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ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTS OF WEATHERIZATION ON RESIDENTIAL RADON LEVELS
Citation:
Koontz, M., H. Rector, AND D. Primozic. ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTS OF WEATHERIZATION ON RESIDENTIAL RADON LEVELS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/R-94/002 (NTIS 94-141181), 1994.
Impact/Purpose:
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Description:
The report gives results of an assessment of the effects of weatherization on residential radon levels. For this assessment, time-integrated radon measurements were taken for 30- to 45-day periods both before and after weatherization in 32 Retro-Tech homes, 28 advanced homes, and 16 control homes that were not weatherized during the study period. Based on results of blower-door tests, air leakage rates were reduced by an average of 10-15% in Retro-Tech homes and by 35-40% in advanced homes. The radon concentration data collected for the study generally suggest that weatherization procedures did not adversely affect indoor radon levels. However, interpretations are clouded by weather factors that may influence radon measurement periods. (NOTE: The study involved two protocols: a Retro-Tech technique expected to achieve approximately 10-20% reduction in air leakage, and an advanced technique expected to reduce air leakage by as much as 50%. Air leakage rates before and after weatherization were measured with a blower door, and ambient temperatures and precipitation levels during the monitoring periods for each study home were obtained from local weather stations.)