About This Guide

This Historic Window Lead Paint Remediation Guide was developed to provide stakeholders in the maintenance of historic buildings resources regarding the parts, function and lead paint remediation methods of historic wood window units.

The Rhode Island Lead Hazard Mitigation Act of 2002 established tenant protections and property owner obligations towards the remediation of lead paint in rental properties. The law requires pre-1978 rental properties to receive a Lead-Safe Certificate of Lead Conformance, where the property owner must mitigate lead hazards including friction and impact surfaces. A dust wipe test must be conducted by a licensed lead inspector to assesses the amount of lead dust on surfaces like floors and window sills. A 2023 law expanded enforcement and financial penalties for rental properties to comply with the 2002 Act, including a new state-wide rental property registry.

Wood window units function through friction and impact, where units with parts containing lead cannot comply with the law without proper mitigation. This Historic Window Lead Paint Remediation Guide acts as an educational tool identifying historical Rhode Island window types, their parts and the risks they pose in making a historic window unit operate lead safe. This Guide provides sensitive window adaptation options and resources for property owners in the historic district.

This Guide was completed in collaboration with The Newport Restoration Foundation and The City of Newport, Rhode Island. The Project was funded through The National Park Service Certified Local Government Program administered through the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission.

This Guide was financed in part with federal funds from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service administered by the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission. The contents and opinions contained herein do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of the Interior or the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission.

This program received Federal funds from the National Park Service. The U.S. Department of the Interior Regulations strictly prohibits unlawful discrimination in departmental Federally assisted programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, or handicap. Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility operated by a recipient of Federal assistance should write to: Director, Equal Opportunity Program, U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, P.O. 37127, Washington, D.C. 20013-7127.

HISTORIC WINDOW LEAD PAINT REMEDIATION GUIDE