What is a common reason for encapsulation failure?

Encapsulation is a lead abatement technique that involves applying a protective barrier over lead-based paint to prevent exposure. The failure of encapsulation can often be attributed to the application on friction surfaces. Friction surfaces are areas where there is movement or abrasion, such as doors, windows, or items that are frequently handled. The constant wear and tear on these surfaces can compromise the integrity of the encapsulant, leading to peeling, chipping, or failure of the encapsulation over time. This ultimately exposes the lead paint underneath, erasing the benefits of encapsulation.

The other options, while they may also present challenges in certain scenarios, are less directly impactful on the encapsulation's integrity in comparison. Excessive sunlight exposure can degrade some encapsulants but is not a common reason for outright failure. Water-based encapsulants are often effective and widely used; their performance usually depends on the specific application and environmental conditions rather than inherently leading to failure. Lack of ventilation is important for a variety of safety reasons but is typically more associated with issues related to drying or curing rather than direct encapsulation failure.