The goal of the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids™ program is to identify and prevent exposures to environmental hazards where North Carolina children learn and play. This state-funded program tests for lead in water, lead-based paint, and asbestos at schools and child care facilities and includes participant training and recommendations for actions to eliminate or reduce exposure to lead and asbestos. For a limited time, there are resources to cover the full cost of risk mitigation efforts for water and a portion of the cost for lead-based paint and asbestos mitigation. This program helps fulfill North Carolina requirements related to lead and asbestos testing and remediation for public schools and child care facilities in 15A NCAC 18A .2816 and NC 10A NCAC 41C.1001-1007.
The Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids™ program includes three sections:
1) lead in drinking and cooking water,
2) lead-based paint, and
3) asbestos.
The Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids™ Program is a partnership with:
- North Carolina Division of Public Health,
- North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE),
- RTI International, an independent, nonprofit research institute
Please do not respond to other companies claiming to be part of the new lead-based paint and asbestos testing program - they are not part of this program and are not funded to provide you with complimentary testing and support. If you receive confusing information from another company, please provide us the information through our contact page.
- All public schools in North Carolina, including charter schools, regional schools, and laboratory schools
- NC licensed child care centers and family child care homes
Private schools are not eligible to participate in this program but may test their drinking water though our consumer testing program (https://www.cleanwaterforUSkids.org/enroll).
There are three sections to this program (click on the links to find out more about each section):
We work with schools and child care facilities to test and inspect for lead and asbestos hazards that may be present in their buildings, then work with them to fix those issues.
The first step in the program is to attend the required pre-enrollment training webinar. Schools and child care facilities will then enroll in our program using our website portal. Each program section has its own unique steps.
It is a legislatively mandated effort to address lead and asbestos hazards in schools and child care facilities per NC 10A NCAC 41C.1001-1007. Facilities are required by law to make sure they meet all requirements. The Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids™ program will allow facilities to meet all rule requirements for lead and asbestos hazards and is free for all licensed child care centers, family child care homes, and public schools across North Carolina.
The program has expanded to include lead-based paint and asbestos, in addition to testing water for lead. You can find more information at https://www.cleanwaterforuskids.org/en/carolina/.
You can work through the program in the way that works best for your facility. A few tips:
- All three section enrollment surveys (lead in water, lead-based paint, and asbestos) must be completed by May 31, 2025.
- Work on the enrollment surveys one section at a time to prevent duplicate data entry.
- Complete the enrollment for the asbestos section and the lead-based-paint section close together. They have similar questions, and if on-site visits are needed, they can be coordinated across these two program sections.
- You can enroll multiple facilities from your dashboard by selecting “Enroll a New Facility”.
The new April 2022 rules (10A NCAC 41C .1000) require public schools to test all drinking and cooking taps for lead at least once. They also require licensed child care facilities and public schools to inspect their buildings for lead-based paint and asbestos at least once.
There is a child care sanitation rule (NC 154A NCAC 18A.2816) that requires licensed child care centers to test for lead in water at drinking and cooking taps at least every three years. Family child care homes are required to test at least once.
There is also a federal law under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) that requires public and non-profit schools to perform an inspection to determine whether asbestos-containing materials are present and then re-inspect asbestos-containing materials every three years. In addition to the one-time testing under the new rules, facilities must continue to meet ongoing state federal testing and inspection requirements.
We recommend that facilities with their own private wells test according to the state public health guidelines.
Public schools and licensed child care facilities are eligible to participate beyond the initial May 1, 2024 deadline. Facilities should complete the online process for enrollment before May 31, 2025.
Required water testing for child care centers follows the deadlines under Rule 15A NCAC 18A .2816.
Due to the volume of testing and inspections, completion of the online enrollment process in the program is considered temporary compliance with the testing and inspection requirement. State funds for mitigation are available through 2026, however, funds are limited so we recommend enrolling as soon as possible.
You can work through the program in the way that works best for your facility. A few tips:
- All three section enrollment surveys (lead in water, lead-based paint, and asbestos) must be completed by May 31, 2025
- Work on the enrollment surveys one section at a time to prevent duplicate data entry
- Complete the enrollment for the asbestos section and the lead-based-paint section close together. They have similar questions, and if onsite visits are needed, they can be coordinated across these two program sections.
- You can enroll multiple facilities from your dashboard by selecting “Enroll a New Facility”.
After completing the online training for the lead in water section, you will fill out a short survey to provide information about your facility. This information will help our team of experts develop the sampling kit for your facility.
After completing the enrollment survey, we will ship you a sampling kit. After you collect water samples you will ship them back using a pre-paid label. We will analyze your water to see if it contains lead and, if so, how much. We will notify you by email when your test results are ready to view. If there is lead above the state action level (10 parts per billion), we will coordinate program funded replacement of those taps and installation of a filter. In addition, there are straightforward, cost-effective steps you can take to eliminate exposure to lead from taps found below the state action level. Taking recommended steps to get lead out of your drinking water can ensure that your water lead levels get down to almost zero.
After completing the online training for the lead-based paint section, you will fill out a short survey, which includes uploading documentation and providing information about your facility. This information will help our team of experts determine and coordinate any next steps needed to identify lead-based paint hazards at your facility.
If our team’s review of your documentation indicates your facility needs a lead-based paint assessment, we will coordinate a visit from a certified risk assessor. They will assess lead-based paint hazards, which may include taking samples of paint, dust, and soil. Any samples that are collected will be analyzed at RTI International laboratory.
If lead-based paint hazards are found, facilities will be notified and can choose to restrict access to the area or mitigate the hazard, with cost reimbursement available from NC DHHS for as long as funding is available. Click here to learn more about funding and covered mitigation activities.
After completing the online training for the asbestos section training, you will fill out a short survey, which includes uploading documentation and providing information about your facility. This information will help our team of experts determine and coordinate any next steps needed to identify any asbestos hazards at your facility.
If our team’s review of your documentation indicates your facility needs an asbestos inspection (or re-inspection), we will coordinate a visit from an accredited asbestos inspector. They will inspect the condition of building materials at your facility and may collect samples to identify if these materials contain asbestos. Any collected samples will be analyzed by an accredited laboratory partnered with RTI.
If asbestos hazards are found, facilities will be notified and can choose to restrict access to the area or mitigate the hazard, with cost reimbursement available from NC DHHS for as long as funding is available. Click here to learn more about funding and covered mitigation activities.
No. NCDHHS has contracted with our Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids™ program to coordinate the asbestos and lead-based paint inspections at no cost to NC public schools or licensed child care facilities.
Depending on the availability of the certified/accredited professionals, facility size, and location, this may not be possible for every facility. Not all professionals are certified/accredited to assess both lead-based paint and asbestos, so different professionals or companies may be scheduled for your facility if you need both a lead-risk assessment and asbestos inspection or reinspection.
Yes, children and students can still be present in the facility during lead-based paint assessments and asbestos inspections/reinspections, however, partial areas may need to be closed at the certified/accredited professional’s discretion. Facilities can schedule the lead-based paint assessment and/or asbestos re(inspection) to be as minimally invasive as possible, such as during breaks, after school hours, or on weekends.
If your question is not addressed in this FAQ, you can contact staff at the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids™ Program at our contact page or via phone at 1-888-997-9290.
You can scroll down the main page at https://www.cleanwaterforuskids.org/carolina and also read our About section here.
