Questions about radon gas in businesses

• Is it recommended to test businesses for elevated levels of radon also?
• When is the best time to perform a radon test in a business?  
• Who should perform the test?
• What is a reasonable amount of radon?
• Is this problem very expensive to fix?

Question:
Is it recommended to test businesses for elevated levels of radon also?

Answer:
Absolutely!  A lot depends on the area of the country in which you are located.  The EPA risk maps show the areas they have found be to "high risks" for elevated radon levels due to the underlying geology.  It makes no difference whether someone is exposed to high radon levels of radon in a home each day OR for that same period of time in a business. Both are health risks!   Just because you have addressed a radon problem you may have had at home, doesn't mean that radon is no longer a health risk for you!  Encourage your company to test your facility for radon.  We recently installed a radon mitigation system in the corporate offices of a large food service business in the SC upstate!  The employees of the company were relieved to know that the health risks related to radon in their building have now been minimized!

Question:
When is the best time to perform a radon test in a business?  

Answer:
The ideal time to test a business for radon is at the end of work on Friday.  That way, the tests can usually be conducted over the weekend with minimal potential for interference.  If a short term radon test indicates that "elevated levels" of radon are present, the EPA recommends doing a "follow-up" test to confirm the initial results.  The most desirable sort of confirmatory test is one that last 90 days (alpha track detector) which is not as subject to fluctuations as short term tests are.  Never begin abatement system work until the initial radon tests have been confirmed to be "high".

Question:
Who should perform the test?

Answer:
There are many things that can contribute to faulty radon test results.  Only an individual trained in the proper EPA radon testing procedures should perform the test to ensure that the readings received are valid.  The EPA has developed a proficiency program/exam for people in the radon measurement field. Qualified professionals have received test measurement/result interpretation certification from either NEHA (National Environmental Health Association) or the NRSB (National Radon Safety Board).

Question:
What is a reasonable amount of radon?

Answer:
The U.S. EPA and the U.S. Surgeon General's office have established that people should not be exposed to more than 4.0 pCi/L of radon on a long term basis. However, all levels of radon have an associated risk factor.

Question:
Is this problem very expensive to fix?

Answer:
The cost for abatement depends upon several factors. 1) The size of the building and concrete foundation,  2) the levels of the radon initially reported  3) the kind of foundation used when the building was built,  4) the air communication under the foundation.  A concrete foundation with a gravel medium is much easier to address.  However, tighter mediums like sand or clay typically restrict air communication and the EPA recommends that diagnostic testing be performed to help delineate where to place pipe penetrations.  Most firms charge to perform diagnostic testing. However, no matter what a contractor says, until diagnostic testing is conducted, any attempts at pricing will usually be "guesstimates".  Once diagnostics are completed, a firm price should be routinely submitted along WITH a "guarantee" that the system will be successful.