The solution is ventilation
Our indoor spaces are very good at trapping this radioactive gas. Rn 222 is emitted from the earth in various degrees worldwide. Radon 222, which is heavier than the atmosphere, settles in lower areas of our indoor environments. Ventilation and other HVAC equipment as well as natural building "stack effect"can affect the redistribution throughout the structure.
GET AT THE RADON BEFORE IT GETS IN...is generally considered to be the first choice solution. It is possible in many cases to reverse this soil gas transfer and create a slight negative pressure under the concrete floor. Small test holes can be used to map out the suction field and determine the best place for a fan. A quiet low consumption fan is then placed in a 4" pipe drilled through the floor and exhausted to the exterior. This combined with sealing up cracks and other openings with a proper caulking is part of most solutions. |
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Good system design is vital. This is step two of a management program.
Your environment is affected by several factors. A good system designer will take the time to assess the overall structure, its air movement patterns, and carefully identify Radon entry points. This process is the most important part of your management program. The mitigation system will be designed taking all these factors into account. While vacuuming out the Radon before it comes through the floor is a common solution, not every building can accommodate this method. Crawlspaces with no concrete can be mitigated with a low flux Radon membrane and a similar fan solution as in the picture below.
Mitigation systems share common principals but must be designed for the project building
Testing or mitigation Questions? dan@radonbc.ca
Watch this page for more mitigation technique updates.