At this time, our materials are only available in English. However, as we continue to develop and expand this and similar programs in future years, we are looking to add Spanish translations. If you, or another staff member, would like to request assistance, please write to us on our contact page, and a Spanish-speaking staff member will get back to you.
Make sure your internet browsers are up to date -- the latest version of Chrome is preferred. Alternatively, you can use your phone to login and register. For other concerns, please contact us.
The first step is to attend the required pre-enrollment training webinar. You will then enroll in our program using our website portal. You can go to https://www.cleanwaterforuskids.org/carolina to enroll your facility.
If you are a child care facility that already participated in the Clean Water for Carolina Kids program, you can sign in here to see your updated dashboard. Before you can request a new sample kit and enroll your facility in the lead-based paint and asbestos sections of the program, you will need to complete the section training.
For all other facilities without an existing account, click the blue “Enroll now” button on the main page to begin the enrollment process. Next, click on either “Child Care Facility” or “Public School” under the “Select enrollment type” heading. Enter the 6-digit enrollment PIN you received at the end of the pre-enrollment webinar.
Once you enter your PIN, you can search for your facility by name or address. Once you find it, select it in the dropdown list and hit the blue “Continue” button. If you don’t see your facility in this list, you may not be eligible for this program. Try searching by address or alternative names, and contact us if you still need help finding your facility.
Before you can complete your enrollment for each section, you will need to complete online training. Once you complete the training, you can complete the enrollment survey to enroll your facility.
No – once you submitted information that overlaps with another enrollment survey, like student demographics, the information will auto-populate for any subsequent enrollment survey.
If you have not yet enrolled in the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids™ program, please register for one of the required webinars using this link: Register for a Webinar. They are offered twice a week at two different times. You will receive the enrollment PIN at the end of the webinar.
You can go to www.cleantwaterforuskids.org/carolina to enroll your facility. If you've already enrolled in the Clean Water for Carolina Kids program, you can sign in here to see your updated dashboard and complete the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids program sections. Do not create a new account for your facility.
If you do not already have an account, you can enroll by clicking the blue “Enroll now” button to begin the enrollment process. Next, select whether you have a “School” or "Child Care Facility" under the “Select enrollment type” heading.
Your 6 digit secure enrollment PIN should appear on the middle of the enrollment email we sent you with the SUBJECT: “Thank you for participating in the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids Program™ webinar!"
Once you enter your PIN, you can search for your facility by name or address. Once you find it, select it in the dropdown list and hit the blue “Continue” button. You should now see your facility dashboard that will allow you to complete the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids program sections.
If you continue to have issues, please contact us here.
Please reach out to our team here and we are happy to assist you.
When we have finished analyzing your samples, you will receive an email notification informing you that your results are ready to view, along with recommended next steps. You can view and print your results by signing into your account here. Once you are logged in, click the “view results” button to see your results and recommended remediation actions.
Members of the public can view the results for a particular facility here.
No, you can enroll multiple facilities with one account. See our demo video on the How-to page.
For child care facilities, you must enroll each license number as a separate facility, even if they are at the same address. For example, the testing areas for a pre-K program may vary from an after school program if the children are in separate locations. You can sign up each center on our portal and complete testing on the same day for each center, even though you will receive separate testing kits for each center.
For water testing, the public school will complete the program for all parts of the school building, including the child care facility. In the water enrollment survey for the school, staff should indicate which taps are used by the child care program. Child care staff and school staff should work together to make sure all taps used for drinking and cooking are included and correctly labeled.
For lead-based paint and asbestos sections, a child care facility located in school buildings should enroll as a child care facility separate from the school. Although in the same building, the school and child care facility may have different inspection requirements. Additionally, lead-based paint and asbestos mitigation activities are completely reimbursable for child care facilities and reimbursable up to 2/3 of the cost for public schools.
This short video provides key information for child care facilities in public schools: https://youtu.be/YfYT6GqATuI?si=yjt1eZJAnaimWeit.
Yes, you should submit a lead in water, lead-based paint, and asbestos enrollment survey for any spaces or buildings that are leased from a college or university campus and used by your Pre-K to 12 students or licensed child care facilities. Please connect with the appropriate staff for access to the leased areas in order to collect samples at all drinking and cooking taps and to allow a licensed professional to inspect for lead-based paint/asbestos, as needed.
An administrator from a facility can enroll individually or a central administrator (like at the district or region level) can enroll multiple facilities. Administrators may assign any representative to enroll a facility. Administrators can register additional users to assist in enrollment and program completion.
For the Lead in Water section, we recommend that staff familiar with the facility’s building layout and water usage patterns tap to tap complete the enrollment survey. This could include facility maintenance, custodians, administrators, etc. The person who completes the lead in water section questionnaire should also oversee and be present for the water sampling, except under extenuating circumstances.
For the Lead-based paint section, the designated primary contact should have access to lead-based paint-related information for the facility. We also recommend that the designated contact is familiar with the layout of the building(s), has knowledge about any previous lead-based paint assessments that may have occurred at the facility, and is able to oversee any future efforts to mitigate or restrict access to lead-based paint hazards.
For the Asbestos section, the designated primary contact should have access to asbestos-related information for the facility. For schools, we recommend that the designated contact be either the local education agency’s AHERA (Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act) designated person or someone who can easily contact the AHERA designated person if they have any questions. For child care facilities, we recommend that the designated contact is familiar with the layout of the building, has knowledge about any previous asbestos inspections that may have occurred at the facility, and is able to oversee any future efforts to mitigate or restrict access to asbestos hazards.
Yes, multiple users can be assigned to a facility. For child care facilities, please contact our team. For schools, users must first attend the pre-enrollment training webinar and then create an account to login. In the enrollment survey, facility staff can also be added to receive email notification updates about the facility’s progress. Email notifications do not require an account.
Yes, the pre-enrollment webinar qualifies for 0.5 hours of child care on-going training contact hour credits (CHCs). You will receive a training certificate via email within two business days of attending the webinar.
The data view page on the public website will show all laboratory results, reports, risk assessment and inspection reports, mitigation actions completed through the program, and optional additional mitigation actions completed and reported by the facility. Results of confirmation testing by the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health and clearance sampling after mitigation will also be available, if applicable.
Our program has expanded to include lead-based paint and asbestos, in addition to re-testing water for lead. You will find more information at https://www.cleanwaterforuskids.org/carolina/. When you're ready, here are the steps to take:
- Register for a pre-enrollment webinar at https://bit.ly/3CK-webinar. The webinar will give you an overview of the expanded program and is offered a few times a week at different times. Choose only one webinar to attend.
- Enroll before May 31, 2025. State funds for mitigation are available through 2026, however, funds are limited so we recommend enrolling as soon as possible. You can work through the program in the way that works best for your facility.
A few tips for success:
- The new section enrollment surveys (lead-based paint, and asbestos) must be completed by May 31, 2025.
- Work on the enrollment surveys one section at a time to prevent duplicate data entry.
- Complete the enrollment for the asbestos section and the lead-based-paint section close together. They have similar questions, and if on-site visits are needed, they can be coordinated across these two program sections.
- You can enroll multiple facilities from your dashboard by selecting “Enroll a New Facility”.
- Water testing can be done any time before your 3-year re-testing deadline.
