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RADON REDUCTION AND RADON RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION DEMONSTRATIONS IN NEW YORK
Citation:
Nitschke, I. RADON REDUCTION AND RADON RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION DEMONSTRATIONS IN NEW YORK. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/8-89/001 (NTIS PB89-151476), 1989.
Impact/Purpose:
information
Description:
The report covers three tasks related to indoor radon: (1) the demonstration of radon reduction techniques in 8 houses in each of two uniquely different radon prone areas of the State of New York; (2) the evaluation and repair of 14 radon mitigation systems in houses mitigated 4 years earlier; and (3) the development and application of radon resistant new construction designs in 15 different houses. In applying radon reduction techniques in existing houses, techniques which were applicable in extremely porous soil were not as easily applied to houses built on granite ledge: combinations of techniques may be required in many difficult houses before an acceptable radon level can be achieved. During this study, basement pressurization was applied as a radon reduction technique for the first time. In evaluating previous radon mitigation installations, polyurethane sealants which were still effective after 4 years and butyl rubber sealants which had failed during the first 4 years were identified. Also, small fans ommonly used in computer application were shown to fail and larger in-line centrifugal duct fans were still in service after 4 years. The radon resistant new construction designs should demonstrate effective methods of sealing out radon during construction; however, quality control problems prevalent in the construction industry may require additional laboratory tests for verification.