14 South West Building & Construction
May 2012 RADON GAS Protective measures Article from Complete Building Control
RADON is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas which is colourless and odourless. Long- term exposure to high levels of radon increases the risk of lung cancer. Areas such as the West Country have high levels of
radon and protective measures are required to prevent concentrations of the gas within buildings.
Radon is now recognised to be the second largest cause of lung cancer in the UK after smoking. Lung cancer is also the biggest cause of cancer-related death in
the UK and only five per cent of all lung cancers are curable. Breathing in radon results in up to 2,000 fatal cancers per year. To reduce this risk, all new
buildings, extensions and conversions, whether residential or non-domestic, built in affected areas are required to incorporate precautions against the ingress of the gas.
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Requirement C1(2) of the Building Regulations 2010 has been implemented to protect the health and safety of building users which may be affected by: *Solid and liquid contaminants
*Radon, methane and other gases from the ground.
Radon hazards are simple and cheap to measure and relatively easy to address if levels are high. Guidance on occurrence and practical protective measures in dwellings, such as radon-resistant membranes and sumps are given in BRE Report BR211 - Radon: Protective measures for new dwellings.
Protection is categorised in
two levels, basic and full protection and the choice of level is determined by the location and expected radon levels.
Basic protection consists of an enhanced damp-proofing system which is continuous across any cavity wall.
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The service includes advice in the design stage,detailed examination of construction plans inspection of building work to ensure compliance with the Building Act 1984 and the Building Regulations 2010. We also give guidance and assistance on
SAP's, SBEM's, EPC's. Sound and air pressure testing, Ventilation and fire safety . A service tailored to suit clients individual requirements.
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Full protection has the addition of a radon sump or ventilated void beneath the radon-proof barrier.
With regard to non-residential premises, the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999 set a national reference level for radon gas in workplaces, and under these regulations, the people responsible for a workplace are required to measure radon levels when directed.
Where the workplace measurements show radon levels below 400 Bq/m3, as is the case for the majority of employers, then the only further action required is to decide when the risk assessment will be reviewed. This figure of 400 Bq/m3 is comparable with the action level of 200 Bq/m3 for homes, taking into account that most people spend much more time in their home than at work. For occupied areas with levels
above 400 Bq/m3, the employer may need to immediately take steps to manage occupational exposures pending any decision they may take to reduce the radon levels by engineered means.
Radon protection is relatively easy and economically provided if included in the initial design, and the BRE produces several digests and good building guides to cover most projects including dwellings, conversions, workplaces and large buildings. If you require any assistance with your design, then your nearest Complete Building Control office will be only too glad to help you.
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