Already Enrolled in Clean Water for Carolina Kids: The Clean Water for Carolina Kids program expanded to the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids program to address lead and asbestos hazards in public schools and child care facilities. You can sign in here to see your updated dashboard and complete the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids™ program sections. Do not create a new account for your facility.
For lead in water testing, the public school will complete the section for all parts of the school building, including the child care facility. As long as you complete your enrollment in the program by May 31, 2025, you are meeting the rule requirements. We recommend you reach out to the school principal or facility contact to coordinate and make sure that all your taps are included.
Child care facilities housed in public school buildings can access water testing results for the school from the program website to share with parents, staff, and their sanitation inspector.
For the lead-based paint and asbestos sections of the program, a child care facility located in school buildings should enroll as a child care facility separate from the school. Although in the same building, the school and child care facility may have different inspection requirements. Additionally, lead-based paint and asbestos mitigation activities are completely reimbursable for child care facilities and reimbursable up to 2/3 of the cost for public schools.
For more information, please see https://www.cleanwaterforuskids.org/carolina/.
NOT Enrolled in Clean Water for Carolina Kids: If you have not enrolled in Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids yet, please register for one of the required pre-enrollment training webinars at https://bit.ly/3CK-webinar.
For lead in water testing, the public school will complete the section for all parts of the school building, including the child care facility. As long as you complete your enrollment in the program by May 31, 2025, you are meeting the rule requirements. We recommend you reach out to the school principal or facility contact to coordinate and make sure that all your taps are included.
Child care facilities housed in public school buildings can access water testing results for the school from the program website to share with parents, staff, and their sanitation inspector.
For the lead-based paint and asbestos sections of the program, a child care facility located in school buildings should enroll as a child care facility separate from the school. Although in the same building, the school and child care facility may have different inspection requirements. Additionally, lead-based paint and asbestos mitigation activities are completely reimbursable for child care facilities and reimbursable up to 2/3 of the cost for public schools.
For more information, please see https://www.cleanwaterforuskids.org/carolina/.
During the enrollment survey, child care facilities that rent their building will be asked to provide the contact information for the building owner. It is your responsibility to contact your building owner and keep them informed throughout program participation. You should ask for their assistance if you do not know the answer to any questions in the enrollment survey or if you do not know how to comply with the recommended mitigation actions.
For facilities built after October 12, 1988, an inspection is not required by the rules if the child care facility can provide a tax record showing date of construction. Other federal regulations may require an inspection to meet EPA 40 CFR Part 61, Subpart M, NESHAP regulations or the OSHA Asbestos Construction Standard 1926.1101 prior to conducting renovation or demolition activities.
An asbestos inspection will be required through this program if documentation is not provided to RTI.
Your facility will need an asbestos inspection if no documentation is provided, if your facility’s previous asbestos inspection was not completed within the last three years, or if the previous inspection does not meet the requirements in NC 10A NCAC 41C.1001-1007.
An accredited asbestos professional will contact your facility before visiting to arrange a suitable date and time for the inspection. The asbestos inspection process will likely include an inventory of suspect building materials, an assessment of the material’s condition, and sampling of materials to identify if they contain asbestos. An escort may be needed to help the asbestos professional access certain areas of the facility, as applicable.
No, you should continue with your username and password for Clean Water for Carolina Kids.
For re-testing the water, we will send you an email when your facility is eligible for re-testing. You will log in, select which taps will need to be re-tested, and then we will send you a new sampling kit to collect samples.
To fulfill the new requirements to inspect for lead-based paint and asbestos, you will log in here, using the same username and password, and fill out the questionnaires to get started.
If you are enrolled and moving, you can add your new location to your account. Simply enroll your new location as another center. Instructions can be found here.
If you are opening a new facility, you should begin enrollment in this program early in your licensing process. You will not be able to open unless you can document that your cooking and drinking taps are below the state lead hazard level.
Testing through the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids™ program takes 4-6 weeks on average. After enrollment, it takes approximately two weeks for your test kit to arrive at your center. After you sample and return the kit to the RTI International Laboratory, it takes approximately 2-3 weeks for your sample results to be posted. Please note that if you will collect water samples from a building that is not actively in use at the time, you will use a modified protocol. Please see our sampling while closed guidance here.
In addition to testing the water in your new location, you can participate in the Choose Safe Places program, which works to ensure child care centers are free of environmental hazards to protect children’s health.
No, your facility does not need to be open before enrolling. Lead in water testing is required by sanitation guidelines prior to receiving your facility license.
All licensed child care centers are required to have a kitchen facility even if they have all of their food catered, because they have to be able to prepare a meal in the event that a child forgets to bring lunch or spills it on the floor. So, by regulation, every center has to have a food preparation/kitchen sink. If you do not use your other drinking water faucets for drinking or cooking, and they are appropriately labeled for handwashing only, those may be excluded.
For facilities built after October 12, 1988, an inspection is not required by the rules, but a copy of the letter is required per the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA). Other federal regulations may require an inspection to meet EPA 40 CFR Part 61, Subpart M, NESHAP regulations or the OSHA Asbestos Construction Standard 1926.1101 prior to conducting renovation or demolition activities
An asbestos reinspection will be required through this program if documentation is not provided to RTI.
Your facility will need an asbestos reinspection if no documentation is provided, if your facility’s previous asbestos reinspection was not completed within the last three years, or if the previous reinspection does not meet the requirements in NC 10A NCAC 41C.1001-1007.
The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) requires schools perform an original asbestos inspection before the building(s) are occupied to determine whether asbestos-containing materials are present. All building materials must be sampled and analyzed for asbestos or will be assumed to be asbestos-containing material.
Every three years, AHERA requires schools reinspect asbestos-containing materials that were identified in the original inspection. This reinspection is a visual assessment of the material’s condition and may not include any sampling.
An accredited asbestos professional will contact your facility before visiting to arrange a suitable date and time for the reinspection. The asbestos reinspection process will likely include an inventory of suspect building materials and an assessment of the material’s condition. Sampling of materials may occur if the material is damaged or if the accredited asbestos inspector identifies new areas that have not yet been sampled. An escort may be needed to help the asbestos professional access certain areas of the facility, as applicable.
Facilities that have their well water tested or that have water testing done through their local water utility will still need to test all drinking and cooking taps for lead to meet the new requirements.
Child care facilities that already tested all drinking and cooking taps through the Clean Water for Carolina Kids program will be eligible for re-testing to meet the State requirement that they test their taps at least every three years.
To fulfill the new requirements to inspect for lead-based paint and asbestos, you will log in here, using the same username and password, and fill out the questionnaires to get started.
Facility Information
Buildings and zones associated with your facility
Facility map
Age of building
Year and types of renovations to plumbing, if applicable
On-site wastewater system
Inventory of drinking and cooking taps in your building
Brand of water filters and maintenance information, if applicable
Drinking water source (water utility or private well water)
Student enrollment information
Number of students enrolled
Percentage of students receiving free or reduced lunch
Race and ethnicities percentages of students
Summer school and fall schedule, if applicable
Yes. Lead can enter your drinking water from a number of sources including city distribution pipes, privately owned piping, onsite plumbing, pipe solder, water coolers, and even sink faucets. In this program we've found new buildings where only one out of many sinks had lead, so it is important to test all sinks and taps used for drinking or cooking.
