Apporad -> Radon Tools -> Sizing HRV

HRVs can reduce radon through dilution, and they are helpful as a complementary system after Active Soil Depressurization (ASD) has reduced radon to near 4 pCi/L. HRVs are also suitable for reducing radon from building materials (emanation). However, they are unsuitable when radon concentrations are higher than 8 pCi/L.

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Radon-T by RadonAway

Each Radon-T comes with a kit that includes:
➕ Radon-T – Prepares for Reducing Radon in New Construction (RRNC) systems.
➕ 4 Stakes – Stabilize the T in preparation for aggregate fill and slab pour.
➕ Vent Pipe Cap – Prevents debris entry and avoids the possibility of mistaking the vent pipe sub for a utility pipe “rough in”.
➕ Set of System Labels – To clearly mark radon system vent pipes.

These instructions provide a quick guide for proper installation.

✔️PRIOR TO POURING THE SLAB
Radon-T Installation

1- In the location designated for the radon pipe rough-in, position the Radon-T on a level dirt surface.

     a- For optional 4-way air flow, cut out sides of the Radon-T along the indents.

     b- If saddling over an internal perforated pipe loop, cut out a small top section of pipe (approximately 4 ½” x 6”) so that the Radon-T fits snugly over the pipe.

2- Using the supplied stakes, secure the Radon-T to the ground.

3- Glue into the Radon-T a length of 4” Schedule 40 PVC pipe. (Pipe length should allow it to extend a minimum of 6” above the finished slab.)
4- Insert the supplied Radon-T Cap into the top of the PVC pipe. Do not glue!

5- Save the 4 supplied vent pipe labels for future piping.

Site Preparation
1- Uniformly spread a layer of clean aggregate at least 4” thick. The aggregate should be sized to pass through a 2” sieve but not through a ¼” sieve. (Where gravel is not available, substitute a 4” layer of sand covered by geotextile drainage matting.)
2- Install vapor barrier (minimum 6 mil or 3 mil cross- laminated) on top of the aggregate. The barrier should cover the entire floor area and seams should have a 12” minimum overlap.

✔️AFTER POURING THE SLAB
1- Fill all large openings in the slab. Seal perimeter and all joints in the concrete, cap sump pit openings. Floor drains should be trapped or routed to daylight with non-perforated pipe.
2- Remove the Radon-T cap. Connect and glue PVC riser with appropriate PVC fittings.
3- Route 3” or 4” PVC radon vent pipe through the structure.

4- Install a wired electrical outlet (120volt AC) next to the anticipated radon fan location.
5- Affix one supplied radon label to the pipe at each level of the structure (e.g., basement, first floor, etc.). Be sure the airflow arrows on the labels point away from the slab.

Source: RadonAway.com

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RADON IN PILLOLE: WHY CALIBRATE A MEASUREMENT INSTRUMENT?

 📽️ In this video, we will answer this common question:

🗯️ Perché tarare uno strumento di misura?

Calibration:
✅ calibration has the purpose of defining the metrological characteristics of a measuring instrument;
✅ verifies the accuracy and precision of the instrument and determines the uncertainty;
✅ maintains the state of confidence in the measurement process;
✅ it is a requirement foreseen by the technical standards;
✅ with the calibration, a “dimensionless” calibration factor is determined, which can be used to correct the instrument’s response and make it more accurate.

Calibration: how often?
Calibration is a “snapshot” of the instrument’s characteristics at the time of the calibration itself. However, it offers no guarantees once the instrument has left the calibration center.
This is why it is essential to calibrate a measurement instrument periodically: we cannot know when the instrument could lose its calibration. The longer we wait, the greater the number of measurements carried out with an instrument that no longer works correctly.

We at RadonMarket recommend calibration at least annually.  

How are the instruments for measuring radon calibrated?
The IEC 61577 standard defines the requirements for calibration systems and thus helps us answer this question.
Calibrating radon instruments involves the use of a “STAR” (System for Test Atmospheres with Radon) chamber as follows:
✅ a sealed chamber where to place the instruments to be calibrated and the reference instrument;
✅ a certified radon source;
✅ a control system for the introduction of radon inside the calibration chamber;
✅ a system for monitoring internal environmental parameters;
✅ an exhaust system compliant with regulatory requirements.

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Equilibrium equation pie chart

In order to do the calculations via AppoRad, after arriving at the calculator page:           Apporad -> Radon Tools -> Equilibrium equation
First, choose the quantity you want to calculate from the top bar

#1 -▶️ for the Radon concentration,
#2 -▶️ for the Working Level,
#3 -▶️ for the Equilibrium Factor.

Then choose two other asked parameters and click on the calculate button. You may repeat these steps as much as you wish. The default values are equal to 148 Bq/m³ for radon concentration, 0.5 for the Equilibrium factor, and 0.020 for the working level.

