Radon Standards of Practice

 

Standards and protocols for conducting radon measurement and mitigation activities have been available since the early 1990s, and were developed in several ways:  first, by EPA with radon industry input; second, under the ASTM standards development process; and third, by the ANSI-recognized American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (AARST) Consortium on National Radon Standards.

One or more of these standards have been recognized or adopted in several ways:  first, by various states with radon licensing or certification requirements; second, by EPA; and third, by national radon proficiency programs, of which there are two, the AARST-National Radon Proficiency Program (AARST-NRPP), and the National Radon Safety Board (NRSB).

Radon measurement and mitigation professionals should identify which standard and/or protocol they are following or comply with, usually determined by the state certification program or national certification program they participate in. 

Here are the currently available standards, listed from most recently produced to older standards.

Mitigation

Single Family

*American Society for Testing and Materials International, or ASTMI; an American National Standards Institute, or ANSI, approved consensus standard.


Note: As of May 2006, EPA's Radon Mitigation Standards (EPA 402-R-93-078, Revised April 1994) are no longer recommended or available.

  • EPA
  • Radon Reduction Techniques for Existing Detached Houses: Technical Guidance (Third Edition) for Active Soil Depressurization Systems

This technical guidance document has been prepared to serve as a comprehensive aid in the detailed selection, design, installation, and operation of indoor radon reduction measures for existing houses based on active soil depressurization techniques. It is intended for use by radon mitigation contractors, building contractors, concerned homeowners, state and local officials and other interested persons. Office of Research and Development

Download a copy of the document from NSCEP (TXT, 334 pp)| EPA 625/R-93-011, October 1993

                                                                                                                                                                                              

Multifamily

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Large Buildings/Schools

Measurement

Single Family

  • AARST-NRPP
  • EPA
    • Protocols for Radon and Radon Decay Product Measurements in Homes
      This document presents the U.S. EPA's technical guidance for measuring radon concentrations in residences. It contains protocols for measuring radon for the purpose of deciding on the need for remedial action, as presented in the 1992 A Citizen's Guide to Radon, and in the Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon.

      PDF Version (47 pp, 674 K, About PDF) | EPA 402-R-92-003, May 1993* this is a corrected document number
       

    • Indoor Radon and Radon Decay Product Measurement Device Protocols
      This document provides information, recommendations, and technological guidance for anyone providing measurement services using 15 radon and radon decay product measurement methods. These protocols provide method-specific technological guidance that can be used as the basis for standard operating procedures.

      HTML Version | EPA 402-R-92-004, July 1992

 

                                                                                                                                                                                      

Multifamily

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                       

Large Buildings/Schools

  • AARST-NRPP
  • EPA
    • Radon Measurement in Schools (Revised Edition - Second Printing)
      This report was prepared to provide school administrators and facilities managers with instructions on how to test for the presence of radon. The findings from EPA's comprehensive studies of radon measurements in schools were incorporated into these recommendations. This report superseded Radon Measurements in Schools - An Interim Report.

      PDF Version (51 pp, 1.3 M) This document is only available on-line

RRNC

  • AARST-NRPP
    • Reducing Radon in New Construction of 1 & 2 Family Dwellings and Townhouses (CCAH-2020)
      ANSI/AARST has released "RRNC 2.0 Reducing Radon in New Construction of 1 & 2 Family Dwellings and Townhouses" to control for radon in the construction of new residential homes

 

Copies of ANSI-AARST CCAH-2020 may be purchased from the Association of Radon Scientist and Technologists or from the American National Standards Institute.

Or view online (only) for free from the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists website.
 

 

  • ASTM
    • Standard Practice for Radon Control Options for the Design and Construction of New Low-Rise Residential Buildings*
      This standard is to control for radon in new residential construction.
      Copies of ASTM E1465-08a may be purchased at the ASTM Bookstore.

      *ASTM E1465-08a; January, 2009.

 

  • EPA

    • Radon Prevention in the Design and Construction of Schools and Other Large Buildings.
      It is typically easier and much less expensive to design and construct a new building with radon-resistant and/or easy-to-mitigate features, than to add these features after the building is completed and occupied.

      Download a copy of the document from NSCEP | EPA 625-R-92-016, June 1994