ASTM E1796-24

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E1796 − 20 E1796 − 24
Standard Guide for
Selection and Use of Liquid Coating Encapsulation
Products for Leaded Paint in Buildings
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1796; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This guide is intended to provide building users such as private building owners, contractors, architects, homeowners, and
regulatory authorities with assistance in selecting an appropriate liquid coating encapsulation product for architectural residence
and child-care facility use situations for abating leaded paint. This guide also provides information that can be used to assist in
the following: (1) determining whether a painted surface is suitable for encapsulation, (2) applying a liquid coating encapsulation
product, (3) evaluating installed liquid coating encapsulation products, and (4) maintaining the encapsulated surface.
1.2 This guide applies to any liquid-applied product that relies primarily on adhesion for attachment to the surface and is designed
to reduce human exposure to lead in paint.
1.3 This guide is not intended for use as a training manual. The information contained herein is not all-inclusive and does not
provide comprehensive instructions for the selection, application, or maintenance of specific liquid coating encapsulation products.
This guide is intended to supplement information supplied by encapsulation product manufacturers and safety requirements
established by law. The user of this guide shall refer to the encapsulation product manufacturer’s instructions for encapsulation
product application and maintenance.
1.4 This guide does not cover minimum material performance requirements for liquid coating encapsulation products.
Performance specifications for non-reinforced liquid coating encapsulation products are provided in Specification E1795.
1.5 Encapsulation products for use on industrial steel structures are not covered in this guide. Industrial steel structures include,
but are not limited to, bridges, water towers, and tanks.
1.6 Limited documentation is available on evaluating the field performance of liquid coating encapsulation products. A
conservative approach to assessing the selection and use of liquid coating encapsulation products is thus adopted in this guide. As
appropriate, the guidance provided within will be revised as additional knowledge regarding how these products perform over time
is gained.
1.7 The user of this guide should follow all regulations promulgated by authorities having jurisdiction regarding the use of
encapsulation products.
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D22 on Air Quality and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D22.12 on Sampling and Analysis of Lead
for Exposure and Risk Assessment.
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2020March 1, 2024. Published September 2020March 2024. Originally approved in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 20162020
as E1796 – 03 (2016).E1796 – 20. DOI: 10.1520/E1796-20.10.1520/E1796-24.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
E1796 − 24
1.8 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses after SI units are provided for
information only and are not considered standard.
1.9 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.10 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D16 Terminology for Paint, Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications
D1005 Test Method for Measurement of Dry-Film Thickness of Organic Coatings Using Micrometers
D1212 Test Methods for Measurement of Wet Film Thickness of Organic Coatings
D1356 Terminology Relating to Sampling and Analysis of Atmospheres
D3359 Test Methods for Rating Adhesion by Tape Test
D4214 Test Methods for Evaluating the Degree of Chalking of Exterior Paint Films
D5064 Practice for Conducting a Patch Test to Assess Coating Compatibility
E1605 Terminology Relating to Lead in Buildings
E1795 Specification for Non-Reinforced Liquid Coating Encapsulation Products for Leaded Paint in Buildings
E2239 Practice for Record Keeping and Record Preservation for Lead Hazard Activities
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this guide, refer to Terminologies D16, D1356, and E1605.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 This standard primarily addresses encapsulant products for residential and child-care facilities. It may also be appropriate for
some commercial buildings.
4.2 Encapsulation provides a means of protecting occupants from exposure to lead in paint in buildings that are likely to remain
standing for a long period of time. This nondestructive abatement strategy is useful in situations in which the primary structure
needs to remain intact for either historical or economic reasons. Encapsulation offers an abatement strategy that may be more cost
effective than abatement by removal of the paint.
4.3 There are many environmental and use conditions that affect leaded paint liquid coating encapsulation products, and different
types of liquid coating encapsulation products have been developed specifically to meet the requirements of the various conditions.
Product types include non-reinforced liquid coatings, as well as products for interior or exterior use. These products may be applied
over many different surfaces coated with one or more layers of leaded paint and possibly other coatings. Encapsulation products
in service are subjected to many kinds of wear. Various colors and finishes are also available. This guide is intended to assist the
purchaser in determining which product is most appropriate for the specific conditions under which the product will be used.
4.4 As described in this guide, an encapsulation product must be compatible with the surface to which it is applied. An
encapsulation product must bond to the surface coating, and not cause the subsurface layers to separate or deteriorate.
