What type of buildings are required to undergo lead inspections?

Residential buildings built before 1978 are required to undergo lead inspections because national regulations, particularly the Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act and the subsequently implemented Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule, specifically target homes and child-occupied facilities constructed before this year. This is due to the fact that lead-based paint was commonly used in homes prior to its ban in 1978. Inspections are crucial in identifying the presence of lead hazards, as exposure to lead can significantly impact children's health, leading to development issues and other serious conditions.

In the context of the other options: Commercial buildings built after 1990 are generally not required to undergo lead inspections, as the use of lead-based paint was already prohibited at that time. Industrial facilities are also not specifically mandated to have lead inspections unless they are known to have lead hazards present. Public schools, while they may be subject to various safety and health regulations, do not have universal requirement for lead inspections unless they were constructed before 1978 and have a known issue with lead. Thus, residential buildings constructed before 1978 specifically fall under the guideline for lead inspection mandates due to their higher risk of containing lead-based paint.