Radon in Construction Cindy Ladage & Patrick Daniels

What is Radon?  Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, naturally-occurring, radioactive gas.  The Surgeon General of the United States: “Indoor radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and breathing it over prolonged periods can present a significant health risk to families all over the country.”

R. William Field, PhD. College of Public Health  Radon is our leading environmental cause of cancer mortality in the United States and seventh leading cause of cancer mortality overall.

Lung Cancer Mortality Rates

9/2/20155 Radon Exposure Is Linked to Lung Cancer From Inhalation of the Gas  Radon and Radon Decay Products (RDPs) are breathed in and the Radon is exhaled.  RDPs remain in lung tissue and emit alpha particles which strike lung cells and may cause physical and/or chemical damage to DNA.

Illinois Policy on Radon IEMA recommends testing throughout Illinois. IEMA recommends mitigation if the radon level is 4.0 pCi/L or more.

Radon Legislation  Radon Industry Licensing Act (RILA)  Radon Awareness Act  Real Property Disclosure Act  None of these Acts require radon testing or mitigation.

Sources of Radiation Exposure to US public 2009 Radon - 37% Medical X-Rays - 12% Other - 1% Internal - 5% Nuclear Medicine – 12% Consumer Products - 2% Terrestrial - 3% Cosmic - 5%  Average Exposure 620 mrem  Assumes average indoor radon concentration of 1.3 pCi/L.  Radon is by far the greatest single source of radiation exposure to the general public. CAT Scans - 24% Source: National Council on Radiation Protection (NCRP Report 160)

Sources of Radiation Exposure in Illinois Radon - 67% Medical X-Rays - 6% Other - < 1% Internal - 2% Nuclear Medicine – 6% Consumer Products - 1% Terrestrial - 2% Cosmic - 3%  Average Exposure 1,170 mrem  Assumes average Illinois indoor radon concentration of 4.4 pCi/L.  Radon is by far the greatest single source of radiation exposure to the general public in Illinois. CAT Scans - 24%

Indoor Radon Became an Issue in 1984  Mr. Watrus set off alarms at the Limmerick Nuclear Power Plant when entering.  Stanley Watrus measured 2700 picocuries of radon per liter (pCi/L) of air in his Pennsylvania home.  The Watrus case brought the indoor radon problem to the public attention and that of the USEPA.

Radon Risk in Perspective  Comparative Risk Assessments by EPA and its Science Advisory Board have consistently ranked Radon among the top four Environmental risks to the Public  In 1998 Harvard Risk in Perspective, by John Graham, ranked Radon the #1 risk in the Home

Home Safety Council Risks

How did radon originate in Illinois?  Glaciers from Canada deposited uranium in the soil.  Radon results from the uranium deposits.

9/2/ Where does radon come from? Naturally Occurring Uranium is the Source of Radon 4.5 billion URANIUM RADON 3.8DAYS RADIUM 1600 YEARS

Radon Entry  Radon enters through any opening between the building and the soil.  Air pressure differentials between the building and outside air.  Common entry points are the foundation wall joint, crawlspace, and sump pits.

Stopping Radon at the Beginning Radon Resistant New Construction (RRNC)

 Since 1995, radon control methods have been part of the International Code Council, Inc. (ICCI) “One and Two Family Dwelling Code.”  Does your local building code address radon? What does the Construction Literature Say About Radon?

National Association of Home Builders  The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) estimates that one in every six homes is built radon resistant in the United States every year, averaging about 200,000 homes annually.  In Zone One areas the NAHB estimates about one in every three homes are built with RRNC features.

Radon Resistant New Construction is Effective  According to the USEPA, Radon Resistant New Construction effectively reduces radon levels by an average of about 50% and, in most cases, to levels below the 4.0 pCi/L action level.

What do the numbers mean? From 1985 to 2003 approximately 770,000 homes have been mitigated and 1,200,000 new homes built radon resistant. USEPA estimates that at this rate, approximately 650 lives will be saved annually.

9/2/ Benefits What are the benefits of using radon resistant new construction? What are the benefits of using radon resistant new construction? Low – Cost Low – Cost Prevention of Liability Prevention of Liability Marketing Advantage Marketing Advantage Aesthetics Aesthetics Changing Building Codes Changing Building Codes & fewer callbacks for moisture related problems.* & fewer callbacks for moisture related problems.* *Radon-resistant Construction for Builders, Georgia Dept. of Natural Resources.

