Energy Savings Plus Health | INDOOR AIR QUALITY GUIDELINES FOR MULTIFAMILY BUILDING UPGRADES 25
PRIORITY ISSUE 5.0 RADON
ASSESSMENT PROTOCOLS (AP) MINIMUM ACTIONS (MA) EXPANDED ACTIONS (EA)
AP 5.1 Select a Radon-Testing Profes-
sional
Qualified measurement professionals
are individuals who have demonstrat-
ed a minimum degree of appropriate
technical knowledge and skills specif-
ic to radon testing in large buildings
(1) as required by a state licensing or
certification program, as applicable,
or (2) as established in certification
requirements of the National Radon Pro-
ficiency Program or the National Radon
Safety Board.
Those who wish to perform their own
radon testing may learn more about ob-
taining a radon test kit at EPA's Where
Can I Get a Radon Test Kit? website.
AP 5.2 Test Either (1) Both Pre- and
Post-Upgrade Work or (2) Only Post-Up-
grade Work
Follow sampling guidance in American
Association of Radon Scientists & Tech-
nologists (AARST) Protocol for Conduct-
ing Radon and Radon Decay Product
Measurements in Multifamily Buildings,
MAMF-2012, summarized below.
• Sample all dwelling units in contact
with the ground.
• Sample all common areas and office
spaces in contact with the ground.
• Sample nonresidential rooms or
areas (e.g., utility rooms, storage
rooms, and maintenance rooms) in
contact with the ground that:
o Can be occupied with little or no
modification.
o Are occupied more than 4 hours
a day.
o Have air communication with
areas that can be occupied (e.g.,
via pathways such as stairwells,
air-handling equipment, elevator
shafts).
• Sample 10% of dwelling units on
each higher floor or, if 10% is less
than one unit, sample at least one
dwelling unit on each higher floor.
MA 5.1 Take Precautionary Measures
Before Completing Energy Efficiency
Upgrade Activities
Before completing upgrade activities,
take precautionary measures listed
in the first column of Table 2: Radon
Testing Options and Reduction Strate-
gies, depending on pre-work radon test
results.
MA 5.2 Follow Minimum Actions in
Table 2 According To Post-Work Radon
Test Results
After work is complete, follow the
appropriate Minimum Actions outlined
in Table 2: Radon Testing Options and
Reduction Strategies, depending on
post-work radon test results. If more
than one sample was taken in a dwelling
unit or nonresidential room, average the
results for that specific location. Do not
average results across dwelling units or
building levels.
When the pre-work radon level is > 2
pCi/L, complete precautionary founda-
tion air sealing strategies:
• Cover exposed earthen floors in
basements and crawlspaces accord-
ing to Section 1.2 of EPA's Indoor
airPLUS Construction Specifica-
tions.
• Air seal sumps (e.g., install an
airtight sump cover) in such a way
that water can drain from above and
below the sump cover.
• Install airtight drain fittings (e.g.,
trap or flange system) in foundation
floor drains.
• Seal and caulk penetrations, open-
ings or cracks in below-grade walls
and floors that contact the ground
with a sealant that meets the re-
quirements of ASTM C920-14a.
Note:
These foundation air sealing strategies
also are important elements of radon
mitigation according to AARST Radon
Mitigation Standards for Multifamily
Buildings, RMS-MF 2014.
EA 5.1 Follow Expanded Actions Listed
in Table 2 According To Post-Work Ra-
don Test Results
See Table 2: Radon Testing Options
and Reduction Strategies for Expanded
Actions to reduce radon exposure.
• Mitigate according to AARST Radon
Mitigation Standards for Multifamily
Buildings, RMS-MF 2014.
• If the post-work radon level is
between 2 and 4 pCi/L, the building
owner and/or property manager may
refer to EPA's Citizen's Guide to
Radon.
