New methods of energy efficient radon mitigation

Health Phys. 1995 May;68(5):689-98. doi: 10.1097/00004032-199505000-00009.

Abstract

Two new radon mitigation techniques are introduced and their evaluation in a field study complemented by numerical model predictions is described. Based on numerical predictions, installation of a sub gravel membrane at the study site resulted in a factor of 2 reduction in indoor radon concentrations. Experimental data indicated that installation of "short-circuit" pipes extending between the subslab gravel and outdoors caused an additional factor of 2 decrease in the radon concentration. Consequently, the combination of these two passive radon mitigation features, called the membrane and short-circuit (MASC) technique, was associated with a factor of 4 reduction in indoor radon concentration. The energy-efficient active radon mitigation method, called efficient active subslab pressurization (EASP), required only 20% of the fan energy of conventional active subslab depressurization and reduced the indoor radon concentration by approximately a factor of 15, including the numerically-predicted impact of the sub-gravel membrane.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollution, Indoor / prevention & control*
  • Air Pollution, Radioactive / prevention & control*
  • Biophysical Phenomena
  • Biophysics
  • Diffusion
  • Housing
  • Humans
  • Methods
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Pressure
  • Radon / isolation & purification*
  • Research
  • Technology, Radiologic / instrumentation

Substances

  • Radon