Cal. Civ. Code § 5:17-8.1
Post abatement cleaning-interior work areas
Operative Text
(a) To allow the lead dust to settle, post abatement cleaning shall begin no sooner than one hour after the lead hazard abatement project has been completed. (b) Cleaning shall take place when the abatement project has been completed and before abated surfaces are painted or sealed. 1. Removal of plastic sheeting shall be done as follows: i. Plastic sheeting used in the abatement area shall be removed first. Plastic sheeting used to isolate the abatement area shall be removed only when all other plastic sheeting has been removed; ii. Immediately prior to removal, plastic sheeting shall be misted with water to hold down dust. If necessary, to prevent debris from falling on unprotected floors, moistened debris on plastic sheeting covering floors shall be swept toward the middle of the plastic sheeting prior to folding; iii. Plastic sheeting shall be removed by folding the ends toward the middle to trap any dust residue; iv. The plastic sheeting shall be placed in double four mil or single six mil plastic bag(s) that are then sealed with duct tape and removed from the project area for disposal; and v. The plastic sheeting shall be removed in the following order: (1) Upper level plastic sheeting, such as that on cabinets and counters; (2) The top layer of the floor plastic sheeting; (3) Vent cover and doorway plastic sheeting; (4) Bottom layer of floor plastic sheeting; and (5) Plastic used to isolate the abatement project. 2. Work clothing and equipment shall be decontaminated as follows: i. Work clothing shall be placed in a bag. The bag shall be labeled and sealed for transport to a laundry facility equipped to clean lead contaminated clothing or shall be discarded with other project waste; ii. All tools shall be wiped down with rags or sponges using trisodium phosphate or other detergent solution formulated to bind lead. An original, marked container showing the nature of the formula and any necessary precautions shall be available at the work site. The name of the product used and its manufacturer shall be included in the records retained by the contractor; iii. Disposable supplies such as mop heads, sponges, and rags shall be sealed and shall be disposed of as allowed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection; and iv. Durable equipment such as power and hand tools, generators, and vehicles shall be HEPA vacuumed and then washed with a detergent solution as required in (b)2ii above prior to removal from the work site. 3. The abatement area(s) shall be vacuumed with a HEPA vacuum cleaner as follows: i. HEPA vacuuming shall be sequenced to avoid passing through rooms already cleaned. The entryway shall be vacuumed last; and ii. In each room, vacuuming shall begin with the ceiling and shall proceed down the walls. Every surface shall be vacuumed including, but not limited to, ceiling, walls, windows, window sills, exterior sills, window wells, doors, heating and air conditioning equipment, fixtures, such as light fixtures, and built-in appliances. Floors shall be the final surface vacuumed. 4. The abatement area(s) shall be wet washed with a detergent solution as required in (b)2ii above prepared in accordance with manufacturer's instructions. i. In each room, the wet wash process shall begin with the ceiling and work down to the floor following the sequence in (b)3i and ii above. ii. String mops and mop buckets with wringers are required for wet washing floors. Sponge mops shall not be used. 5. When dry, the abated area(s) shall be HEPA vacuumed again, following the sequence in (b)3i and ii above. 6. As an alternative to the HEPA vacuum, wet wash, HEPA vacuum cycle described in (b)3 above, a HEPA spray cleaner vacuum may be used. (c) A preliminary visual inspection shall be conducted to ensure that all surfaces described in the scope of work have been abated and that there is no visible lead dust or residue. 1. If the visual inspection is unsatisfactory, the HEPA vacuum, wet wash, HEPA vacuum cycle described in (b)3 through 5 above shall be repeated. 2. If the visual inspection is satisfactory, any other construction work that will disturb lead-based paint surfaces shall be completed. (d) All abated surfaces, such as walls, ceilings, and woodwork, shall be primed with an appropriate primer. Those areas shall then be painted or stained and sealed. Surfaces subjected to repeated friction, such as window sashes, jambs, sills, and wells, shall be painted with a final coat of high gloss enamel or clear sealer. 1. Surfaces enclosed with vinyl, aluminum coil stock, or other materials that are traditionally not painted, and new replacement components are exempt from this provision. (e) After the painting or sealing has been completed, a final cleaning of the area is required unless dust clearance tests were already passed prior to painting or sealing. The final cleaning shall follow the HEPA vacuum, wet wash, HEPA vacuum cycle described at (b)3 through 5 above. 1. Surfaces newly painted with latex paint are exempt from the final wet wash. However, those surfaces must be HEPA vacuumed.
N.J.A.C. § 5:17-8.1 establishes a detailed sequence of post-abatement cleaning steps that must be followed after a lead hazard abatement project is completed inside a building. The rule requires a waiting period of at least one hour after abatement ends before cleaning begins, followed by a structured process of plastic sheeting removal, equipment decontamination, HEPA vacuuming, wet washing, visual inspection, priming and painting of abated surfaces, and a final cleaning cycle. The regulation specifies the exact order in which surfaces must be cleaned and the types of materials and equipment that must be used at each stage. Certain surfaces, such as those newly painted with latex paint or enclosed with non-painted materials, are subject to limited exemptions from specific steps.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers overseeing lead abatement work in New Jersey should be aware that N.J.A.C. § 5:17-8.1 places detailed obligations on contractors performing abatement, and compliant operators generally ensure their contractors follow the prescribed cleaning sequence before any painting or sealing begins. Contractors working on behalf of property owners are expected to document the cleaning products used, including product names and manufacturers, and to retain those records as part of the project file. Operators generally verify that a preliminary visual inspection has been conducted and passed, and that a final cleaning cycle is completed after painting or sealing unless dust clearance tests were already passed beforehand.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in units where lead hazard abatement work has been performed have an interest in knowing that N.J.A.C. § 5:17-8.1 requires contractors to follow a strict post-abatement cleaning protocol before the space is returned to use, including HEPA vacuuming, wet washing, and a final inspection. If a tenant believes the required cleaning steps were not followed, they may consider raising this concern with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, which oversees the lead abatement licensing program under N.J.A.C. § 5:17, or contacting a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options. Tenants may also wish to request documentation of the cleaning process and any dust clearance test results from the property owner or contractor.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 3, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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