5. Determining the Suitability of a Painted Component for Encapsulation
5.1 Prior to selecting a liquid coating encapsulation product, the substrate, subsurface coating layers, and surface to be
encapsulated should be assessed to determine whether they are suitable for encapsulation and to provide information to be used
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
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when selecting an encapsulation product type. The assessment should include evaluating both the condition of the substrate and
the integrity of the existing subsurface layers, and determining the surface use conditions, such as the degree of impact, abrasion,
or weathering that the surface receives.
5.2 Painted Components—When assessing surfaces to be encapsulated, all painted components to be encapsulated should be
identified and assessed individually since these components may experience different use and environmental conditions. Different
painted components within a room often have distinct painting histories, which can affect their suitability for encapsulation.
Examples of painted components include walls, doors, door jambs, window sills, window casings, and chair rails.
5.3 Assessment of Substrates—The substrate may be composed of wood, metal, plaster, masonry, or other building material(s-
).materials. The substrate should be sound and intact, or made so, before application of a liquid coating encapsulation product.
Encapsulating a surface that exhibits large-scale, systemic damage to the substrate would likely not be effective since the damaged
substrate may not have the structural integrity needed to support a liquid coating encapsulation product. The overall condition of
the substrate should be evaluated first for evidence of structural integrity and systemic damage, such as moisture or water damage,
that might cause the surface to be unsuitable for encapsulation until it is repaired. Next, the surface should be evaluated for
localized damage such as cracks, holes, or other signs of deterioration. Spot repairs to correct localized damage may be necessary
in order to provide a surface that can be encapsulated successfully.
5.4 Assessment of Surface and Subsurface Coating Layers:
5.4.1 A comprehensive assessment of the condition of the existing surface and subsurface coating layers should be performed in
order to determine whether the painted component can be encapsulated successfully. The condition of the existing surface and
subsurface coating layers should be examined visually for signs of deterioration. The type and extent of the deterioration and
whether the areas of deterioration are systemic, random, or localized should be evaluated. The surface should be assessed visually
for cleanliness since food, oil, grease, and dirt can affect the adhesion of an encapsulant to the surface. The amount of abrasion
that the surface experiences should be evaluated and repairs made to building components reduce abrasion, if necessary. The
surface should be examined for signs of chalking. Adhesion tests should be performed to evaluate the cohesive strength of the
subsurface coating layers. The procedures for performing the entire assessment are explained below.
5.4.2 Types of Surface and Subsurface Coating Layer Deterioration—The surface should be evaluated for evidence of chalking,
chipping, flaking, peeling, cracking, checking, blistering, or broken paint. Small, localized areas of deteriorated paint that are not
caused by an ongoing, underlying source can be repaired by priming, patching, bridging, smoothing, wet-sanding, or other
methods. The painted component to be encapsulated should be evaluated for the amount of abrasion and repeated impact it
experiences during use. Painted components that experience extreme abrasion or repeated impact are generally not suitable for
encapsulation. These painted components include, but are not limited to, window headers, stops, mullions, sashes and sashes,
parting beads, inside door jambs, floors, and stair treads. Painted components having surfaces that rub together, such as drawers
or cabinet doors, might also be ineligible for encapsulation. A surface may be suitable for encapsulation if the source of abrasion
can be eliminated by such steps as scaling windows or planeing doors.
5.4.3 Extent of Coating Deterioration—The painted component should be evaluated to determine what portion is deteriorated. If
the deterioration is limited to relatively small, localized areas then repairs can be considered. If large areas exhibit deterioration,
other abatement methods should be considered since extensive surface preparation will be required. Large areas of deterioration
can be indicative of underlying, ongoing sources of the deterioration including, but not limited to water leaks, thermal changes,
incompatible paints, or excessive sublayer coating thickness.
5.4.4 Localized, Random, or Systemic Deterioration—The surface should be examined for evidence of persistent, underlying
sources of deteriorated existing paint. Sources of deterioration include excessive moisture, sudden or dramatic temperature
changes, high humidity conditions, incompatible paints, or excessive sublayer coating thickness. Areas of random deterioration or
areas of deterioration that are widely dispersed over the entire surface can be evidence of an ongoing, underlying problem. The
source of the deterioration should be identified and corrected before the encapsulation process begins. Smaller, localized areas of
deterioration that have an external source, such as previous wear or abuse, can be repaired by patching, smoothing, bridging,
wet-sanding, or other methods after the source has been eliminated.
5.4.5 Assessment of Painted Surfaces for Chalk—An assessment of the amount of chalk on the surface should be conducted in
accordance with Test Methods D4214. This can be accomplished by running one or more gloved fingers on the painted or coated
surface. (A contrasting colored glove A contrasting-colored glove commonly provides a more visible surface to evaluate for
chalking.)chalking. Chalk visible on the glove is evidence that the paint surface has degraded. This residue is different from
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household dust. If chalk is visible on the glove, the chalk should be removed or the surface should be treated with a suitable sealant
or primer prior to the application of a liquid coating encapsulation product.
