Utah General Contractors - Business and Law Practice Exam

Contractors who disturb lead-based paint in certain facilities must be certified if the buildings were constructed before which year?

1. 1970

2. 1980

3. 1978

4. 1990

The correct answer is: 1978

The correct response is that contractors must be certified if they disturb lead-based paint in buildings constructed before 1978 due to the regulations set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which are a part of the Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) rule. This rule was implemented to protect the health of children and other vulnerable populations after extensive research demonstrated the dangers of lead exposure from lead-based paints, commonly used before this year. In 1978, the U.S. banned the use of lead-based paint in residential properties, making buildings constructed after this year less likely to contain dangerous levels of lead. Therefore, contractors working on pre-1978 homes must complete a specific training program and obtain certification to ensure they follow safe practices in exposing or removing lead-based paint, thus reducing the risk of lead poisoning. The other time frames listed, such as 1970, 1980, and 1990, do not correspond to the regulations established by the EPA regarding lead-based paint, with 1978 being the pivotal year when the use of lead-based paint was prohibited in residential structures.