Lead in water testing through the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids™ program may take 4-6 weeks, on average, between starting the enrollment survey and receiving results. After you complete enrollment, it takes approximately 2 weeks for the sample kit to arrive at your facility. After sampling and returning the kit to the RTI International Laboratory, it takes approximately 2-3 weeks for sample results to be posted.
Test all taps used for drinking water and food preparation. This includes sinks used to fill up water bottles, supply water for formula mixing, and cook and prepare food.
- If you have not already done so, we recommend that you designate specific taps throughout the facility as the taps for drinking and cooking water. For example, you could designate all water fountains and any food prep sinks for cooking and drinking. These are the taps that will be managed and monitored for drinking water quality. Other taps can be clearly labeled as handwash only sinks. Use our Designating Water Taps for Sample Collection document for guidance.
- This program will not test sinks that are not used for cooking and drinking, like bathroom sinks, hoses, or utility sinks. We will provide “Handwash Only” signs if you do not already have them.
- In the kitchen, please omit taps not used for cooking and drinking, like mop sinks or sinks only used for handwashing and dishwashing. All other kitchen / cafeteria taps should be listed.
- Outside of the kitchen, only taps used for drinking or cooking will be tested.
Water fountains or drinking taps that are closed temporarily should still be tested unless they are being permanently removed. You will need to flush them at least 18 hours before sampling, to match the stagnation time for the other taps you are testing. For Monday morning sampling, we recommend you flush any closed taps on the Friday prior.
Lead levels in drinking water may vary throughout the day and are likely to be higher the longer water has been sitting, unused, in the pipes. For this reason, we recommend collecting water samples on a Monday morning before any water is used in the building. This is called “first-draw” sampling. Since many facilities are not used over the weekend, and very few are used overnight, sampling Monday morning gives us what is likely to be a weekly “high-end” scenario for lead at the tap.
We understand that water at home-based child care programs is rarely unused over a weekend. At a minimum, “first-draw” samples should be collected after 8 hours of unuse, like overnight if possible.
Yes, you should list them on your enrollment survey and test them. If your water fountains are currently turned off, you will turn them back on, run them for 5 minutes the Friday before you sample, and then on Monday morning, collect a sample from them. Do not run them immediately before collecting the sample.
The program does not test bottled water, so you should not include bottled water in the enrollment survey. Please make sure to include any taps that could be used for drinking or cooking when bottled water is not available.
Yes. To take a sample from an ice machine, fill the sample bottle with ice, directly from the ice machine, if possible. You can also use a non-metal scoop to place ice into the sample bottle. Avoid touching the ice with bare hands. Use of clean, new, disposable plastic gloves is acceptable. Let the ice melt, and then refill the bottle until it is filled to the neck of the bottle (i.e., the narrow part of the bottle where the bottom of the cap sits). Fill the bottle as full as you can get it and still securely close the lid.
Please visit our Guidance on Sampling Water Taps at Facilities document for more information on which taps and appliances to sample. For guidance on how to collect water samples from untraditional taps at your facility, please visit our Supplemental Water Sampling Instructions document.
We will use the information you provide in the enrollment questionnaire to build your sampling kit. We will ship your sampling kit to you. When it is shipped you will receive an email letting you know it is on its way and the UPS tracking information for the package. Due to varying request volume, it can sometimes take several weeks to receive your sampling kit after signing up. If it has been over 3 weeks, visit our contact page and let us know.
Your kit will have a pre-paid return label to return the samples back to the lab. You will re-use the shipping box that your sampling kit came in. Make sure to include the chain of custody document in the box, enclosed in one of the zipper bags, so it does not get wet.
Schedule a pickup at UPS.com OR Call UPS at 1-800-742-5877 the same day that you collect the samples. Place the box where you typically leave packages for UPS pickup. A location in the shade is ideal. You can also drop the package off at the closest UPS store.
If we do not receive the samples within 10 days of when they were collected, we cannot analyze them, and you will have to pay for a replacement kit.
Put your physical address in the enrollment section. We will be sending your sampling kit in an 18" x 13" x 3" box through UPS to the physical address of your center. The sample kit box is too large to fit in a mailbox, so ideally UPS will deliver the package right to the doorstep of your center. Please use the tracking number to follow package progress and resolve any issues with UPS delivery.
A staff member at the child care center, school, or school district will collect the water samples.
The person that completes the water module enrollment should be present for collecting the samples. All people involved in collecting water samples should view the training videos and read the written instructions provided in the sample box.
Flushing is the process of running water after it has been sitting in your pipes for a while. Lead can get into water from pipes or fixtures containing lead, particularly if the water is corrosive, or if the water sits for a long time in the pipe or fixture.
If your school or child care center has been closed for a prolonged period of time, you should probably flush your water before opening. A general rule of thumb is 15 minutes to 1 hour of flushing for long term closures such as for COVID-19 or summer vacation, 3 to 5 minutes after holiday closures, and 1-2 minutes for daily or weekend closures. When you flush, you should flush all taps in your building. You can learn more about flushing from the EPA 3Ts flushing guidance.
You should not flush the water immediately before collecting samples. The samples should be collected after the water has been sitting in the pipes for at least 8 hours. The test results will give an indication of the water quality for the first people who use the water each morning.
Yes - Facilities that are new or have not been operating regularly should flush the pipes one week prior to collecting the samples. Flushing is the process of clearing out sitting water from the pipes by running the water. Please see the following guidance on how to properly flush the plumbing in your facility: http://bit.ly/3CK-flushing.
Water samples will be analyzed at RTI International’s laboratory, using EPA Method 200.8.
When we receive samples at the lab, we:
- Log in the samples
- Check to make sure the samples are in good condition, no water has leaked out from the caps, and the sample IDs match what’s on the chain of custody document
- Measure how much suspended matter in the water (turbidity) to see if we have to do any additional preparation before laboratory analysis
- Preserve the sample for up to six months by adding nitric acid in a clean environment
- Let acidified samples sit at ambient temperature for at minimum 16 hours
- Check the sample pH to confirm a pH of less than 2 (analytical method requirement)
- Samples analyzed for lead
Once analysis is completed, we’ll send your results via your online portal and a notification email. Check out our video on What happens to your water samples at the lab.
The new April 2022 rules require licensed child care facilities and public schools to test all drinking and cooking taps for lead at least once.
There is a child care sanitation rule (NC 154A NCAC 18A.2816) that requires licensed child care centers to test for lead in water at drinking and cooking taps at least every three years. Family child care homes are required to test at least once.
We recommend that facilities with their own private wells test according to the state public health guidelines.
This program is different from the testing usually done by public water systems (also know as water utilities) in several important respects, including the goals of the testing, how many locations are sampled, and the volume of the samples collected.
- Goals of the testing.
The goal of the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids™ testing is to detect specific locations in a building where there may be a health risk from lead in water, and provide remediation at those locations. The water testing done through the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids™ program is based on the EPA’s guidance specifically designed for schools and child care centers (3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care Facilities).
The lead testing usually done by a public water system is only intended to check on the operations of the water system as a whole. This information is used by the water utility to adjust aspects of the water treatment to make sure the water isn’t too corrosive.
2. Number of locations sampled.
The Clean Classroom for Carolina Kids™ program will test every tap used for cooking and drinking.