5.4.6 Tape Test for Adhesion—An initial tape test should be performed on each painted component to be encapsulated in order to
quickly evaluate the adhesion between the layers of the existing paint. The test results for a particular painted component might
vary since the amount of deterioration between paint layers is often not uniform over the entire painted component. To perform
the pull-off adhesion tape test, place a piece of pressure-sensitive tape, 125 to 150 mm (5125 mm to 150 mm (5 in. to 6 in.) long
by 50 mm (2 in.) wide, over the surface to be tested. The surface to be tested should be clean and dry. Press the tape firmly against
the surface. Smooth the tape into place,place and rub firmly with the eraser end of a pencil. Within 90 s of application, remove
the tape smoothly and rapidly, at an angle as close to 180° as possible. Examine the tape. There should be no paint or any other
material from the surface being tested on the back of the tape. The surface is generally not suitable for encapsulation, if any coating
material comes off the surface onto the tape.
5.4.7 Assessment of Painted Surfaces for Adhesion—For painted components passing the initial tape adhesion test, conduct the
“X” cut adhesion test in accordance with Test Methods D3359, Test Method A. The minimum performance rating should be 3A
to ensure that the existing paint has adequate adhesive and cohesive strength to support additional stresses caused by the
application of an encapsulation product.
5.4.7.1 Causes of Poor Adhesion Test Results—An incompatibility between existing subsurface coating layers can cause one or
more of the layers to pull away from the substrate easily. Examples of incompatible existing layers include,include but are not
limited to the following: a layer of flat latex paint over an improperly prepared, glossy, oil-based enamel paint; a poor-quality paint
layer that is not adhering well to the underlying substrate; and multiple layers of paint that have begun to pull away from the
substrate or other existing subsurface layers. Extremely thick existing paint layers can also result in poor adhesion.
6. Selection of a Liquid Coating Encapsulation Product
6.1 This section provides guidance for selecting a liquid coating encapsulation product after the surfaces to be encapsulated have
been assessed for suitability, as directed in Section 5. Encapsulation products have been developed for specific uses and should
be used only in those areas recommended by the manufacturer. Contact the manufacturer or refer to product data sheets for
information regarding appropriate use situations for the product. It is recommended that patch tests to assess the adhesion of the
liquid coating encapsulation product be performed for all candidate products before starting the encapsulation project.
6.2 Primers—Some liquid coating encapsulation product manufacturers require special surface treatment such as the use of special
commercial primers not supplied with their standard encapsulation products. Contact the encapsulation product manufacturer or
refer to product data sheets for information regarding any specialty primers that should be used with the product.
6.3 Thickness—Extremely thick encapsulation products might obscure architectural details of the surface. The manufacturer’s
recommendations should be obtained when the product thickness might be of concern.
6.4 Exterior Conditions—Encapsulation products used on exterior surfaces should resist degradation due to weather and local
environmental conditions such as ultraviolet light, moisture, variations in temperature, oxidants, mildew, and acidic precipitation.
The manufacturer should be consulted for recommendations regarding exterior use of a particular encapsulation product.
6.5 Alkalinity—Excessively alkaline surfaces may cause deterioration of some encapsulation products. If surfaces are alkaline (for
example, concrete, fresh plaster, and mortar), an alkaline-resistant product should be chosen. Patch tests should be allowed to
remain in place for as long a period of time as possible so that signs of incompatibility can be detected. If the alkalinity causes
an encapsulation product to blister or deteriorate during the patch test, the alkaline conditions should be corrected before
application, or another liquid coating encapsulation product should be tested.
6.6 Surface Imperfections—Some surface imperfections can be hidden by certain encapsulation products. Manufacturer’s
recommendations regarding the selection and application of a particular product with the intent to hide surface imperfections
should be obtained.
6.7 Deterioration—Certain encapsulation products can often span localized areas of deterioration on a surface and may add
Adhesive tape, such as Permacel 99 or 3M No. 710 tape, tape has been found suitable for this purpose.
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additional surface support by remaining intact even though the base substrate may otherwise crack or move. Manufacturer’s
recommendations regarding the selection and application of a particular product with the intent to span localized areas of
deterioration should be obtained.
6.8 Aesthetic Properties—Factors such as a smooth or textured appearance, flat or glossy finish, the ability to maintain
architectural details, and the availability of special colors and the ability to retain color over time may be of concern when selecting
an encapsulation product.
