Radonin Your Home

Presenter information here

4/2014

Learning Objectives

Knowledge: Origin of Radon &

Health Risk.Comprehension: Influences of radon entry into homes.

Application: Options for testing and mitigation.

A Citizen's Guide to Radon: The Guide to Protecting Yourself and Your Family from Radon

Naturally occurring Radioactive gasColorlessOdorless

“

Radon

What Is It?

Radon3.8 days

Radium1,620 years

Uranium4.47 million

years

Lead

Polonium

Bismuth

Radon – radioactive gas

Radon

Measurement

Radon is measured in picoCuries per liter of air (pCi/L). While no level of radon exposure is considered safe, EPA has set an action level at 4 pCi/L

1 picoCurie is equal to 0.037 radioactive disintegrations per second

According to EPA, if levels are at or above 4 pCi/L, the home should be mitigated

take precautionary actions between 2-4 pCi/L

Radon is the leading cause

of lung cancer

among non-smokers

claiming approximatel

y 21,000 lives

annually.

Radon Health Concern

Inhalation of Inhalation of Radon Decay Radon Decay ProductsProducts

AlphaAlphaParticleParticle

Radiation DamageRadiation Damageto DNAto DNA

Radon Causes Lung CancerRadon Causes Lung Cancer

Radon - A Physician's Guide: The Health Threat With A Simple Solution

Radon and Children

Children have smaller lungs and therefore higher breathing rates.

Children spend up to 70% more time indoors than adults on average.

According to the U.S. EPA, 1 in 5 schools has at least one schoolroom with a radon level that exceeds the recommended level of 4 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher.

Children are more susceptible to effects of radon.

•Radon in soil and rocks under

and adjacent to buildings, migrates

through foundations, cracks and small openings and concentrates inside buildings.

• Well Water

• Building Materials

Radon &Granite Countertops ?

Not an Issue.

What are the radon levels in your community?

Testing is the only way to know the Testing is the only way to know the radon level of a building. radon level of a building.

Residential Construction Team

short-term/charcoal short-term/charcoal 3-7 day test3-7 day test

long-term/alpha tracklong-term/alpha track3 months to a year test3 months to a year test

DIY Radon Test Kits

DIY Testing - FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS

Kit Instructions Vary – follow instructions!

12-hour closed-house for 2-7 day test Place in Lowest “lived-in” area Place midlevel from floor & ceiling Out of air flow (ductwork and fans) Out of kitchen and bathroom

Radon Testing and MitigationProfessionals

Professional Continuous MonitorCost $600+$315.00 printer

• - de-pressurization - wind- - thermal by-passes- - stack-effect- - vented appliances

- without dedicated - outside air source

- - frozen/wet soils

Factors thatIncrease Radon Levels

RadonMitigation for Existing Homes

Consumer's Guide to Radon Reduction: How to Fix Your Home

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Radon MitigationSub-slab Depressurization

Most common type of radon mitigation system

Suction created by fan draws radon from beneath the concrete slab and safely vents radon outdoors

FanAttic

DepressurizationPiping System

Discharge

RadonMitigation

Sub-SlabDepressurization

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CrawlspaceMitigation …Sub-Membrane DepressurizationSystem

FanAttic

DepressurizationPiping System

Discharge

Building Radon Out: A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Build Radon-Resistant Homes

Building Radon

Resistant Homes

Pre-construction testing is costly and is not 100% - not recommend

Homes can be built to prevent radon entry.Radon-resistant construction includes common building practices and a few added steps.

Radon-resistant features into your new home adds $350-$500 vs. $1,500-$3,000 for existing home.

Homes with radon-resistant features should be tested for radon after occupancy.

Radon Resistant Construction Minimum Rough-In Features

4” layer of gas-permeable material (1/4”-2” aggregate) under all concrete slabs and other floor systems in contact with ground;

Soil gas retarder (6 mil poly) under slab or on ground if crawl space

Minimizing entry routes (sumps, floor openings, etc.)

Passive sub-membrane/slab depressurization system

3-inch diameter PVC pipe embedded vertically in the sub-membrane/slab extending up through the house and terminating about the roof surface

Provisions for a vent pipe power source

Radonin Water

Radon gas contribution from water – 5%

- always focus on radon in air first!10,000 pCi/L in water adds 1 pCi/L to airPrivate wells are greatest problemWater outgases radon – more from hot H2O

Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon

"Healthy Indoor Environment Protocols for Home Energy Upgrades"

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Thank you!Questions? Comments?

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Radonin Your Home