26 Energy Savings Plus Health | INDOOR AIR QUALITY GUIDELINES FOR MULTIFAMILY BUILDING UPGRADES
PRIORITY ISSUE 5.0 RADON
ASSESSMENT PROTOCOLS (AP) MINIMUM ACTIONS (MA) EXPANDED ACTIONS (EA)
Note:
Testing on every floor is necessary
to (1) assess whether radon from a
ground-contact source is travelling up-
wards through the building via a chase,
shaft or other pathway; and (2) assess
whether there are building materials
that emit radon. In higher floors where
only one dwelling unit is tested, it can
be useful to test a dwelling unit adja-
cent to potential radon pathways such
as a stairwell or elevator shaft.
If radon levels increase from less than
4 pCi/L to 4 pCi/L or higher, complete
radon mitigation consistent with AARST
Radon Mitigation Standards for Mul-
tifamily Buildings, RMS-MF 2014.
Long-term (90-day) samples should be
used to confirm post-upgrade results.
Follow the same mitigation approach if
no pre-work levels were taken and the
post-work radon level is ≥ 4 pCi/L.
MA 5.3 Notify the Building Owner/Prop-
erty Manager About Radon-Reduction
Measures
Notify the building owner and/or prop-
erty manager about the test results and
radon-reduction measures that were
implemented. Inform the building owner
and/or property manager that the radon
testing protocols were completed to en-
sure that the building upgrade work did
not introduce indoor radon problems,
but the protocols did not necessarily
mitigate a prior radon problem in the
building. Advise the building owner and/
or property manager to perform periodic
retesting in areas of the building that
have been mitigated for radon. Encour-
age the building owner and/or property
manager to provide occupants with
information about radon testing results
and mitigation/ risk-reduction measures.
Owners should consult EPA's A Citizen's
Guide to Radon for more information
about radon risk and mitigation strate-
gies.
