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New Radon Standards Lower Risk in New and Existing Multi-Family Housing

Written by Basement Health Association on . Posted in Radon.

New Radon Standards lower risk in new and existing Multi-family Housing

There are three new requirements and standards for radon testing and mitigation in regards to multi-family housing and apartment buildings.

Radon Requirements for Multifamily Housing Mortgages

The first concerns mortgage applications. HUD is now requiring a radon report for all multifamily insured mortgage applications. The report must include the results of testing and any mitigation needed. They are also requiring that all testing is done by a certified radon professional. This effort; the 2013 Advancing Healthy Housing–A Strategy for Action, is in effect as of January 31, 2013. To read or download the HUD Radon documents, go to http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=13-03hsgn.pdf

New “Code Ready” Standard for lowering radon risk in new construction

There is also a new standard for new construction to lower the risk of radon in multifamily dwellings and townhouses. RRNC 2.0 is a “code ready” standard that provides a significant improvement over the IRC Appendix F “Radon Control Methods” and is intended to replace Appendix F in the body of the building code.

RRNC 2.0 calls for:

  1. Treating all foundation types (“Rough In”).
    • Soil Gas Collection Plenum (s)
    • Piping
    • Electrical Junction Box
  2. Testing for occupancy permit.
  3. Activating system “rough in” if necessary.

Request a free, licensed copy of the RRNC 2.0 Standard at www.radonaway.com.

New National Radon Standard for mitigating multifamily housing

The American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (AARST) Consortium on National Radon Standards also released a new Provisional American National Standard for radon mitigation professionals, “Radon Mitigation Standards In Multifamily Buildings.” The new document establishes preliminary standards for mitigating multifamily housing in the United States.

Prior to this document, no standards or guidance documents have existed for mitigating radon from apartments or multifamily dwellings. The intent of the standard is to reduce not only health risks associated with radon but to reduce liability for apartment managers, developers and the multifamily housing sector.

Understanding the Risks of Radon

Written by Basement Health Association on . Posted in Radon.

Radon is a cancer-causing soil gas that can seep into your home through foundation cracks, seams, and gaps in the sump pump or drainage system.

Radon is colorless, odorless and radioactive. It occurs naturally in all soil types from decaying uranium in the soil. Because you can’t smell, see, or taste radon, the only way you know if you have a radon problem is by testing for it.

According to the EPA’s “A Citizen’s Guide to Radon,” nearly 1 in every 15 homes in the U.S. has dangerously high levels of radon.  Elevated levels of radon have been detected in every state.

There are simple do-it-yourself tests you can purchase from home improvement stores or through various websites online.  You can also hire a professional to test your home for radon.  The EPA suggests testing your home every 2-3 years. However, if you do a basement remodel, add an addition, or disrupt the foundation of the house in any way, then you should test your home before and after the work is done.

If you find you have elevated levels of radon, you should have a radon mitigation system installed in your home.

The most common radon mitigation and radon reduction systems suction the air from below the basement floor or slab and pull it up through pipes that release it outside above the home’s roofline.  From there the radon gas dissipates into the air eliminating the risk for the family to breathe it in.

A radon mitigation system must be combined with sealing all foundation cracks and leaks.  The two go hand in hand and are not as effective without the other.

  1. Knows the risks of radon.
  2.  Test your home for radon. Test it every two to three years and before and after a basement remodel or addition.
  3.  Fix any foundation cracks or gaps where soil gases could enter the home. Moisture can also enter your home through foundation cracks that can cause a meridian of other problems.
  4.  If you find you have elevated levels of radon, hire a Basement Health professional to install a radon reduction system.