Building Components & Lead Paint Inspection Flashcards
6 cards from real EPA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Building Components & Lead Paint Inspection flashcards as text
What is the EPA's definition of 'lead-based paint hazard' in residential settings?
Answer: Lead-based paint that is deteriorated, or lead dust or soil at concentrations above regulatory thresholds
A lead-based paint hazard includes deteriorated lead paint, lead dust on floors or windowsills above EPA thresholds, and lead-contaminated soil — not all lead paint is automatically a hazard.
Which floor dust lead loading is EPA's current clearance standard for living areas in residential buildings?
Answer: 10 µg/ft²
EPA's 2019 revised dust lead standards set the clearance level for floors in living areas at 10 µg/ft², lowered from the previous 40 µg/ft² standard.
What window component generates the highest amounts of lead dust during normal use in pre-1978 homes?
Answer: The window sill and trough (interior channel)
Window troughs and sills collect lead dust from friction between painted surfaces as windows open and close, making them the highest-lead-dust locations in older homes.
When an XRF instrument result is in the 'inconclusive' range, what must the inspector do?
Answer: Collect paint chip samples for laboratory analysis to reach a definitive determination
When XRF results fall in the inconclusive range, paint chip samples must be submitted to an accredited laboratory to provide a definitive determination of lead-based paint presence.
Which document does the EPA require property owners of pre-1978 homes to disclose to buyers and renters regarding lead paint?
Answer: The EPA Lead Disclosure Rule information including known lead paint location and inspection reports
The EPA/HUD Lead Disclosure Rule (TSCA Section 1018) requires sellers and landlords to disclose known lead-based paint and hazards and provide the EPA pamphlet 'Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home.'
What is the purpose of 'substrate correction' in XRF analysis of painted surfaces?
Answer: To account for lead or other interfering elements naturally present in the substrate material itself
Substrate correction adjusts XRF readings when the underlying material (e.g., brick, steel, plaster) contains elements that can interfere with or add to the lead measurement, ensuring an accurate paint-layer-only result.