Public water systems are only required to test a small selection of taps across the water system. Even when water system testing results are in compliance, the EPA still recommends testing all drinking and cooking taps for lead at schools and child care centers, because lead levels can vary from tap to tap, even within the same building.
3. Volume of the samples collected.
The Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids™ program follows the EPA’s guidance for schools and collects samples in 250 milliliter bottles, or about 1 cup of water.
Public water systems collect 4 times more water during lead sampling than the EPA’s recommendations for lead sampling in schools. This is important when trying to find specific taps in a building that may have a lead problem, because a bigger volume will mix water from a longer section of the pipes and can make it harder to know where the lead is coming from.
If a tap is only used for teeth brushing it does not need to be sampled as part of this program as long as it is labeled “not for drinking water.”
After samples are received at our lab, results are usually posted in about 2-3 weeks. You will receive an email notification that results are ready to view.
When we have finished analyzing your water samples, you will receive an email notification informing you that your results are ready, along with recommended next steps. You can view and print your results by signing into your account here. Once you are logged in, click the “view results” button to see your results and recommended remediation actions. A video demo can be found here.
Members of the public can view the water test results for a particular facility here.
There is no safe level of lead in drinking water. If lead is found in any water samples used for drinking or cooking, we always recommend taking no-cost and low-cost mitigation actions to avoid lead exposure. The higher the concentration of lead, the more strongly we recommend action. See our illustration here. More information can be found in our program instructions. Here are some recommended steps:
- Share your results and plans for action with parents and staff of your facility in person, via email, or on your own website. You are welcome to share your results and recommendations document or the link to the public results page. You can find templates and other communications resources on our Communication Toolkit page.
- Take action – Required actions
If lead is found at any taps or fountains at or above the North Carolina lead poisoning hazard level of 10 ppb, immediately restrict access to the tap. Post “Do Not Drink” signage. Notify parents or guardians and staff of the results within 5 business days, and make the results available to the public, free of charge (required notifications).
We will coordinate with you to replace those taps with certified lead-free fixtures and fountains, and install a water filter certified to remove lead when it is appropriate. The cost of faucet and fountain replacements and filter installations are covered under the program, pending available funding. Any filters installed will become the facility's responsibility to maintain and replace over time to make sure they continue working properly (see our flyer on developing a Drinking Water Management Plan for your facility).
After mitigation actions are complete, an environmental health specialist from the state or county public health office will take follow-up samples to confirm that lead levels are low.
- Take action – Additional recommended actions
In addition, for any taps with lead detected below 10 ppb, we strongly recommend that you follow our no-cost and low-cost risk mitigation recommendations, to protect children’s health.
Actions coordinated by the program will automatically be registered in our online mapper for the public to view. Please post any additional actions that you take for each sample location on our portal here to show what steps you took to get the lead out of children’s drinking and cooking water at your facility. The public will see these risk mitigation measures next to the sample result on our public mapper.
If lead is found in any water samples used for drinking or cooking, we always recommend taking no-cost and low-cost mitigation actions to avoid lead exposure. The higher the concentration of lead, the more strongly we recommend action.
If lead is found at any taps at or above the North Carolina lead poisoning hazard level of 10 ppb, The Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids™ program has funding available for mitigation of lead in drinking and cooking water taps at participating schools and child care facilities. See a detailed overview of the process for mitigating lead in water at schools and child care facilities here.
For a detailed guide on selecting a water filter to remove lead, see our program flyer here.
No, under-sink water filters certified to remove lead are designed only for use on cold water lines.
Water filters are an effective and low-cost way to get lead and other contaminants out of your water in most cases, as long as you maintain them properly. Filter cartridges must be replaced regularly to ensure that they continue to remove lead. Be sure to check with the filter manufacturer what the recommended lifetime is for the specific model number. Filters installed under the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids™ program should be replaced at least every 12 months. Develop a regular schedule and assign a responsible person for inspecting each water filter and replacing the cartridges. Filters should also be flushed regularly, especially after long breaks when the building is not in use. If vandalism is a problem in your facility, consider securing any under-sink cabinets where filters are installed with low-cost cabinet locks. For more detailed recommendations, see our complete flyer on developing a Drinking Water Management Plan for your facility here. For an all-in-one solution to managing water filters in your facility to streamline your water maintenance and never miss a filter change, see RTI Aquantix.
For facilities that selected the full service option, our program will document mitigation actions completed. We recommend that facilities also document any other mitigation actions taken, such as no-cost clean water habits, by selecting mitigation actions on their dashboard.
For facilities that selected the partial service or no service options, users should navigate to the 'Mitigation Action Form' on their dashboard once mitigation actions are completed.
We recommend that the plumbing fixture is flushed and resampled to ensure that the lead levels are below the state action level.
It is recommended to run the water for at least 30 seconds at least four times a day until post-mitigation sampling occurs. The new fixture can be used for handwashing but should not be used for drinking or cooking until sampling confirms that lead levels are below the state action level.
Reach out to us to learn how to order water testing for that tap. Note that child care facilities are required by 15A NCAC 18A .2816 to collect samples and test within 30 calendar days of completion of any renovations or repairs that may impact the facility's drinking water infrastructure, such as repair or replacement of all or part of drinking water service lines or faucets, at impacted outlets.
Because your samples were less than 10 parts per billion, additional sampling at this time is not covered under current funding. We appreciate your dedication to ensuring that your children are drinking lead-free water and would like to support your efforts to confirm whether your mitigation steps are effective in removing lead. To provide you additional results, you can purchase a new test kit through your portal for specific taps that you would like to resample. See our How-to videos for a demonstration.
Lead is a naturally occurring metal that was previously added to paint for durability and appearance. Paint with high lead content is known as lead-based paint and was often used in buildings until it was banned in 1978. While lead-based paint was used for durability, it can pose a public health concern when it is not safely managed.
Deteriorating lead-based paint from wear and tear or renovations can cause paint chips and lead in dust to accumulate inside. Areas outside like playgrounds can also become contaminated when exterior lead-based paint flakes or peels and gets into the soil or mulch. Children can be exposed to lead by touching surfaces, hand-to-mouth behavior, or ingesting lead paint chips, lead dust, or lead-contaminated soil.
When lead is absorbed into the body, it damages the brain and other vital organs.
There is no safe level of lead exposure. Early childhood lead exposure can cause lifelong behavioral and cognitive deficits. Lead poisoning is preventable by eliminating exposure to lead hazards.
An administrator from a facility can enroll individually or a central administrator (like at the district or regional level) can enroll multiple facilities. Administrators may assign any representative to enroll a facility.
The individual who fills out the survey should have access to lead-based paint-related information for the facility. We also recommend that the individual is familiar with the layout of the building(s), has knowledge about any previous lead-based paint assessments that may have occurred at the facility, and is able to oversee any future efforts to mitigate or restrict access to lead-based paint hazards.
A responsible individual may be asked to sign a statement attesting that your facility was built after 1978 and that no lead-based paint was used in the building(s). Responsible individual means the operator, superintendent, or governing body of the facility, or their designee(s).
You will need the following information for the enrollment survey:
- building information,
- student demographics,
- previous lead-based paint assessment details (if applicable),
- concerns about lead-based paint exposure, and
- any past and/or planned building renovations.
You may need the following documentation for the enrollment survey (as applicable):
- signed statement attesting that your facility was built after 1978 and that no lead-based paint was used in the building(s)
- most recent lead-based paint inspection or risk assessment report
- lead-based paint mitigation/abatement records
- property tax record (child care facilities only)
For schools, a full list of enrollment survey questions can be found here.
