Nelson Radon
Reduction
Helping you make your home safer for your family
8712 N Wildlife Dr
Hopedale, Illinois 61747
Mon - Fri: 7:00 - 5:30
Call Today : (309) 241-8104
Our Services
Radon Mitigation for Schools and Commercial Buildings
Building a new school or commercial building using radon resistant construction greatly improves the ability to maintain a low radon level after construction. Most architectural firms don’t have licensed radon mitigation professionals that can oversee the radon system installation. Nelson Radon personnel can work with your architect and have a radon specialist on site to insure the radon system is installed properly and code compliant.
Even though thousands of homes in Illinois have been tested for radon, very few schools have been tested. IEMA’s Division of Nuclear Safety has begun a radon screening program for schools in Illinois. IEMA offers training to school staff to reduce the cost of screening and offers grants to assist with cost of Radon Testing in Schools. Radon Mitigation in Schools and Commercial Buildings is more complex than radon mitigation in homes and requires a IEMA-licensed mitigation professional licensed for schools and commercial buildings
Radon Mitigation and New Home Construction
Radon Resistant New Construction (RRNC) is required for all new home construction in Illinois after June 1, 2013. The “Radon Resistant Construction Act” specifies the a passive system shall be built into all new homes. This law has very specific requirements in order to meet the RRNC standards. For a full review of the law click the following link: Illinois 32 Admin. Code 422.160.
Some of the main requirements are:
1) A four inch rock layer of fill shall be installed below any floor that comes in contact with the soil. The rock will be 1/4 inch to 2 inch in size. Fill sand can be used if a geo-textile matting is used.
2) A gas retarder shall be placed between the rock layer and the concrete slab. The retarder shall have a minimum thickness of 6 mil or 3 mil cross laminated with all seams overlapped at least 12 inches.
3) Radon entry points shall be sealed. These include bathtub drains, concrete control joints, sump pits using a gasket type lid and any open blocks need to be sealed.
4) Below grade foundations exterior surface needs to be damp proofed.
5) Air handling units shall be sealed to prevent air from being drawn into the air handler.
6) Crawl spaces shall be vented, 6 mil membrane shall be installed, sealed and fastened to the walls, and vent piping will need to be installed under the membrane with a 3 inch plumbing tee to connect to the piping system.
7) Vent piping shall be extended from below the crawlspace membrane through the home and extend at least 12 inches above the roof line.
8) 3 or 4 inch vertical piping is required to be through the basement floor attached to a plumbing tee with at least 5 feet of perforated piping attached to the tee.
9) The piping system shall extend through the house and extend a minimum of 12 inches through the roof.
10) Radon piping system shall be installed so the piping system can be accessed to install a radon fan.
11) Visible piping shall be label “Radon Reduction System”.
12) An electrical circuit shall be installed to an electrical outlet box located in the expected radon fan area.
13) A water tight seal shall be made where the radon piping exits the roof.
14) Lead flashing is prohibited due to the radon/lead reaction that corrodes the flashing. Caps are prohibited because they slow air flow and can frost shut in cold weather.
Radon and Day Care Centers
On January 1, 2013 the requirement for all Day Care Centers to test for radon took effect. On January 1, 2014 the results of the tests are required to be posted. These new requirements will help parents evaluate the safety of there children. In home day care centers can have an IEMA-licensed testing professional test their home or test using a home test kit. Non-residential day care centers are required to use a IEMA-licensed professional for the testing.
Radon and Real Estate
On January 1, 2008 the law that requires radon disclosure went into effect. The law specifies that only IEMA-licensed testing professionals conduct any radon testing and an IEMA-licensed mitigation professional to correct any radon problems.
Radon and Schools Even though thousands of homes in Illinois have been tested for radon, very few schools have been tested. IEMA’s Division of Nuclear Safety has begun a radon screening program for schools in Illinois. IEMA offers training to school staff to reduce the cost of screening and offers grants to assist with cost of Radon Testing in Schools. Radon Mitigation in Schools and Commercial Buildings is more complex than radon mitigation in homes and requires a IEMA-licensed mitigation professional licensed for schools and commercial buildings.
Radon and Schools Even though thousands of homes in Illinois have been tested for radon, very few schools have been tested. IEMA’s Division of Nuclear Safety has begun a radon screening program for schools in Illinois. IEMA offers training to school staff to reduce the cost of screening and offers grants to assist with cost of Radon Testing in Schools. Radon Mitigation in Schools and Commercial Buildings is more complex than radon mitigation in homes and requires a IEMA-licensed mitigation professional licensed for schools and commercial buildings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Radon is a naturally occurring colorless, tasteless, odorless gas that is produced from the decay of Uranium and Radium.
In central Illinois most of the Radon gas is produced from rocks deposited from glaciers. When the glaciers moved over Canada, rocks with high amounts of Uranium where transported in the glaciers. When the glaciers melted those rocks became part of our soil structure
Radon gas breaks down very rapidly and produces radioactive particles. These radioactive particles can become trapped in the lungs and cause DNA damage which over a period of time can increase the chances of lung cancer. For more information about radon and lung cancer click the following link. (CanSar)
Radon gas enters through cracks in the floor, cracks in relief cuts, open earth areas like crawlspaces and open sump pits. The reason radon gas enters, through the cracks and open earth areas, is ground gas pressure is greater than the pressure inside of the home due to air being removed by: clothes driers, furnaces, central vac systems, range hoods and whole house fans. When the radon system installation is finished, radon levels will be dramatically reduced.
Radon testing in Illinois is the only way to determine if a home has high radon levels. A licensed radon measurement professional can test for these levels. For initial testing a home test kit can also be used.
In Illinois the state radon regulations requires a signed contract that includes the total cost of the radon system.
1) For most homes the cost of a radon system can range between $850 – $2,200 depending on the foundation type, the number of different types of foundations, and the design of the home.
2) For commercial buildings and schools the cost is based on the scope of the project.
For additional information about radon visit the following links:
[1] IEMA Division of Nuclear Saftey: http://www.radon.illinois.gov/
[2] Cancer Survivors against Radon: http://www.cansar.org/about/our-stories/
US EPA and Radon link: http://www.epa.gov/radon/
US EPA Radon Guide: http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html
USGS radon link: http://energy.cr.usgs.gov/radon/georadon.html
US GS radon geology link: http://energy.cr.usgs.gov/radon/georadon/3.html
[1] IEMA Division of Nuclear Saftey: http://www.radon.illinois.gov/
[2] Cancer Survivors against Radon: http://www.cansar.org/about/our-stories/
US EPA and Radon link: http://www.epa.gov/radon/
US EPA Radon Guide: http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html
USGS radon link: http://energy.cr.usgs.gov/radon/georadon.html
US GS radon geology link: http://energy.cr.usgs.gov/radon/georadon/3.html