What about when sub-slab depressurization doesn't work well

Technical Report · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:6760988

Pyle, B E; Williamson, A D; Osborne, M C

The paper discusses the mitigation of radon levels in basement houses when sub-slab depressurization (SSD), a widely used mitigation technique, is not a viable option. For example, in some houses the slab is poured directly on the soil, resulting in poor-to-nonexistent communication under the slab. To apply SSD requires elaborate plumbing and multiple suction holes in the slab. To develop viable alternatives, EPA has funded research to explore other radon mitigation options. Case studies include: basement pressurization with and without heat extraction, and filtration using charcoal. In the first, air from the upper portion of the house was forced into the basement, producing a pressure barrier at the slab/soil interface. In one house, heat was extracted from the upstairs using a heat pump to supply hot water for the occupants. In the second, a bed of charcoal was used to remove the radon gas. The charcoal bed was flushed with outdoor air to extract the radon before its complete decay to radon daughters.

• Research Organization: Southern Research Inst., Birmingham, AL (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6760988
• Report Number(s): PB-90-262882/XAB; CNN: EPA-R-814621-01-0
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
HOUSES
CONTAMINATION
RADON
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
BASEMENTS
CHARCOAL
DEPRESSURIZATION
FILTRATION
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
MITIGATION
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
SOILS
ADSORBENTS
AIR POLLUTION
BUILDINGS
CONTROL
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GASES
MONITORING
NONMETALS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION CONTROL
RARE GASES
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
540130* - Environment
Atmospheric- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)