diagnostics before & after mitigation

Question #2: If system does not reduce radon levels
what is best Radon Source identification method
2019 International Radon Symposium Denver, Colorado
PART #1 What Fan and Pipe Size should you spec?
We have favorite fans and piping but
Is there a better fan/piping for our customers ??
If we could Pre-Test the System using every available Fan and Pipe size.
And it
PFE Communication Testing
is installed
2nd issue: PFE testing is not done because:
a) Too time consuming b) Too complicated c) Customer not willing
to pay the cost
a) Shop Vac versus Fan curves
b) Piping pressure loss c) Effect of slab sealing
To do PFE testing you must use a 0.001”wc / 0.1 Pascal
Micro-Manometer
EIC CT008 $295
Max 10” +/- 0.001”
Retro-Tec DM2 $500
Max 5” +/- 0.001” Auto-zero
An Improved method would: Determine best fan using either 3” or 4” piping.
During System Installation - PFE testing is easy 1) Place radon fan in suction hole
2) Measure PFE at test holes 3) Alter system design based on results
4) Ventilate room
Fantech PFEDK App: Place PFEDK on suction hole - Measure PFE at far test hole – Adjust fan voltage –
Measure pressure difference across fan – Use app
App Inputs: Fan voltage – Fan Pressure – Pipe Footage – Fittings App displays optimal Fantech fan to use
New method System Optimization uses a combination: PFEDK adjustable speed fan with IR4 damper
PFEDK has adjustable power knob. IR4 damper has a swing lever with a settings indicator.
Together they can emulate almost any common radon fan
IR4 can: Measure airflow & Dampen airflow
Measure Airflow: Set IR4 K-Factor & measure Pressure Difference K-Factor X SqRt of Pressure Difference = CFM
A uniform more precise numbering system was added to use with System Optimization
New damper adjustment settings are numbered 01 to 16
PFEDK voltage & IR4 Damper settings were varied Settings were determined for all common radon fans
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AMG Legend vs PFEDK V-7.2 IR-224/15 w/10' of 4" pvc pipe
Legend - 4 inch PFEDK v-7.2 IR-15
93 watts to
Test date 11/19/17 7/26/19
Fan manufacturer date: 10/17
This Legend fan curve is a close match if PFEDK is 7.2 volts and IR4 is at setting 15
Legend fan
compared to
To duplicate a fan performance curve:
PFEDK/IR4 setting for RP145 is off at max airflow & max vacuum but still represents comparable performance
The Legend fan was PFEDK 7.2 volts - IR4 15
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RadonAway RP145 vs PFEDK V-6.3 IR-127/10.5 w/10' of 4" pvc pipe
RP145 4"
RP145 is PFEDK 6.3 volts - IR4 10.5
RP145 fan
compared to
PFEDK/IR4
To determine effect of system piping each fan setting was tested with
100 feet of 3” & 4” piping
Reduced airflow from 100 feet of 3” & 4” piping was duplicated by adjusting the IR4 damper
without the 100 feet of piping attached
Maximum airflow with | 10’- 4” | 100’ - 4” | 100’ – 3” |
Airflow cut in half from 10’ – 4” (green) to 100’ – 3” (red)
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CFM airflow reduction from 100 feet of 3" & 4" pipingCFM
Maximum fan airflow with different
Fan Type Voltage setting
IR # 100 ft
PDS 150 6.0 13.5 9.1 3.8
RN2EC-4 6.2 12.4 8.7 3.3
Maverick 6.0 12.6 8.5 3.8
RN2 6.4 10 7.2 3.0
GBR45 6.1 12.8 8.8 4.0
RP145 6.3 10.5 8.0 3.2
RP265 6.8 14.1 9.0 3.9
Legend 7.2 15 9.5 4.3
RN3 7.4 15 9.5 4.3
Fury II 8.7 12.8 9.0 4.0
Eagle 8.8 7.1 5.3 2.7
GP501 9.6 2.3 1.9 2.0
Eagle Extreme 9.5 10.4 7.8 3.8
Final PFEDK/IR4
Fan Setting Chart for
10 ft - 4” 100 ft - 4” pipe 100 ft - 3” pipe for each fan
Can adjust IR4 setting for different lengths of
piping using 10 to 100 ft IR4 settings as a guide
You would think - No one would do this!
