Radon reduction in crawl-space houses

Technical Report · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:5284377

Osborne, M C; Moore, D G; Southerlan, R E; Brennan, T; Pyle, B E

This paper gives results of an EPA study of radon-mitigation alternatives for crawl space houses in several houses in Nashville, TN. Application of one of these alternative mitigation options, suction under a polyethylene membrane, has been successful in significantly reducing radon levels in both the crawl space and the house. The large radon concentrations measured under unvented plastic ground covers and the moisture barriers found in many crawl spaces can act as radon-rich reservoirs capable of contaminating a crawl space and house during periods of depressurization. With the exhaust components of the mitigation system in place, radon levels below the plastic decreased by more than 95% under both passive and active suction conditions. Based on the study, the design of a cost-effective subplastic suction passive radon mitigation system for crawl spaces seems promising.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC (USA). Air and Energy Engineering Research Lab.
• OSTI ID: 5284377
• Report Number(s): PB-90-103797/XAB; EPA--600/J-89/078
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320107 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Building Systems-- (1987-)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540130* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
BUILDINGS
CONTROL
ELEMENTS
FILMS
FLUIDS
GASES
HOUSES
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
MEMBRANES
MITIGATION
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION CONTROL
POLYETHYLENES
POLYMERS
POLYOLEFINS
RADON
RARE GASES
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
VENTILATION