For child care facilities, a full list of enrollment survey questions can be found here.
To comply with state requirements (10A NCAC 41C.1002-.1007) and continue through the program, the requested documents should be mailed to RTI at:
Attn: Laurie Stella
RTI International
Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids™
3040 E. Cornwallis Road
Johnson 2nd Floor
PO Box 12194
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
Please keep the original documents and only send copies to RTI, as documents will not be returned.
A lead-based paint assessment will be required through this program if documentation is not provided to RTI.
You can find your facility’s building age on your property tax record. If you don’t have a property tax record available, instructions will be provided in the enrollment survey to help you locate your facility’s property tax record.
Log into your facility's portal to check on the status of your progress on the facility dashboard. Once a step is completed, you will see a green check to the left of the step.
Your facility will need a lead-based paint risk assessment if no documentation is provided, if your facility’s previous risk assessment was not completed within the last three years, or if the previous assessment does not meet the requirements in NC 10A NCAC 41C.1001-1007.
For facilities built after February 28, 1978, an inspection is not required by the rules, but a signed statement attesting that no lead-based paint was used is required. Other federal regulations may require an inspection to meet the OSHA 1926.62 Lead in Construction Standard.
Our program uses this information to determine the next steps for your facility: either performing an on-site risk assessment or exempting your facility from this program requirement. If our team’s review of your uploaded documentation indicates your facility needs a lead-based paint risk assessment, we will help coordinate a visit from a certified risk assessor. They will assess lead-based paint hazards, which may include taking samples of paint, dust, and soil. Any collected samples will be analyzed at RTI International Laboratory.
After our team reviews your facility’s sampling results, uploaded documentation, and data from any on-site visits (if applicable), we will share results and any recommended or required next steps. If lead-based paint hazards are found, facilities will be notified and they can choose to restrict access to the area or to mitigate the hazard, with cost reimbursement available from NC DHHS. Click here to learn more about our funding and covered mitigation activities.
Under the NC 10A NCAC 41C.1001-1007 requirements, NC public schools and licensed child care facilities are not required to have a surface-by-surface lead-based paint inspection. Instead, these facilities will be required to have a lead-based paint risk assessment performed.
During the lead-based paint assessment, a certified risk assessor may use a portable XRF to analyze materials for the presence of lead. At times, samples may need to be collected for further analysis at RTI International Laboratory by ICP-OES.
You will be notified when a certified risk assessor is assigned to your facility. The risk assessor will reach out to the facility’s primary lead-based paint contact to schedule a date/time to complete the lead-based paint risk assessment. On the day of assessment, meet the risk assessor when they arrive to give them access to the facility. Please have floor plans and any other requested documentation available.
We do our best to coordinate certified lead professionals based on your preference provided in the enrollment survey, but we cannot guarantee any assignments due to the volume of facilities participating in the program and the availability of the certified lead professionals.
Your facility will be notified when a certified risk assessor is assigned to complete the assessment. The timeline for assignments will depend on the volume of facilities participating in the program and the availability of the certified lead professionals. Once a risk assessor is assigned to your facility, they have 5 business days to contact your facility to schedule the assessment. The date of the assessment will be determined by the availability of the risk assessor and accessibility of the facility.
The assessment largely depends on the facility size, but it can range between 1 to 3 days. Your facility can remain open during the assessment but local areas may be restricted at the discretion of the certified risk assessor.
The assessment may include an on-site visit to determine the presence, location, and condition of lead hazards. The risk assessor may begin by asking questions or having you complete a survey to collect information on potential lead hazards. They will then perform a visual inspection to locate any deteriorated paint, assess the extent and causes of the deterioration, and identify any other potential lead-based paint hazards. The risk assessor will also perform an assessment of the exterior and interior surfaces of the buildings and any outside areas using a portable XRF. If needed, the risk assessor may collect samples of paint, dust, and/or soil for laboratory analysis. An escort may be needed to help the risk assessor access certain areas of the facility, as applicable.
Yes, children and students can still be present in the facility during lead-based paint assessments. Access to local areas may be restricted while samples are being collected, at the discretion of the certified risk assessor.
Certified risk assessors will use portable XRF instruments to record lead measurements during risk assessments for lead-based paint. Samples of paint chips, soil, and settled dust may also be collected where an XRF measurement cannot be made.
It is possible that samples will be taken from materials that are already damaged, such as previously peeling or deteriorated paint. Other samples, such as XRF, dust, and soil samples, will not cause any damage to building materials.
No, there are no health risks when correctly operating an XRF device, which is why the lead-based paint assessment will be completed by a certified lead professional.
Results will usually be available 4-6 weeks after the on-site visit. Once an on-site visit has been completed at a facility, the contractor is encouraged to submit the on-site visit report to RTI within 3 weeks. RTI then reviews the report to ensure that it meets program requirements. This review can take 5-10 days depending on whether any further communications are needed. Once it has been determined the report meets program requirements, it is then released to the facility for review.
As stated per NC 10A NCAC 41C.1001-1007, a lead hazard is defined as the following:
- Any lead-based paint or other substance that contains lead in an amount equal to or greater than 1.0 milligrams lead per square centimeter or five-tenths of a percent (0.5%) lead by weight on any readily accessible substance or chewable surface on which there is evidence of teeth marks or mouthing or on any other deteriorated or otherwise damaged interior or exterior surface.
- Any concentration of lead dust that is equal to or greater than 10 micrograms per square foot on floors, 100 micrograms per square foot on interior windowsills, or 250 micrograms per square foot on vinyl miniblinds, bathtubs, kitchen sinks, or lavatories.
- Any lead-based paint or other substance that contains lead on a friction or impact surface that is subject to abrasion, rubbing, binding, or damage by repeated contact and where the lead dust concentrations on the nearest horizontal surface underneath the friction or impact surface are equal to or greater than 40 micrograms per square foot on floors or 250 micrograms per square foot on interior windowsills.
- Any concentration of lead in bare soil in play areas, gardens, pet sleeping areas, and areas within three feet of a residential housing unit or child-occupied facility equal to or greater than 400 parts per million. Any concentration of lead in bare soil in other locations of the yard equal to or greater than 1,200 parts per million.
XRF, or X-Ray Fluorescence sampling is a technique that allows you to test for the presence of lead without taking a physical sample and can be used on multiple surfaces. Paint chip sampling involves collecting a physical paint chip sample and sending it to RTI’s laboratory to analyze for the presence of lead.
You can direct parents and staff to RTI’s public mapper where they can view the lead-based paint assessment results for your facility.
Please see our Communication Toolkit for program-specific information on notifying parents and staff of assessment results.
You are encouraged to share the results with parents and staff by directing them to RTI’s public mapper.
You can also use our Communication Toolkit page to notify parents and staff of assessment results.
You are required to restrict access to or mitigate any identified lead-based paint hazard(s). Cost reimbursement for mitigation is available from NC DHHS. Learn more about reimbursement and covered mitigation activities here.
Recommended response actions are provided with your lead-based paint assessment results. Depending on the hazard(s), mitigation options may include interim controls, abatement (enclosure, encapsulation, component removal or chemical stripping), renovation, repair, and painting (RRP) activities, specialized cleaning, operations and maintenance, or other actions.
