Effectiveness of radon control techniques in fifteen homes
- Lawrence Berkeley Lab, Berkeley, CA (United States)
Radon control systems were installed and evaluated in fourteen homes in the Spokane River Valley/Rathdrum Prairie and in one home in Vancouver, Washington. Because of local soil conditions, subsurface ventilation (SSV) by pressurization was always more effective in these houses than SSV by depressurization in reducing indoor radon levels to below guidelines. Basement overpressurization was successfully applied in five houses with airtight basements where practical-sized fans could develop an overpressure of 1 to 3 Pascals. Crawlspace ventilation was more effective than crawlspace isolation in reducing radon entry from the crawlspace, but had to be used in conjunction with other mitigation techniques, from the crawlspace, but had to be used in conjunction with other mitigation techniques, since the houses also had basements. Indoor radon concentrations in two houses with air-to-air heat exchangers (AAHX) were reduced to levels inversely dependent on the new total ventilation rates and were lowered even further in one house where the air distribution system was modified. Sealing penetrations in the below-grade surfaces of substructures was relatively ineffective in controlling radon. Operation of the radon control systems (except for the AAHX's) made no measurable change in ventilation rates or indoor concentrations of other measured pollutants. Installation costs ranged from approximately {dollar sign}4/m{sup 2} for sealing to {dollar sign}28/m{sup 2} for the AAHXs. Annual operating costs for the active systems were estimated to be approximately {dollar sign}60 to {dollar sign}170.
- OSTI ID:
- 5064255
- Journal Information:
- Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association; (United States) Vol. 41:5; ISSN JAWAE; ISSN 1047-3289
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
540130* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
540230 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
BASEMENTS
BUILDINGS
CONTROL
CONTROL SYSTEMS
COST
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
EFFICIENCY
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FEDERAL REGION X
FLUIDS
GASES
HOUSES
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
MASS TRANSFER
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
OPERATING COST
POLLUTION
POLLUTION CONTROL
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
RADON
RARE GASES
REMEDIAL ACTION
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
USA
VENTILATION
WASHINGTON