris can tear it.
How to cut? Simple but not obvious. Use a scissors and slide the plastic between the open arms. You get a clean cut and it is safe and easy. Knives can be more difficult.
How to attach? You want to minimize the damage to existing paint. Otherwise, you will be busy fixing paint when you leave. So staples are a problem despite EPA's directions to use them. Duct tape can pull off old paint. The blue paper tape works best but is expensive. Consider putting a piece of tape on the paint and then taping the plastic to the tape. It makes for a stronger connection. Give your students different types of tape to try out.
How to seal? Connecting sheets of plastic is tricky and getting a seal at an edge is tough too. Teach students to roll the edges of the plastic before taping. It gives a clean edges without wrinkles that may leak. And have then roll the edges of two pieces of plastic together and tape top and bottom to make one large sheet of plastic that is strong.

Planning the Work: Through-out the lecture, give your students some specific examples of renovation projects they may encounter. Have them plan out the work. As they work through it, they are likely to realize that they will save time and money if they group all work that disturbs paint and do them at the same time. It takes more planning but will reduce the disruption, cost, and spread of lead dust.

Videos: The instructor may want to run one or more of several optional videos before class gets started, during lunch, during breaks, or, if time allows, during the classroom lecture. Click here for helpful videos NCHH has collected.

10320 Little Patuxent Parkway, Suite 500 • Columbia, MD 21044
Phone: 410.992.0712 • Fax: 443.539.4150