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INDOOR RADON REDUCTION IN CRAWL-SPACE HOUSES: A REVIEW OF ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES
Citation:
HENSCHEL, D. INDOOR RADON REDUCTION IN CRAWL-SPACE HOUSES: A REVIEW OF ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES. INDOOR AIR 2(4):272-287, (1992).
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Information.
Description:
An analysis has been completed of the performance, mechanisms, and costs of alternative technologies for preventing radon entry into the living areas of houses having crawl-space foundations. Sub-membrane depressurization (SMD) is consistently the most effective technique, often providing radon reductions of 80-98% in the living area. It has a relatively high installation cost, but a moderate annual operating cost. Forced crawl-space depressurization is the second most effective, giving reductions of 70-96%. Crawl-space depressurization is less well demonstrated than is SMD, and performance will vary with crawl-space tightness and weather, but it will be a primary option when large radon reductions are needed in buildings with crawl-spaces which are inaccessible for installation of SMD. Crawl-space depressurization has a lower installation cost than SMD, but its operating cost may be three times higher. Natural crawl-space ventilation and forced crawl-space pressurization each typically provides roughly 50% reduction or less in the living area. The lack of a clear benefit of crawl-space pressurization in most installations probably indicates that the crawl space is in fact not being pressurized. Crawl-space sealing and barriers (as stand-alone methods) usually give little or no reduction.
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INDOOR RADON REDUCTION IN CRAWL-SPACE HOUSES: A REVIEW OF ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES (PDF, NA pp, 705 KB, about PDF)