Maya Ellison
Radon is a hazardous, invisible, and odourless gas that is the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers. It is therefore important to ensure that homes are built or adapted to be radon-resistant. Radon-resistant construction techniques include ASD systems and vapor barriers, such as a layer of gravel beneath the foundation, or plastic sheeting. The Sentinel XS Radon Vapor Barrier is one such product that can be used to protect against radon. Ordinary 6-mil polyethylene plastic sheeting can also be effective in blocking radon, as long as it has no holes or rips.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic type | Polyethylene |
| Thickness | 6 mil polyethylene is standard, but thicker is better for long-term ruggedness |
| Compliance | ASTM E1745, ASTM E96, BABA |
| Radon diffusion coefficient | Critical value that identifies whether the material has been independently tested for radon gas resistance |
| Durability | Extreme strength and durability |
| Ventilation | Vent pipes are recommended to safely vent radon outside the house |
| Installation | Should be placed on top of a gravel layer to prevent soil gases from entering the house |
| Use | Crawl spaces, under slabs, over soil |
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What You'll Learn
Radon-resistant construction techniques
Radon is a colourless, odourless, and radioactive gas that can enter a house through entry points in the concrete floor slab. It can cause severe respiratory health problems and even lead to loss of life if not controlled. Hence, it is important to employ radon-resistant construction techniques to prevent radon from entering the home.
One technique is to install a high-performance, properly installed below-slab vapour barrier to impede radon movement from the soil into the building. Ordinary 6-mil polyethylene plastic can be used as a vapour barrier to stop radon and water vapour, as long as it has no holes or rips. The thicker the polyethylene, the less likely it will get holes when installed.
Another technique is to run a 3-inch or 4-inch solid PVC Schedule 40 pipe vertically from the gravel layer through the roof to safely vent radon and other soil gases outside the house. This pipe should be labelled "Radon System" and can be installed by a plumber or certified radon professional. Additionally, sealing and caulking can be used to seal all openings, cracks, and crevices in the concrete foundation floor and walls to prevent radon from entering the home.
It is important to note that radon-resistant features can be an important selling point for health-conscious home buyers. The cost of including radon-resistant features during construction is typically less than the cost of mitigating radon after construction. Builders can obtain radon-resistant new construction training from state programs and private service providers to better understand these techniques.
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Radon mitigation systems
Radon is a colourless, odourless, radioactive gas that can enter a house through entry points in the concrete floor slab. It typically takes years of exposure to radon before any health problems surface. The US EPA, Surgeon General, American Lung Association, American Medical Association, and National Safety Council recommend testing your home for radon because it is the only way to know your home's radon levels.
Radon-resistant construction techniques built into the design, such as ASD systems and vapor barriers, will significantly decrease the chance of elevated radon concentrations in the home. A high-performance, properly installed below-slab vapour barrier is a critical component of an effectively designed passive or active radon mitigation system. The vapour barrier's ability to slow down radon gas diffusion, durability during installation and concrete placement, and longevity beneath the slab are important characteristics when used in a radon control system.
There are several types of radon mitigation systems:
- Sub-slab suction: Pulls radon directly beneath the home's foundation and vents it outside.
- Drain tile suction: Pipe penetrates into the drain tile and vents the soil gases outside.
- Sub-membrane: Used in crawl spaces, a plastic sheet covers exposed dirt on the floor, extends up onto the wall and is sealed. A radon pipe penetrates the plastic sheeting, pulls the soil gas from the crawl space, and vents it outside.
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Radon testing
Radon is a hazardous, invisible, and odourless gas that is the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers. It is responsible for high levels of lung cancer across the United States, with hazardous levels detected in one out of 15 American homes. It is therefore important to test for radon and take steps to prevent it from entering your home.
Radon-resistant construction techniques, such as ASD systems and vapor barriers, can significantly decrease the chance of elevated radon concentrations in the home. A vapor barrier is a critical component of an effective radon mitigation system, impeding the movement of radon gas from the soil into the building. The radon diffusion coefficient, durability, and longevity of the vapor barrier are important characteristics when used in a radon control system.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends the use of a vapor barrier in radon-resistant construction to function as a "soil gas retarder" and reduce radon infiltration. Plastic sheeting or a vapor retarder placed on top of a gravel layer can help prevent soil gases from entering the house. A vent pipe can also be used to safely vent radon and other soil gases outside the home.
