Implementing a radon measurement programme in social housing National Radon Forum

1. Implementing a radon measurement programme in social housing • National Radon Forum • 19th November 2009 David Fenton Manager Radon Advice Section

2. What am I going to talk about? • Review our experience with Cork County Council in 2008 which fed into the Guide • Review RPII guidance on radon in social housing published this year. • Give some examples of how the RPII can support Local Authorities in their work on radon.

3. RPII Guidance to Local Authorities- Cork County Council • In July 2008 CCC completed radon measurements in 599 houses in north Cork. • Number requiring remediation : 121 (20%). Of these 26 (4%) were very high - that is above 800 Bq/m3

4. RPII Guidance to Local Authorities- Cork County Council • CCC, HSE and RPII collaborated to assess, fix and communicate the radon risk to householders. • What exactly was done?

5. Radon and Cork County Council –What was done? • Each tenant was notified of the radon results. (CCC) • A tailored radon fact sheet was developed and sent to each affected tenant. (CCC, RPII, HSE). this included information on the risks to health as well as contact points within in CCC, RPII and HSE where specific information was available

6. Radon and Cork County Council –What was done? • Elected members were notified of the readings. (CCC) • Local GPs were advised of results. (HSE) • Smoking cessation advice was issued – because of the snergy between smoking and radon. (HSE) • Public meetings were organised and local media were engaged. (CCC, RPII).

7. Radon and Cork County Council –What was done? • Priorities were decided regarding the houses warranting immediate remediation. (CCC, RPII) • All homes above the Reference Level were remediated (CCC, remediation contractor) • Remediated homes re-measured to confirm low radon concentrations (CCC and measurement company)

8. Radon and Cork County Council –What was done? • The above work was carried out in the northern division of CCC – which predominantly comprises areas known to be High Radon Areas • CCC decided to measure all it social housing through the county as it is the only way of confidently assessing the radon risk to individual tenants • This was completed during 2009 in some 2500 homes in the county

9. RPII Guidance on radon programmes in social housing • It was important to capture the knowledge and experience gained in working with CCC in 2008 to help other Local Authorities dealing with radon • For this reason RPII in consultation with CCC produced the Guidance notes • These were issued to all local authorities in July 2009 and published on RPII website www.rpii.ie.

10. RPII Guidance on radon measurements in social housing • What is radon • Building regulations • Developing a radon measurement programme • Radon measurement – who does it • The radon result and scheduling remediation • Communicating the result • Radon remediation and re-test

11. Developing a radon measurement programme • The aim of the programme should be to over time measure all homes. • Implementation team should be established • If high levels are found there is likely to be public or media interest – advise communications/media officer of Local Authority • Monitor progress of the programme to predict when results are available

12. The radon measurementswhere to start? • Homes built pre 1998 in High Radon Areas. • Begin measurements in a small number of homes in many estates? Or in all homes in a small number of estates? • The latter approach gives a much better picture of the risk in an area. Detector placement and retrieval may also be more economical. • However other local factors may suggest the former

13. The radon measurementswho can do it? • Measurements must be made in a bedroom and living room over a 3 month period, averaged seasonally adjusted. This result is compared to the Reference Level. (RPII protocol) • RPII lists companies on its website who offer a radon measurement service using approved radon detectors

14. Radon measurements local authorities • To measure radon in workplaces the detectors must be sourced from an approved service. (SI No 125 of 2000). • There are no equivalent rules for radon measurement in homes • Local Authorities are both employers and landlords so is there anything in particular they need to know?

15. Radon detectors approved and validated • Most radon detectors used in this country are either Irish, Swedish or from the UK • Sweden and Ireland requires radon measurement in workplaces to be done using detectors approved to ISO 17025. • UK do not have a legal requirement for detectors to be approved instead the UKHPA operate a validation scheme

16. What does this mean for radon measurements in Ireland? • Approved detectors can be used in homes or workplaces in Ireland • Validated detectors can be used in homes only • RPII is unaware of any difference in performance between validated or approved detectors • The RPII recommend that only detectors that are approved or validated be used to measure radon in homes.

17. The results and scheduling remediation • Prioritisation of remediation depends on how the result compares with the Reference Level of 200 Bq/m3. -Less than 200 Bq/m3 – no further action needed -Between 200 Bq/m3 and 800 Bq/m3 remediate as soon as practicable -Greater than 800 Bq/m3 immediate remediation is recommended

18. Communicating the results This is key to the successful delivery of the programme • Tenants - radon results • information on the risks to health • scheduling of remediation works • smoking cessation advice • Elected Members – summary of results - proposed follow up actions • Media - press release - Information sheet giving summary statistics of the programme

19. Communicating the results • Private householders • former tenants • others living locally • Maybe a need for public meetings or information sessions

20. Radon remediation • Remediation work is relatively straightforward • No need to vacate the house or re-house the tenants during remediation work • RPII can advise on the need for remediation but cannot advise of the choice of remediation solution. • DEHLG and private contractors

21. Are Local Authorities reacting to radon? • Budget cut backs have hit Local Authorities • Our message is that LA should continue with a measurement programme even if it is a scaled down programme ran over a longer period • Many LA are still doing work on radon

22. The work done by Cork County Council • The discovery of very high radon levels in homes north Cork was a very important outcome of the radon measurement efforts by CCC. • People were unknowingly living with dangerous levels of a cancer causing gas • By finding and reducing these very high radon levels lives will have been saved over the long term

23. Radon and other local authorities

24. Radon in Ireland • Radon will not go away and will continue to pose a risk in houses (Social and Private) • This risk must be managed and there is a need for continual local awareness

25. Radon and Local Authorities • The RPII is available to offer support to Local Authorities in their work on radon. This includes: • Presentations at local public meetings • Compilation and dissemination of local radon statistics (for example in private homes, schools etc.) • Radon information – pamphlets, brochures etc. • Support in media briefings etc.

26. What did I talk about? • Review our experience with Cork County Council in 2008 which fed into the Guide • Review RPII guidance on radon in social housing published this year. • Give some examples of how the RPII can support Local Authorities in their work on radon.

27. Thank you for your attention