Radon Mitigation using Ventilation Assessment Tool

1. Radon Mitigation using Ventilation Assessment Tool Group 9 William Allred Joshua Chastain Daniel Diaz Ryan Nester

2. Introduction • Naturally occurring radioactive gas • Colorless, tasteless, odorless • Found all over the World • Kills over 20,000 people each year (EPA) Group 9 – Department of Health

3. Introduction – What is the Problem? • High rise residential buildings also have Radon problems • Limited on mitigation techniques • Ventilation applicable to dilute Radon • Need methods to estimate airflow for dilution Group 9 – Department of Health

4. Project Scope • Develop a spreadsheet tool to evaluate the parameters necessary for successful mitigation of a single unit within a multi-family structure using ventilation techniques. • Current radon level • Target radon level • Characteristics of unit • Volume of unit • Natural leakage to outside • Ventilation rate required to reach target Group 9 – Department of Health

5. The Design Concept Group 9 – Department of Health Group 9 – Department of Health Group 9 – Department of Health

6. Design Concept – How it Works • Equations / Theories • Where: • ELA = Equivalent Leakage Area • As = Floor Area • W = Weather Factor • V = Volume of unit • ACH = Estimated Annual Infiltration Rate • Co = Initial Concentration of Radon • G = Generation rate of Radon Group 9 – Department of Health

7. Contaminant Equations Dilution Equation - Mass of Radon in zone i after a given time - Initial mass of Radon in zone i - Mass flow rate of Radon into zone i - Generation rate of Radon in zone i - Mass flow rate of Radon out of zone i Group 9 – Department of Health Group 9 – Department of Health

8. Spreadsheet Demonstration Group 9 – Department of Health

9. On-site Testing – Miami, FL • Blower Door Fan Tests • Leakages found from Pressurization and Depressurization tests • Smoke Sticks for airflow direction • Unexpected leakage sources Group 9 – Department of Health

10. Spreadsheet Results – Loft 2 Group 9 – Department of Health

11. Spreadsheet Results – Park Place by the Bay Group 9 – Department of Health

12. Spreadsheet Results – Key Biscayne Group 9 – Department of Health

13. Cost Analysis Group 9 – Department of Health

14. Conclusion • Accuracy depends on construction methods • Other sources of error include unknown leakage values, data libraries, and blower door extrapolations • Spreadsheet gives a reasonable approximation of airflow required for mitigation • Serves as a foundation for future development in high-rise residential Radon mitigation Group 9 – Department of Health

15. Future Improvements • Test wide variety of units • Test after mitigation • Implement correction factor • More weather data • Consider indoor leakages • More libraries Group 9 – Department of Health

16. Acknowledgment • Special thanks to • Florida Department of Health • Clark Eldredge • Jorge Laguna • FAMU Institute of Building Sciences Director • Thomas Pugh • Faculty Advisor • Juan Ordoñez • Homeowners • Garmin Ranck • Daniel Montesinos • Nicholas Landera Group 9 – Department of Health

17. References • Design of Fluid Thermal Systems William S. Janna • NIST Multizone Modeling Website (CONTAM) http://www.bfrl.nist.gov/IAQanalysis/index.htm • Minneapolis Blower Door Operations Manual The Energy Conservatory • Walton, George. “CONTAM 2.4 User Guide and Program Documentation.” http://www.bfrl.nist.gov/IAQanalysis/docs/NISTIR_7251c.pdf Group 9 – Department of Health