Radon gastesting in Canada and the impact on the building code?

Question

Manitory radon testing in Canada what will the impact be on the building code

Answer 1

After the testing data is back, certain areas will be found to have high concentrations (those overlaying radioactive ore deposits) and certain construction techniques will be found be concentrate those vapors (houses with basementss and tight walls with low air infiltration rates).

Canadians tend to approach these things with a bit more reasoned response than those 48 states south of your border. I would expect some kind of tiered approach. Perhaps for loosely built, slab-on-grade houses in the plains provinces, there would be no additional requirements.

Miminum air exchange rates through a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) would help Radon and indoor air quality while recouping heat from the indoor air. So maybe that required for the next tier of risk.

At the most restrictive - for those houses in known risky areas - greater air exchnage rates, AND sub-slab vapor capture AND air stripper or diffusers to sparge the radon from incoming groundwater (a significant vector in some locations) would all be required. With follow-up testing to confirm successful remedial efforts.

Alternately, a simple standard of XX radon per liter of incoming water and YY radon concentration in indoor air could be specified. And it left to the builder and engineer and consultant to devise a plan to acheive it at each location.

Answer 2

I live in Northern Illinois and can tell you that we have the same problem. It is noted that 50% of all home in N. Illinois have a radon infiltration. As a result, ALL neew construction muct be remediated. That means a seal on the basement concrete and sump pit and a low pressure fan to vent any gas from the below the concrete to above the house, trather than let it concentrate. The cost is minimal at construction, a few hundred dollars.

After the fact remediation may be thousands. But better than cancer.