9/2/ Cost Comparison New Home Construction $350 - $500 per-home (Labor and materials) (Labor and materials) Mitigate Existing Home $800 - $2500 per-home (Labor and materials)

Who can install a passive radon reduction system?  The builder or contractor can install the passive system. Activation through the adding of a fan requires a radon mitigator licensed with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

Passive New Construction  Consists of a vent pipe for a sub-slab depressurization system  Relies only on convective flow of air upward in the vent pipe  May, or may not, reduce indoor radon below 4 pCi/L

Skeletal New Construction  Not Recommended - does not usually effectively reduce radon.  May require installation of a vent fan after construction.  May consist of multiple vent pipes of vertical and angled runs that may be joined to a single termination above the roof or may terminate separately above the roof.

Here is an overview of some of the techniques:*  Gas Permeable Layer This layer is placed beneath the slab or flooring system to allow the soil gas to move freely underneath the house. In many cases, the material used is a 4-inch layer of clean gravel.  Gas Permeable Layer This layer is placed beneath the slab or flooring system to allow the soil gas to move freely underneath the house. In many cases, the material used is a 4-inch layer of clean gravel.  Plastic Sheeting Plastic sheeting is placed on top of the gas permeable layer and under the slab to help prevent the soil gas from entering the home. In crawlspaces, the sheeting is placed over the crawlspace floor.  Plastic Sheeting Plastic sheeting is placed on top of the gas permeable layer and under the slab to help prevent the soil gas from entering the home. In crawlspaces, the sheeting is placed over the crawlspace floor.  Sealing and Caulking All openings in the concrete foundation floor are sealed to reduce soil gas entry into the home.  Sealing and Caulking All openings in the concrete foundation floor are sealed to reduce soil gas entry into the home.  Vent Pipe A 3- or 4-inch gas-tight or PVC pipe (commonly used for plumbing) runs from the gas permeable layer through the house to the roof to safely vent radon and other soil gases above the house.  Vent Pipe A 3- or 4-inch gas-tight or PVC pipe (commonly used for plumbing) runs from the gas permeable layer through the house to the roof to safely vent radon and other soil gases above the house.  Junction Box An electrical junction box is installed in case an electric venting fan is needed later.  *

9/2/ An example of the 6 Mil Polyethylene Sheeting Passive System Components

9/2/ Seal and Caulk All Openings in the Foundation Floor. Passive System Components

9/2/  Allow space for future fan installation in attic or outside habitable space.  On each floor and in the attic label the radon vent piping….. Radon Reduction System Ensure Cost Savings to Homeowner at Activation

9/2/  Above the highest eave (at least 12 inches above the roof) and as close to the roof ridge line as possible.  10 feet from any window, door or other opening (into the building) that is less than 2 feet below the exhaust point.  10 feet or more from any opening into an adjacent building. Vent Stack Discharge Point Requirements

9/2/ Typical Fan Designs

Radon Vent Fan Placement  Radon vent fans shall be installed: In attics. In attics. Garages that are not beneath a heated or cooled space. Garages that are not beneath a heated or cooled space. On the exterior of the building. On the exterior of the building.

Where Radon Vent Fans Shall Not Be Placed  Below ground.  In heated or cooled space of a building.  In a basement, crawlspace, or other interior location directly beneath the conditioned spaces of a building.

Radon Mitigation System Checklist  Available from IEMA  The checklist is a tool for inspecting both active and passive radon mitigation systems.

9/2/ Radon Systems Must Be Able to Drain  All radon piping must be sloped to allow drainage.  Water in radon system is primarily from condensation inside piping.

Overall Effectiveness of Passive Systems Radon Resistant New Construction (RRNC) methods were used voluntarily by 11 contractors in the city of East Moline & were effective lowering indoor radon levels below levels that would have been present had the same house been built without the system. 41% of the homes tested in East Moline (19/46) had levels > 4.0 pico- curies per liter (pCi/L) when the passive system was non-operational. The only way to see if the passive system is effective is to…..Test! LaFollette, S., & Dickey, T. Air & Waste Management Assoc. §1: , Volume 51, January 2001.

Upgrading is Easy  If, after construction is completed, radon levels are at or above 4.0 pCi/L, contact a Licensed Mitigator and simply activate the system.  Homes with a passive system can be upgraded to an active system with the simple installation of an in-line fan.

 Who can install the fan to make the passive system active?  Only a licensed professional mitigator with a license from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (or the resident of the home). Corrective Actions

Interested in being a licensed mitigation professional? Take the state approved qualification course and pass the state licensing exam.  Complete a Quality Assurance Plan and a Worker Protection Plan

9/2/ Can Radon Mitigation System Cause a Water Problem? A properly installed radon mitigation system should not cause a water problem nor will it typically fix a wet basement.

9/2/ Requirements of Post Mitigation Testing  Must wait 24 hours after the mitigation installation before starting the post mitigation test.  A short term test is placed in same location as first test.  Must be tested in accordance with approved protocol.  Must test system within 30 days.  Recommend re-testing every 2 years.

9/2/ More Information Cindy Ladage(217) Patrick Daniels(217)