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RADON: Have you tested your home?
Indoor RADONHome Mitigation
DEVELOPING A RADON MITIGATION STRATEGY If you have recently completed an indoor radon test and your home was shown to have elevated levels (above 200 Bq/m3) you may decide to install a passive sub-slab depressurization system or an active sub-slab depressurization system.
What is an Active Sub-slab Depressurization System?An “Active Sub-slab Depressurization System” (ASD) helps to reduce the amount of radon entering a home by enabling its evacuation from below the foundation. An ASD has the benefit of an electrically powered fan – typically located in the attic. The fan acts much like a vacuum drawing radon gas up through the pipe. The gas can then be vented to the outdoors where it is quickly diluted. A Passive Sub-slab Depressurization System does not have the benefit of a fan; instead, using the natural movement of warm air to vent radon gas to the outdoors through a pipe.
RESOURCES FOR HOMEOWNERSThe BC Lung Association is offering home- owners the option to purchase a Do-it- Yourself Guide – Protecting Your Home from Radon in Canada: A Step-by-Step Manual for Radon Reduction.
The Radon Manual can be ordered from radonaware.ca or please visit your local public library as they may have a copy.
To locate a certified radon mitigation professional go to radonaware.ca and click on ‘Fix a Radon Problem’.
For general information on radon please contact the following:
The BC Lung Association2675 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 2K2P: 1.250.686.1597 E: [email protected]: radonaware.ca
Canadian Cancer Society1100 Alward Street, Prince George, BC V2M 7B1P: 250.564.0885 W: myonething.ca
Northern Health4th Floor, 1600 3rd Ave., Prince George, BC V2L 3G6P: 250.565.2150 E: [email protected]: northernhealth.ca
Interior Health1340 Ellis Street, Kelowna, BC V1Y 9N1P: 250.868.7853 E: [email protected]: interiorhealth.ca/RadonGas
TESTING IS SIMPLE AND EFFECTIVE. The only way to know if your home has radon is to test!
WHAT IS RADON?Radon is a gas that occurs naturally when uranium in soil and rock breaks down. Radon is invisible, odourless, and tasteless. In enclosed spaces such as a home, it can accumulate to high levels.
Radon health effectsRadon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking, and is linked to 16% of lung cancer deaths in Canada. Smokers who are also exposed to radon have a 1 in 3 risk of developing lung cancer in their lifetime.
Radon entry into the homeRadon is present in the soil and can enter anywhere a building comes in contact with the soil. This may include, but is not limited to,
• Construction joints • Gaps around service pipes • Window casements• Floor drains • Sumps or cavities inside walls• Cracks in foundation walls and in floor slabs
Do I need to mitigate my home for radon?The only way to know if your home needs to be mitigated for radon is to test. Radon testing is the first step that must be completed before you make a decision to mitigate your home. Radon testing is simple, low cost and can be completed by most homeowners or tenants.
Where do I get a radon test kit?You can obtain a radon test kit from the BC Lung Association: visit radonaware.ca to learn more about radon and how to order a test kit.
How do I interpret my indoor radon test results?Your radon results will be reported in Becquerels per cubic meter (Bq/m3). If your indoor radon level is above 200 Bq/m3, the BC Lung Association and Health Canada recommend that you take measures to reduce the radon level in your home.
How can radon levels in a home be reduced?For homes that have radon levels above the Health Canada guideline of 200 Bq/m3, one or more of the following measures may be needed:
• Sealing cracks in the foundation and openings around pipes and drains
• Increasing mechanical ventilation
• Installing an “Active Sub-slab Depressurization System” (ASD)
• Note: Health Canada and the BC Lung Association recommend homeowners consult a C-NRPP Certified Radon Mitigation Professional to assess your home and determine the best method to reduce radon levels
For more information on reducing the radon level in your home and contacting a Certified Radon Mitigation Professional, visit radonaware.ca
Radon detector.