Equivalent footage for
piping in picture:
2 hard turn 90 Offsets =
104 ft pipe
Fitting 3" 4"
45 Sweep 2.0 2.0
45 Angled 3.7 5.3
90 Hard Turn offset 40.0 52.0
45 Sweep offset 3.4 4.0
45 Angled offset 10.1 13.2
Reducer 3x2 & 4x3 21.8 13.5
Pipe Opening 20.0 25.0
Equivalent footage per
1st Core your suction hole and dig out the pit
2nd Seal openings in the slab
3rd Drill PFE test hole in far corner
4th Use PFEDK/IR4 chart to determine optimal fan and piping
5th Ventilate the room with outdoor air
Tape the fan chart
right on the PFEDK
Tape fitting equivalent footage
equivalent feet of piping will be used.
More precise numbering is placed on IR4
to make finer adjustments easier
For an RP145 set PFEDK voltage at 6.3 and IR4 at
8.0 for 100’ 4” pipe or
3.5 for 100’ 3” pipe
Check sub-slab vacuum at each setting to determine if 3” or 4” piping is needed or
a smaller or large fan
Minimum sub-slab vacuum is usually 0.004” / 1 pascal at far corner
IR4 = 8
IR4 = 3.5
** Warm weather requires stronger sub-slab vacuum than cold weather test **
After the suction hole is
cored and
What is necessary sub-slab pressure at far test holes?
Canadian Radon Mitigation Guide recommendations are based on temperature, sub-slab pressure and climate zone
20 year old EPA guide recommended negative 1 to 5 pascals
If Exterior Temp is:
Climate is Mild
Climate is Moderate
Climate is Severe
Greater 32 F 2.0 X 2.2 X 2.5 X 14 – 32 F 1.4 X 1.5 X 1.6 X 4 – 14 F 1.0 X 1.0 X 1.2 X Less 4 F 1.0 X 1.0 X 1.0 X
1) Close windows and exterior house doors 2) Measure sub-slab vacuum at far test hole with shop vac off 3) Multiple that result by factor above 4) System needs at least that much sub-slab pressure change
Diagnostics at a Large Warehouse
Test Holes every 10 feet in each direction
Diagnostic Suction Hole
In this case CFM change 2.5 - Test hole change 3.0
All of the test hole pressure changes from 56 to 145 CFM were almost identically
This means if a far test hole has
only – 0.5 Pa you would have
to double pit vacuum to get -
1.0 Pa which might extend
PFE only 1 foot
Rule is: Square of
4 X CFM 2 X Pit Pres
#1 Most important diagnostic Measure sub-slab pressure in each corner of the slab
PART #2: Post Mitigation Trouble Shooting
#2 If sub-slab vacuum is good Look for other sources
using detectors or sniffers
Problem: Requires two trips to the house and cost of multiple test kits.
Benefit: Provides precision and measures over time
One diagnostic choice Scatter Eperm’s or Charcoal canisters around basement at suspect locations
The RAD7 is still available and it measures Thoron Pylon has a new version AB7
In the past the only available sniffers were RAD7 or Pylon AB5
Each cost around $7000
Sniffing works better if you Increase Negative pressure in the basement
HVAC induced Negative combines with Stack Effect Negative
Basement - 4.5 PaBasement + 0.7 Pa
HVAC off HVAC on
HV startup 1 minute – new result every 6 minutes
Sniffers were tested by measuring chamber levels then Basement levels then chamber etc
GM1-2 Sniffing radon chamber
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Chamber Levels GM12 sn12088 Bas Levels GM12 sn12249
GM1-2 with 6-7 minute Sniffer
6 to 7 minute intervals
pCi/l
Chamber
Chamber
Basement
7 min
13 min
Chamber 13 min
Sniffer measurement found elevated radon from this small side entrance slab
All other slabs were depressurized – Basement – Garage – Front porch Initial Levels 59 pCi/l - Basement was still 4.6 pCi/l
Jumper pipe installed & radon dropped to 3.0
Environmental Instruments of Canada CT007-R Scintillation cell with air pump
15 second & 5 minute average displayed on cell phone
$1750 Fast response
with alpha clicker
Cell Phone app updates 15 second and 5 minute average plus graph
This allows shorter exposure times
CT007-R displays 15 second and 5 minute averages
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Chamber Levels
pCi/l
Chamber
7 min
13 min
Basement Chamber
7 min
13 min
7 min
RD200 $150 + Cell Ph battery & Converter $30
Another Choice is RadonFTLab RD200 Low price allows purchase of multiple units
Must plug in RD200 or use battery - 1st Result in 13 minutes Can leave unit in for 24 hrs to get variation and good precision
Why is the highest radon levels on the 2nd Floor?
