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Lesson 6

Lesson 6. What are the testing strategies for radon?. EPA goals. Are timely Are simple Are cost effective Protect human health Especially against lung cancer. Help people make decisions about radon reduction that. Helps property owners decide whether to mitigate.

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Lesson 6

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  1. Lesson 6 What are the testing strategies for radon?

  2. EPA goals • Are timely • Are simple • Are cost effective • Protect human health • Especially against lung cancer Help people make decisions about radon reduction that

  3. Helps property owners decide whether to mitigate May be part of price negotiations in real estate transactions Importance of reliable measurement Follow EPA protocols for reliable measurement What should I do to protect my family? If the mitigation system on our new home will cost $1500, will the seller reduce the asking price?

  4. Short-term test 91-365 days Provides more information about a home’s year-round average radon level ReviewLength of test Long-term test 2-90 days • Measures radon levels during brief test period • Often used in real estate transactions • Devices include • Charcoal canisters • Charcoal liquid scintillation detectors • Electret ion chamber devices (short-term E-PERMs) • Continuous monitors • Devices include • Alpha track devices • Electret ion chamber devices (long-term E-PERMs)

  5. Length of test • Both types of test can provide accurate results • Both types of test usually lead to same decisions about mitigation

  6. General testing process(not related to sale of a home)

  7. General testing strategies

  8. General testing • Advise the owner to test again in the future, especially if • An unused lower level becomes used as a living space • Structural changes are made • Changes in the HVAC system are made

  9. General testing

  10. General testing

  11. General testing

  12. Example • Step 1: Conduct a short-term test • Step 2: Determine follow-up strategy • Test 1 = 5.4 pCi/L • Advise follow-up test • Since result is under 10 pCi/L, either short-term or long-term test OK • Step 3: Conduct follow-up test (short-term) • Step 4: Examine results • Test 2 = 3.8 pCi/L • Average = 4.6 pCi/L • Recommend mitigation What do you advise? You are testing for Jeri, who has no plans to sell her Simsbury home What do you advise?

  13. Example • What if Jeri had requested a long-term test as follow-up? • Test 2 = 4.0 pCi/L • What do you advise? • Recommend mitigation You are testing for Jeri, who has no plans to sell her Simsbury home

  14. General testing strategiesSummary

  15. Questions? • About strategies for tests that are not associated with real estate transactions

  16. Testing associated with home sales Why are there potential problems? • Time pressure • Accidental violation of test conditions • Possibility of tampering

  17. Testing associated with home sales Short-term options usually preferred because of time factor • Passive tests • Two simultaneous tests (two tests at the same time in the same place) • Two sequential tests (one test right after another in the same place) • Active test • One continuous monitor Handout 6-2 summarizes this information

  18. Real estate option 1Two simultaneous tests • Use two identical devices and methods • Test in same location • Place two devices 4 inches apart • Run tests for at least 48 hours • Return devices to lab promptly Conduct two short-term tests at the same time

  19. Simultaneous test results Expect some variation between any two results

  20. Simultaneous test resultsSpecial situation

  21. Simultaneous test resultsSpecial situation See handout 6-3

  22. Simultaneous test resultsSpecial situation example

  23. Simultaneous test resultsSpecial situation example

  24. Simultaneous test resultsSummary Expect some difference between the two results

  25. Real estate option 2Two sequential tests First test • Run the first test for at least 48 hours • Return the device to the lab promptly • Immediately after the first test is finished, run a follow-up test Conduct one short-term test after another

  26. Real estate option 2Two sequential tests Follow-up test • Begin immediately after first test • Use identical device and method • Use same units (pCi/L or WL) • Place device in same location • Run follow-up test for same period as first test • Up to 2 hours difference allowed • Run for at least 48 hours • Return device to lab promptly

  27. Sequential testsVariation in results Expect some variation between any two results • Radon levels vary from day to day • Moderate variation is acceptable • If variation is large, consider possible causes • Weather • Air pressure • Season • Accidental disturbance of device • Opening of doors or windows • Tampering • Lab error Moderate variation Large variation

  28. Sequential testsReporting results What to report • Report both results • Use average of two test results to determine need for mitigation When to report • Aftersecond test to discourage tampering • Especially if first test result is 4 pCi/L or more

  29. Activity Hector, an inexperienced inspector, ran two sequential short-term tests in a home for sale in Columbia See scenario in handout 6-4 • What did Hector do wrong? • Revise the scenario so that Hector conducts the tests properly • Consider factors that might explain differences in test results

  30. Questions? • About simultaneous tests in real estate transactions? • About sequential tests in real estate transactions?

  31. Real estate option 3One continuous test • Use any NEHA- or NRSB-listed continuous monitor or working-level monitor • Use monitor that integrates and records at least every hour

  32. Real estate option 3One continuous test Run test for at least 48 hours • Requires about 4 hours for conditions to stabilize • Discard data from these 4 hours or correct them • Must have at least 44 continuous (uninterrupted) hours of data for valid average • If you remove any data within that period (for example, if severe weather occurs), results will not be valid

  33. Real estate option 3One continuous test

  34. Questions? • About continuous testing?

  35. Testing period Short-term (2-90 days) Long-term (91-365 days) Both provide accurate results Testing strategies General testing Testing associated with real estate transactions Summary

  36. SummaryGeneral testing steps • Conduct short-term test • Determine what follow-up strategy is needed, depending on first result • 0 to under 4 pCi/L • 4 to under 10 pCi/L • 10 pCi/L or above • Conduct any required follow-up • Examine results to determine what to advise homeowner • When result is under 4 pCi/L, advise future follow-up, especially if major changes are made • When final result is 4 pCi/L or more, advise mitigation

  37. SummaryReal estate options • Two simultaneous tests using passive devices • Two sequential tests using passive devices • One continuous test

  38. Questions?

  39. Check your understanding • See handout 6-5

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