Radon is an invisible gas that’s naturally released during the decay of uranium in rocks, soil, water, and building materials. It is found in almost all types of soils. The concentrations found outdoors are lower on average. Radon Gas becomes most dangerous when it works itself into buildings through cracks and holes in the foundation while also permeating through the foundation floor.
Contrary to popular belief, radon gas is found everywhere in the US, but indoor radon levels vary between buildings (even when next to each other). Radon gas can also contaminate building water sources. Exposure to elevated radon levels is reported to be the second leading cause of lung cancer deaths in the US after cigarette smoke.
Luckily, you can take steps to mitigate and control the levels of radon gas in your business. But first, you need to call a radon professional to test and ensure the radon concentration is below EPA recommended levels.
Why Should Businesses Care?
Elevated levels of radon are often seen as a problem for homeowners since its dangers compound when vulnerable people are exposed to high levels daily for a long time.
However, businesses and commercial buildings in Virginia are responsible for testing, reducing, and controlling radon levels to protect the building occupants
Businesses and buildings that deal with the elderly and children and that are subject to the rules are:
- Daycares
- School buildings
- Assisted living facilities
- Foster homes and residential care facilities for kids
- Memory care for the elderly
- Long-term care facilities
- Churches
- Multi-Family Living Buildings
Radon Requirements for Businesses
Requirements for testing and mitigation of radon in commercial buildings vary from state to state but generally, the requirement is testing, reducing, and maintaining radon levels below 4 picocuries per liter. To meet these mitigation requirements, professional assistance from Radon Defense is needed.
According to the EPA, the mitigation professional hired should be qualified, meaning they should have relevant technical skills and knowledge of mitigating businesses. They should also be certified by the National Radon Safety Board (NRSB) or the National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP) – a requirement that Radon Defense professionals meet.
Testing
Radon Defense will run radon tests devoid of conditions that may spike the radon gas level results with the use of reliable methods, such as passive devices like E-PERMs (Electret Ion Chambers).
They’ll place these devices in your building for some time (between 48 and 96 hours), after which they retrieve the devices, analyze the results in the office to save time from mailing equipment to a radon laboratory, and generate a lengthy report with measurement results and recommendations of mitigation action if needed.
Remediation Design
When testing shows the radon gas is above the EPA action level, a remediation plan is designed. The design plan can vary dependent on the building style and size, but most commonly, sub-slab depressurization systems are used in Virginia Commercial Buildings.
The solution implemented largely depends on the unique conditions of your building.
Remediation
With remediation recommendations, Radon Defense can implement it within your schedule.
Note: pre-construction remediation is cheaper than in an existing building. As such, we recommend implementing a mitigation strategy as a part of the build plans. These mitigation strategies can be designed as passive mitigation systems that can then be activated once the building has finished construction and tested prior to occupancy.
Hire a Reliable and Professional Radon Tester and Mitigator
If you are looking for a reliable radon expert to test radon levels, design a mitigation plan and implement it, Radon Defense in Virginia is your best bet.
Our professionals are NRPP and ARRST certified and use high-tech testing equipment to reduce the turnaround time without affecting efficiency. After testing and mitigation, our team actively monitors your business to ensure the elevated radon gas level problem is permanently fixed.
Finally, we write radon reports according to industry standards to ensure business compliance. If you have any questions about our process reach, contact us at 703-688-3797