Equilibrium equation on AppoRad

In the case where the value of the equilibrium factor is not known, it is possible to use a value equal to 0.4 conventionally. It means that only 40% of radon’s decay products are suspended in the air. It is a good practice to play with this tool by putting different values for one parameter and changing the others to understand better how changing that parameter can influence the other ones.

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RADON IN PILLOLE: WHAT IS A “SAFE” LEVEL OF INDOOR RADON GAS?

 📽️ In this video, we will answer this common question:

The short answer is the “safe” level of radon exposure is no radon at all. Any radon exposure carries some risk.
🗯️So does it mean that we should have 0 Radon at our home to be safe? The answer is not that simple! Let’s see why!
Even outside our homes, we could expose ourselves to some level of radon. Roughly 0.4 pCi/L of radon is normally found in the outside air. So, the optimistic goal should be to reduce indoor Radon levels to no more than outdoor levels. However, this goal is not yet technologically achievable for all homes.

For these reasons, similarly to what happens for other risks, the concept of acceptable risk is applied to exposure to radon, which leads to the definition of reference levels.
The reference level also depends on the organization that defines it or on the regulations applied in the different countries.

As an example, the reference level is equal to:
✅WHO (World Health Organization) recommends: 100 Bq/m³
✅ EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) recommends: 150 Bq/m³
✅Italy and many other EU countries recommend: 300 Bq/m³

If you find that you have high indoor Radon levels, there are ways to fix it. Even very high levels can be reduced to acceptable levels. On average, Radon levels in many homes can be reduced to 2 pCi/L or less.

But the first step is to test your home! Go to RadonMarket.com and find the right tool for you.

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Like any other measurement activity, Radon gas measurement needs a quality program to evaluate and assess the test results. A Radon quality measurement program consists of Quality Control (QC) and  Quality Assurance (QA) plans. In a nutshell:

✅ The QC plans are the measures taken to increase confidence in the results.
✅ Then, the QA plans ensure that the QC plans are being done correctly and in a timely manner.

QC plans include duplicates, fields blanks, spikes, calibration, background checks, and source checks. And QA plans include creating control charts, keeping the records, and inspecting procedures. Before talking about these interesting topics 🤩, we should have a very good understanding of three concepts: PRECISION, BIAS, AND ACCURACY

Radon Measurement Quality- Precision, Bias, Accuracy

✔️ PRECISION

Consider performing multiple Radon measurements simultaneously inside a building, with the same condition and the same type of instrument. After comparing their results, the measurement is Precise if the results are close together. On the other hand, if the results are far away from each other, the measurement has poor precision.

Measurement precision should be controlled as part of the Radon QC plans. An example of this control is to perform “Duplicates^📣. “

Now let’s see why having good Precision is essential but not enough. When testing a building for Radon, the Radon level of the building is unknown. Therefore even if the multiple results are close together (good Precision), they could be far from the actual Radon concentration or the target level. In other words, there could be good Precision but poor “Bias.”

Radon Measurement Quality, Precise measurement with poor Bias

✔️ BIAS

The Bias could be associated with improperly storing the detectors or due to collecting Radon by detectors during their shipment, or it could even be a laboratory problem^🔔.

Bias shows how far the result is from the target value. But how is it possible to determine the Bias when the target value is unknown? The solution is to define a known target value equal to zero! It is achievable by measuring the Radon concentration from not exposed detectors and calculating how much the results are off from zero. This way of calculating the Bias in the Radon QC plans is called “Field blanks^📣.”

Having a good bias does not indicate that the measurement is precise too. Here is where “Accuracy” comes into the scene. An accurate measurement is Precise with good Bias.

Radon Measurement Quality, not Precise measurement with good Bias

✔️ ACCURACY

Accuracy is mainly a function of Bias (how far the measurement results are from the target value). The only way to verify the Accuracy is by exposing some sample detectors to a known Radon environment. These sample detectors are called “Spikes^📣,” and they should be part of the QC plans. Spike samples are sent to a Radon chamber (it could be a secondary Radon chamber) and exposed to predefined Radon concentration. Then the sample’s measured values are compared with the Radon chamber declared concentration to determine the measurement’s Accuracy.

Radon Measurement Quality, Precise measurement with good Bias, Accurate measurement

By understanding these three essential concepts, we are now able to go into detail and talk about Quality Controls (QC) and Quality Assurance (QA) plans. So do not miss the future numbers of RadonMarket Magazine.

The post RADON MEASUREMENT QUALITY: PRECISION, BIAS, AND ACCURACY appeared first on RadonMarket Academy in English.

RADON IN PILLOLE: DO RADON LEVELS INCREASE WITH THE AGE OF A BUILDING?

