Radon mitigation effects of passive stacks in residential new construction. Report for December 1989-February 1990
The paper discusses the effects of passive stacks in mitigating radon levels in residential new construction. Although passive stacks have been installed as a radon resistant measure in new houses, little quantitative data on their performance has been collected. The study involved continuously monitoring several houses that were recently built with radon resistant features including crack sealing, porous subslab aggregate, and a stubbed-off pipe penetrating the slab for installing a radon mitigation system. For the project, the piping systems were completed so that they exited the roof, and half the houses had radon mitigation fans installed in the piping. Houses were monitored continuously with the pipes sealed, then with the pipes open but no fans operating, and finally with the fans (if installed) operating. The results show significant radon mitigation effect by the passive stack systems in most houses. Failures of the passive stack systems appear to be due to basement depressurization by heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) duct leakage, poor installation of subslab piping, and poor communication between multilevel slabs.
- Research Organization:
- Infiltec, Falls Church, VA (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6720809
- Report Number(s):
- PB-90-221953/XAB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
HOUSES
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
RADON
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
HVAC SYSTEMS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
LEAKS
MITIGATION
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
VENTILATION
AC SYSTEMS
AIR POLLUTION
BUILDINGS
CONTROL
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FLUIDS
GASES
MASS TRANSFER
MONITORING
NONMETALS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION CONTROL
POWER SYSTEMS
RARE GASES
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
540130* - Environment
Atmospheric- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)