Restrict access means to make inaccessible. When a lead-based paint hazard has been identified, it is important to prevent children from coming into direct contact with the hazard by restricting access. Therefore, NC public schools and child care facilities have many options to choose from. Examples include, but are not limited to, restricting access to the area, covering the hazard, or placing a physical barrier in front of or on top of the hazard.
Public schools may receive 2/3 reimbursement and licensed child care centers may receive 100% reimbursement for eligible expenses for mitigation. Eligible expenses for mitigation include:
- Asbestos and lead-based paint abatement and remediation activities that meet 10A NCAC 41C .1003 and .1004.
- Replacement materials that meet requirements in 10A NCAC 41C .1002 (SDS/letter from manufacturer or lab data documenting less than 1% asbestos or less than 90 PPM lead in paint).
Learn more about reimbursement and covered mitigation activities here.
If your facility decides to mitigate/abate the hazards, you are responsible for:
- Identifying a certified/accredited professional,
- Scheduling the mitigation/abatement activities,
- Notifying NC DHHS of the mitigation/abatement activities (notifications require 10 calendar days before disturbing asbestos or lead-based paint), and
- Submitting for cost reimbursement from NC DHHS.
Hold off on submitting a reimbursement packet until the work has been completed and completely paid for, then submit all documentation for reimbursement.
NC DHHS estimates that it will take approximately 3-4 months to receive your check for reimbursement.
You will need the following documents when submitting a packet for reimbursement to ARPA-Reimbursement@dhhs.nc.gov:
- ARPA Lead-Based Paint Remediation Reimbursement Request Form
- Current NC Substitute W-9 Form (the substitute W-9 address must match the remittance address)
- Unique Entity Identifier Number
- Bids
- Contracts
- Invoices
- Proof of Payments
- Complete Lead Assessment Report
- Lead Abatement Permit
- Design or Air Monitoring Plan
- Remediation Plan and OPP
- Clearance Report
- Documented Accredited Laboratory
- Disposal Tickets or Waste Shipment Records
- Documentation for Replacement Materials (if used)
Make sure to check that the reimbursement packet agrees with the submitted documentation, or else you may receive a reduction in reimbursement. Check out the ARPA Reimbursement Documents Checklist, which lists out all of the documents required for reimbursement.
Links to find certified lead professionals and accredited asbestos professionals can be found on our website's Mitigation/Abatement page: https://www.cleanwaterforuskids.org/en/carolina/ccck_lbpa_mitigationabatement/.
While asbestos has many useful properties for building materials, asbestos poses a concern for public health when asbestos-containing building materials are not safely managed. When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed or damaged, tiny asbestos fibers can be released into the air. Airborne asbestos fibers may even settle in dust, which can be resuspended into the air when it is disturbed by routine activities in the building. When these fibers are breathed in, they can get trapped in the lungs and remain there for a long time. They can also migrate from the lungs to other spaces in the body.
Asbestos exposure irritates lung tissue and can lead to serious respiratory diseases and certain cancers, such as lung cancer and mesothelioma. Some of these diseases take many years to develop, so exposure in childhood can lead to the development of asbestos-related disease later in life. There is no safe level of asbestos exposure for any type of asbestos fiber. Health risks from asbestos exposure increase with the length and frequency of exposure.
For schools, we recommend that the designated contact be either the local education agency’s AHERA (Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act) designated person or someone who can easily contact the AHERA designated person if they have any questions.
The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) required the establishment of rules to manage asbestos in school buildings. AHERA requires each local education agency has a Designated Person who ensures the rules are properly implemented. Learn More.
You will need the following information for the enrollment survey:
- building information,
- student demographics,
- previous asbestos (re)inspection details (if applicable),
- concerns about asbestos exposure, and
- any past and/or planned building renovations.
You may need the following documentation for the enrollment survey (as applicable):
For schools:
A full list of enrollment survey questions can be found here.
For child care facilities:
A full list of enrollment survey questions can be found here.
To comply with state requirements (10A NCAC 41C.1002-.1007) and continue through the program, the requested documents should be mailed to RTI at:
Attn: Laurie Stella
RTI International
Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids™
3040 E. Cornwallis Road
Johnson 2nd Floor
PO Box 12194
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
Please keep the original documents and only send copies to RTI, as documents will not be returned.
Log into your facility's portal to check on the status of your progress on the facility dashboard. Once a step is completed, you will see a green check to the left of the step.
Our program uses this information to determine the next steps for your facility: either performing an on-site risk assessment or exempting your facility from this program requirement. If our team’s review of your uploaded documentation indicates your facility needs an asbestos inspection or re-inspection, we will help coordinate a visit from an accredited asbestos professional. They will inspect the condition of building materials at your facility and may collect samples to identify if these materials contain asbestos. Any collected samples will be analyzed by an accredited laboratory partnered with RTI.
After our team reviews your facility’s sampling results, uploaded documentation, and data from any on-site visits (if applicable), we will share results and any recommended or required next steps. If asbestos hazards are found, facilities will be notified and they can choose to restrict access to the area or to mitigate the hazard, with cost reimbursement available from NC DHHS. Learn more about our funding and covered mitigation activities.
Based upon documentation received, there may be a visual inspection conducted at each public school and any identified asbestos hazard may require samples to be collected unless there is documentation confirming the asbestos content is 10% or greater. Since public schools already have management plans in place, there is no need to conduct another AHERA inspection and create a new asbestos management plan.
RTI will conduct asbestos inspections at all pre-1988 facilities that enroll and do not have current documentation related to asbestos hazards. Public schools may use these inspection reports to fulfill the reinspection report requirement under the federal AHERA program if they are past due. Licensed child care centers and family child care homes have not previously been required to conduct asbestos inspections. The new rules require licensed child care facilities to be inspected following the AHERA sampling requirements.
Sample locations and the types of samples will depend upon the characteristics of the facility and prior work completed there. Sample collection will be coordinated and scheduled to minimize interruptions to normal operations and minimize exposure risks. Accredited asbestos professionals will follow guidance from the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) for asbestos sample collection.
You will be notified when an accredited asbestos professional is assigned to your facility. The asbestos professional will reach out to the facility’s primary asbestos contact to schedule a date/time to complete the asbestos inspection or reinspection. On the day of the on-site visit, meet the asbestos professional when they arrive to give them access to the facility. Please have floor plans and any other requested documentation available.
Your facility will be notified when an accredited asbestos professional is assigned to complete the inspection or reinspection. The timeline for assignments will depend on the volume of facilities participating in the program and the availability of asbestos professional. Once an asbestos professional is assigned to your facility, they have 5 business days to contact your facility to schedule the on-site visit. The date of the on-site visit will be determined by the availability of the asbestos professional and accessibility of the facility.
We do our best to coordinate accredited asbestos professionals based on your preference provided in the enrollment survey, but we cannot guarantee any assignments due to the volume of facilities participating in the program and the availability of the accredited asbestos professionals.
The inspection largely depends on the facility size, but it can range between 1 to 2 days. Your facility can remain open during the inspection, but local areas may be restricted at the discretion of the accredited asbestos professional.
The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) requires all public and non-profit schools to perform an original inspection unless the building architect or project engineer responsible for the construction of the school building certified in writing that no asbestos materials were used in the building’s construction. AHERA regulations do not apply to child care facilities.