Some specific products that can be used for radon protection include the Sentinel XS Radon Vapor Barrier, which is a 5-layer barrier with low permeability and extreme strength, and Raven Industries VaporBlock 20+, which is a vapor retarder/barrier that exceeds the performance of 6 mil polyethylene plastic.
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Radon diffusion coefficient
Radon is a colourless, odourless, and radioactive gas that can enter a house through entry points in the concrete floor slab. It can cause severe respiratory health problems and even lead to loss of life if not controlled. The US EPA, Surgeon General, American Lung Association, American Medical Association, and National Safety Council recommend testing your home for radon.
The radon diffusion coefficient is essential in designing radon barriers for homes. The suitability of a material as a radon-proof barrier can be tested using this coefficient, which indicates how effectively the material prevents radon transport. Waterproof materials commonly used for protecting buildings have a radon diffusion coefficient ranging from 10^-11 to 10^-13 m^2/s.
The selection of effective radon-proof insulation is challenging due to limited information about radon diffusion through materials and the lack of general guidelines for radon barrier design. Measurements of the radon diffusion coefficient in various insulating materials have shown significant differences in diffusion properties. The diffusion coefficients can vary from 10^-13 m^2/s to 10^-10 m^2/s.
To ensure effective radon protection, it is crucial to consider the radon diffusion coefficient, radon concentration in the soil, and building characteristics when selecting radon-proof membranes or insulation. Additionally, the use of radon-resistant construction techniques, such as ASD systems and vapor barriers, is recommended to decrease the chances of elevated radon concentrations in homes.
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Radon-resistant features in new homes
Radon is a colourless, odourless, radioactive gas that can enter a house through entry points in the concrete floor slab. It typically takes years of exposure to radon before any health problems surface. As such, it is important to build homes with radon-resistant features to protect the health of homeowners.
Radon-resistant construction techniques built into the design, such as ASD systems and vapor barriers, will significantly decrease the chances of elevated radon concentrations in the home. A high-performance, properly installed below-slab vapour barrier is a critical component of an effectively designed passive or active radon mitigation system. Ordinary 6-mil polyethylene will stop water vapour and radon, as long as it has no holes or rips.
For a new home, the vapour barrier's ability to slow down radon gas diffusion (its radon diffusion coefficient), durability during installation and concrete placement, and longevity beneath the slab are important characteristics when used in a radon control system. The US EPA, Surgeon General, American Lung Association, American Medical Association, and National Safety Council recommend testing your home for radon because testing is the only way to know your radon levels.
To build a radon-resistant home, you can follow these steps:
- Install an electrical junction box (outlet) in the attic for use with a vent fan, should a more robust system be needed in the future.
- Spread four inches of clean aggregate under all areas within the home's walls that will be covered by concrete slabs.
- Install a vent pipe that runs vertically through the roof, directing the soil gases to the outdoors.
- Install flashing around the vent pipe where it exits the roof to prevent leakage.
- Seal all potential soil gas entry points with caulk or expanding foam.
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Frequently asked questions
Radon is a naturally occurring, colourless, and odourless gas that can enter homes from the soil underneath. Exposure to radon can cause severe respiratory health issues and even lead to lung cancer.
A radon vapour barrier is a layer of heavy-duty plastic sheeting or a vapour retarder placed over the gravel to prevent radon and other soil gases from entering a home. It acts as a ""soil gas retarder" to reduce radon infiltration.
Polyethylene plastic sheeting is commonly used for radon protection. Ordinary 6-mil polyethylene is effective in blocking radon as long as it has no holes or rips. Thicker polyethylene, such as 10-mil or 20-mil, provides more durability.
Yes, some recommended products for radon protection include Sentinel XS Radon Vapor Barrier and Raven Industries VaporBlock 20+. These products are designed with low permeability and high strength for effective radon mitigation.
In addition to using plastic sheeting or vapour barriers, builders can incorporate radon-resistant construction techniques. This includes using gravel or perforated pipes below the foundation to create an "air flow layer," sealing cracks and crevices, and installing vent pipes to safely direct radon and soil gases outside the home.