 📽️ In this video, we will answer this common question:

🗯️Do radon levels increase with the age of a building?❓
No. Actually, there is no relation between the age of a building and its Radon level. Let’s examine factors that influence the Radon level to understand it better.
1️⃣ Source:
– This is the amount of Uranium238 or Radium226 present in the soil underneath the building.
– No matter if the building is old or new, No Source means No Radon!
2️⃣ Driving force:
– This mainly depends on the inside and outside temperature differences.
– Colder outside means a stronger force that pushes Radon laden air into the building.
3️⃣ Pathway and openings:
– Radon needs a path to enter the building. Tiny cracks would be enough.
– And you know what? Sooner or later, Radon will find this path even in a tight new building.
4️⃣ Ventilation rate:
– This is the rate of air exchange to the outside.
– Air exchange can lower the Radon level by dilution. Older buildings may even have higher air exchange rates.

So no matter the age of the building. The only way to understand the Radon level is by measuring it!
Buy your Radon Test kit now at RadonMarket.com

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Here is a list of available tools:

AppoRad English version:
www.AppoRad.com ➡️ Radon Tools

📉 Equilibrium equation
     Working Level | Radon Cr | Equilibrium Factor
💨 Sizing HRV
     Determine HRV size to reduce Radon Cr
💧 Radon in water convertor
     Convert Bq/L or pCi/L in water to Bq/m³ or pCi/L in air

AppoRad Italian version:
www.AppoRad.it ➡️ Radon Tools

📏 Legge sul Radon
       Schema D.Lgs. 101
🧮 Calcolo dei punti di misura
       Abitazioni Private
Luoghi di Lavoro
📉 Equilibrium equation
       Working Level | Radon Cr | Fattore Equilibrio
💨 Ventilazione Meccanica Controllata (VMC)
       Calcola la portata del VMC per ridurre la concentrazione di Radon
💧 Radon in aqua ▶️ Radon in aria
       Convert Bq/L or pCi/L in water to Bq/m³ or pCi/L in air

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There are several methods to lower Radon levels in a building. The recommendation is always to prevent Radon from entering the house. In some cases, there is no choice rather than reduce Radon after it has entered.

What is will not change is that a Radon reduction system similar to any other system needs some occasional maintenance. It is recommended to look at the warning devices regularly and make sure the system is working correctly. Here are two common warning devices for Sub-slab Depressurization (SSD) systems:

Left: RadonAway Manometers      Right: RadonAway Air Flow Alarm

Eventually, it may need to replace the fans. However, good quality Radon fans work from 5 to 10 years and even more.

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✅ Stack effect or chimney effects,
✅ Soil pressure, and,
✅ HVAC systems.

Whether it is natural, like the stack effect, or introduced to the building by an unbalanced HVAC system, these forces change the balance and create pressure differentials between the outside air and the inside air. The pressure differentials between outside and inside then define the behavior of soil gas entry into the house. Hence we can say that the mechanism of Radon entry is all about pressure differentials.

In this number of RadonMarket Mag, we examine this topic in more detail and see how the pressure differentials are measured.

We could have three conditions for pressure differentials. The building could be in positive^📣, negative, or neutral pressure with respect to the outside. Let’s start with a neutral pressure condition.

✔️ NEUTRAL PRESSURE
When good communication to the outdoor air exists in the basement, like open windows and doors or other big openings, the differential pressure reduces significantly. Therefore, there is not much movement between inside air and the Radon laden soil gas.
Open windows and doors significantly affect the differential pressure and also provide some dilution, which helps reduce the Radon level.

Radon & Neutral Pressure

✔️ NEGATIVE PRESSURE
Most houses have negative pressure^📣, which means that the pressure inside the house is lower than the outside air pressure. Negative pressure inside the building creates a vacuum that draws the outside air, including the soil gas, into the house. The negative pressure and the indoor Radon level are directly correlated. Higher negative pressure cause higher indoor Radon level^🔔, and by decreasing the negative pressure, the indoor Radon level decrease.

Radon & Negative Pressure

A house in a negative pressure can suck air directly beneath it and generally up to 10 meters around its perimeter. This area could become even larger when the soil gas beneath the house’s perimeter cannot find a connection to the outside. For example, when around the building is covered by asphalt. Radon comes from the foundation, mostly (NOT Always!), there would be a higher Radon level in the basement. However, there is no predictable ratio between the basement and upper floors.

✔️ POSITIVE PRESSURE
When air blows from outside into the house creates positive pressure. The positive pressure pushes the soil gas back and does not let Radon comes inside. In this case, besides retarding the soil gas entry, it also provides some dilution. It is more common to see positive pressure in large buildings or houses equipped with swamp coolers.

Radon & Positive Pressure

🤷 How to measure pressure differentials?
➡️ Digital micromanometer
They measure the pressure difference between two ports on the instrument.

➡️ Smoke Bottles
The smoke only shows the direction of airflow and does not provide a quantitative result. However, they are easy and very quick to use.

➡️ GM 1-2
The RadonAway GM 1-2 is a one-of-a-kind diagnostic aid designed specifically for the needs of Radon mitigation professionals. It is equipped with both a micro manometer and a grab sampler. The Radon grab sampler feature is the perfect diagnostic tool to assist in finding Radon sources, and the micro manometer measures pressure field extension.

RadonAway GM 1-2 Radon Grab Sampler/Micro Manometer

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