Results will usually be available 4-6 weeks after the on-site visit. Once an on-site visit has been completed at a facility, the contractor is encouraged to submit the on-site visit report to RTI within 3 weeks. RTI then reviews the report to ensure that it meets program requirements. This review can take 5-10 days depending on whether any further communications are needed. Once it has been determined the report meets program requirements, it is then released to the facility for review.
Any material that contains >1% asbestos is asbestos-containing material.
Material that is assumed to be asbestos-containing but has not been inspected or analyzed for asbestos content.
As stated per NC 10A NCAC 41C.1001-1007, an asbestos hazard is defined as the following:
- There is a condition that could result in exposure to one of the following categories of asbestos-containing material (ACM):
(1) Damaged or significantly damaged thermal system insulation ACM.
(2) Damaged friable surfacing ACM.
(3) Significantly damaged friable surfacing ACM.
(4) Damaged or significantly damaged friable miscellaneous ACM.
- There is a condition that could result in the exposure to asbestos in excess of the maximum allowable ambient asbestos level in the air for public areas
You can direct parents and staff to RTI’s public mapper where they can view the asbestos results for your facility.
Please see our Communication Toolkit for program-specific information on notifying parents and staff of asbestos results:
You are encouraged to share the results with parents and staff by directing them to RTI’s public mapper.
You can also use our Communication Toolkit to notify parents and staff of asbestos results.
You are required to restrict access to or mitigate any identified asbestos hazard(s). Cost reimbursement for mitigation is available from NC DHHS. Click here to learn more about reimbursement and covered mitigation activities.
Recommended response actions are provided with your asbestos results. Depending on the hazard(s), mitigation options may include repair & maintain, remove, isolate, enclose, replace, encapsulate, or operations and maintenance of the materials.
Restrict access means to make inaccessible. When an asbestos hazard has been identified, it is important to prevent children from coming into direct contact with the hazard by restricting access. Therefore, NC public schools and child care facilities have many options to choose from. Examples include, but are not limited to, restricting access to the area, covering the hazard, or placing a physical barrier in front of or on top of the hazard.
Public schools may receive 2/3 reimbursement and licensed child care centers may receive 100% reimbursement for eligible expenses for mitigation. Eligible expenses for mitigation include:
- Asbestos and lead-based paint abatement and remediation activities that meet 10A NCAC 41C .1003 and .1004.
- Replacement materials that meet requirements in 10A NCAC 41C .1002 (SDS/letter from manufacturer or lab data documenting less than 1% asbestos or less than 90 PPM lead in paint).
Learn more about reimbursement and covered mitigation activities here.
If your facility decides to mitigate/abate the hazards, you are responsible for:
- Identifying a certified/accredited professional,
- Scheduling the mitigation/abatement activities,
- Notifying NC DHHS of the mitigation/abatement activities (notifications require 10 calendar days before disturbing asbestos or lead-based paint), and
- Submitting for cost reimbursement from NC DHHS.
Hold off on submitting a reimbursement packet until the work has been completed and completely paid for, then submit all documentation for reimbursement.
NC DHHS estimates that it will take approximately 3-4 months to receive your check for reimbursement.
You will need the following documents when submitting a packet for reimbursement to ARPA-Reimbursement@dhhs.nc.gov:
- ARPA Reimbursement Documents Checklist
- ARPA Asbestos Remediation Reimbursement Request Form
- Current NC Substitute W-9 Form
- Unique Entity Identifier Number
- Bids
- Contracts
- Invoices
- Proof of Payments
- Complete Asbestos Inspection Report
- Asbestos Abatement Permit
- Design or Air Monitoring Plan
- Remediation Plan and OPP
- Clearance Report
- Documented Accredited Laboratory
- Disposal Tickets or Waste Shipment Records
- Documentation for Replacement Materials
Make sure to check that the reimbursement packet agrees with the submitted documentation, or else you may receive a reduction in reimbursement. Check out the ARPA Reimbursement Documents Checklist, which lists out all of the documents required for reimbursement.
Links to find certified lead professionals and accredited asbestos professionals can be found on our website's Mitigation/Abatement page: https://www.cleanwaterforuskids.org/en/carolina/ccck_lbpa_mitigationabatement/.
All program participation data will be shown on our program public mapper. This will meet public reporting requirements for the water program and provide transparency for lead-based paint and asbestos sections.
In addition, we strongly recommend that you communicate the results to your community and we have provided a communication toolkit to make this as easy as possible.
For water testing, the facility is required to make written notice to staff and parents or legal guardians of children attending the facility within 5 days of receipt of any water testing results at or above the state lead poisoning hazard level (10 ppb).
See our Communication Toolkit for program-specific templates.
We love it when schools and child care centers want to share their participation in the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids program. We can allow the use of our Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids logo, but need your facility to show us where and how you’d like to use it within your materials. You can make an official request to brand_id@rti.org with potential samples so we can review and approve your request.
On September 30, 2019, the North Carolina Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program sent an email noting that an amendment to child care sanitation rule 15A NCAC 18A .2816 was adopted and approved with an October 1, 2019 effective date. To comply with the new rule, all licensed child care centers in North Carolina must test all drinking water faucets and food preparation sinks for lead contamination. Federal grant funds are now secured to cover the costs of testing for lead in water at all licensed child care centers and elementary schools with pre-Kindergarten Head Start programs within this timeframe.
In November 2021, North Carolina allocated funds for lead and asbestos remediation and abatement programs, in order to benefit the health and wellbeing of children in childcare facilities and public schools. Childcare facilities and public schools are required to conduct inspections for both lead paint and asbestos hazards and subsequent remediation and abatement.
In April 2023, North Carolina enacted final rules 10A NCAC 41C .1001-1007 requiring all public schools and child care facilities to:
- Test for lead in drinking/cooking water (.1005 and .2816)
- Identify lead-based paint hazards (.1004)
- Identify asbestos hazards (.1003)
- Mitigate or restrict access to any identified hazards
If lead in water is found above the state hazard level, our team will help you complete low-cost mitigation. If lead-based paint or asbestos hazards are found, facilities will be notified and they can choose to restrict access to the area or to mitigate the hazard, with cost reimbursement available from NC DHHS. Click here to learn more about funding and covered mitigation activities.
Asbestos and lead-based paint abatement activities completed on or after April 29, 2022 are now completely reimbursable for North Carolina licensed child care facilities and reimbursable up to 2/3 of the cost for public schools (including public charter schools).
HOW TO REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT: Starting on May 22, 2023, facilities can submit a request for reimbursement at: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/asbestos-and-lead-based-paint-reimbursement-program-arpa
The Division of Public Health, Environmental Health Section, Health Hazards Control Unit will be administering reimbursement for eligible expenses associated with asbestos and lead-based paint activities under the program. Part of the American Rescue Plan Act funding is allocated for this purpose (via NC Session Law 2021-180 and 10A NCAC 41C .1001-1007 rules). The federal funding for this program ends December 31, 2026, or when the funding is depleted.
Yes, the requirements under Amendment to Rule 15A NCAC 18A.2816 still apply. Those rules require all licensed child care centers test their drinking and cooking water at least every three years for lead.
Information about the state requirements can be found here: NC 10A NCAC 41C.1001-1007.
State resources for lead-based paint and asbestos can be found here: NCDHHS Health Hazards Control Unit