6.9 Application Considerations—Several factors regarding application of the encapsulation product can influence product
selection. These include, but are not limited to, the degree of skill and amount of time required for installation, the method of
application for the product, product’sproduct cure time, and any requirements for worker or occupant protection while the product
is being applied. These items are discussed further in Section 10.
6.10 Performance History—It is recommended that information concerning the past performance of the encapsulation product be
obtained. Sources of this type of information include the manufacturer, consumer publications, and state or local consumer
agencies.
6.11 Product Warranty—The manufacturer should provide a clear understanding of the product warranty and conditions that
surround it.
6.12 Repair and Maintenance—The manufacturer should provide instructions on how to monitor, maintain, and clean the
encapsulated surface. (Seesurface (see Section 12.)).
6.13 Material Performance Requirements—All liquid coating encapsulation products shall conform to the applicable minimum
material performance requirements (for liquid coating encapsulation products) set forthin Specification E1795by ASTM. . The
product selected should provide labeling and documentation stating that it has been tested independently by an accredited
laboratory. The laboratory personnel should be qualified through training and experience and should have a working knowledge
of the procedures and test methods to be used. The product selected should also meet all relevant regulations and ordinances
promulgated by authorities having jurisdiction.
6.14 Special Use Situations—While Specification E1795 establishes minimum performance values for liquid coating encapsula-
tion products, surfaces experience different use, and environmental conditions. No single encapsulation product can service every
surface and use situation. The material performance properties of the encapsulation product and the intended use of the surface
should be considered when selecting an encapsulation product. In certain use situations, it may be desirable that the encapsulation
product perform beyond the Specification E1795 minimums.
6.14.1 Flexibility—Encapsulation products that are very flexible may be more likely to resist cracking when the substrate moves
due to vibration, sudden or dramatic temperature changes, changes in moisture content, or settling. Encapsulation products that are
less flexible can be suitable for those surfaces that are not likely to receive much movement. If an encapsulation product is selected
for wall surfaces, it should be able to receive a nail or screw without cracking or shattering.
6.14.2 Abrasion Resistance—For painted components such as hand railings, moldings around doors, and window openings where
abrasive action typically occurs, an encapsulation product that has enhanced abrasion resistance might be more appropriate.
6.14.3 Impact Resistance—Painted components that receive repeated impact require an encapsulation product that has strong
impact resistance characteristics. These areas include, but are not limited to, surfaces adjacent to door openings, walls of recreation
rooms, and entryways.
6.14.3.1 Impact resistance is generally a function of both the flexibility and tensile strength of the coating. Hard, inflexible liquid
coating encapsulation products can be improved by using a reinforcement material as the material’s tensile strength, and its ability
to hold the coating together under impact provides the needed resistance to maintain the integrity of the surface.
6.14.3.2 Repeated impact can weaken the substrate causing failure of the encapsulation product through either loss of adhesion
or structural failure of the substrate. Coatings with high impact resistance may improve the ability of a weak base substrate material
to withstand repeated impact.
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6.14.4 Chemical Resistance—Encapsulation products that demonstrate strong chemical resistance are appropriate for painted
components that are touched frequently, such as handrails and surfaces around door knobs. Encapsulation products that display
strong chemical resistance and scrub resistance should be chosen for areas that receive regular exposure to household chemicals,
such as cleaning materials, dirt, grease, and oil. These areas are typically found in kitchens, bathrooms, and recreation rooms.
6.14.5 Water Vapor Transmission—The water vapor transmission of an encapsulation product should be selected based on the
amount, type, and duration of moisture the surface to be encapsulated typically receives and the duration of expected moisture
movements through the building component and the building. Encapsulation products that display high water vapor permeability
should be chosen for surfaces that are likely to become wet or moist, for example, exterior surfaces, when the expected moisture
movement is compatible with such a product. Encapsulation products that display low water vapor transmission are generally
suitable for most other interior surfaces.
6.14.6 Tensile Properties—The temperature expansion and contraction that the surface is likely to undergo due to temperature
changes should be considered when choosing an encapsulation product. In general, coatings, including encapsulants, tend to have
a thermal coefficient of expansion that is greater than the coefficient of expansion for most building materials. Nevertheless, in
order to maintain the integrity of the encapsulated surface, an encapsulation product that demonstrates superior performance for
tensile properties should be chosen to encapsulate surfaces that are likely to experience significant temperature changes.
7. Performance of the Patch Test for Selecting Candidate Products
7.1 Patch Test for Selecting Liquid Coating Encapsulation Product—Once an encapsulation product is proposed for use on a
particular surface, field patch tests should be conducted before the encapsulation process begins. This is to help ensure that the
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