The Downspout Exhaust elbows were not caulked.
The radon sniffer pegged at 999 pCi/L The open soffit was drawing radon into an un-vented attic.
The negative pressure in the house was drawing radon from attic into 2nd Floor dining room
Place Raadon Eye Monitors at all suspect locations
Need to have monitor as close as possible to the source
Use Batteries to facilitate their use
1st Result in 13 minutes
Sensor is sensitive to Thoron.
Do not place detector directly on slab or near soil
RD200 was about 60% of chamber level in 13 minutes Unit display 4 to 7 pCi/l when basement was 2 to 3 pCi/l
Five RD200 units moved into and out of Radon Chamber -> Five Times First exposures were 13 minutes each
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Chamber Levels RE07 Bas Levels RE41 RE42 RE43 RE66
RE200 with 13 minute intevals
pCi/l
13 minute chamber sniff interval = 60% of radon levels
Basement sniff
Basement sniff
Basement sniff
Chamber sniff
Chamber sniff
Chamber sniff
13 minute Basement sniff interval = 7 pci/l when basement is 2 to 3
Chamber sniff
Unit pumps 6 minutes – delays 6 minutes – counts 5 minutes
Total cycle time is 17 minutes 0.8 CPM/Pci/l
Future versions may give option for quicker sniff or thoron exclusion sniff option
Cycle time is 3 times longer than CT007-R
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Chamber Levels
FRD400P Results
Bas Levels
17 minute intervals
Chamber avg = 23.8 pCi/l
Basement avg = 2.2 pCi/l
Optimal sniff interval 17 minutes = 67% to 90% - Flush 17 minutes
300 pCi/l radon flowing at 4.5 LPM - 466 Ft/min
No elevated radon to the
side and rear of
about 8 Ft/Sec
Number of ASD systems in 1993 NJ 100 house study with quantified Thoron and Radon concentrations in the exhaust
This graph illustrates how common Thoron is in NJ
Thoron is a problem for sniffers. We need sniffers that can identify Thoron contribution
Thoron decay product 10 hr half life takes days to eliminate Some Continuous Radon Monitors are sensitive to Thoron
Thoron has two immediate alpha
decays
Radon Eye #08 thoron response reduced by covering openings with aluminum tape
CRM Radon Monitors can be sensitive to Thoron
CRM Thoron sensitive measured in 2008 - Radoneye 2017
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Monitors in 1.5 pCi/l
RS800 0.5% Scout 6.4% E-Perm 4.0% SN 1029 5.5% E-Smart 10.9%
Pylon PRD 2.8% RS500 67% Femto 510 17% Pro-series 22% RadonEye 40%
100’ Tubing reduced Thoron 80% to 85%
The radon sniffers were connected to 100 feet of 3/8” tubing to increase transit time and thoron influence from radon pipe
Sniffer LPM flow
100’ delay min
GM1-2 1.0 2.17 + 19% 295 495
CT007-R 0.85 2.55 + 15% 275 525 FRD400P 0.35 6.0 + 1% 225
Delay Remaining minutes Thoron
1 50% 2 22% 3 10% 4 5.0% 5 2.3% 6 1.0%
Question Time?

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