Timberwise were contacted by a concerned homeowner in Whitchurch regarding possibly high levels of radon gas in the family home. We were asked to test for the presence of radon gas to identify the becquerel level and from there implement a solution dependent on the extent of the radon gas exposure.
What is radon gas?
Radon gas is a radioactive gas that is present in all rocks, solids, concrete and bricks in the UK. Since radon gas is a naturally occurring product, its concentration is directly related to the geology underneath your home. As a result of it been formed naturally there are some parts of the UK that are more at risk of radon gas exposure than others.
Lowering radon gas levels
Following the results of a radon test Timberwise surveyed the property to pull together a solution to lower the amount of radon in the property. Our solution involved the fitting of sub floor vents to the front elevation of the property along with the installation of a radon pump to the rear. The purpose of the radon fan is to ‘suck’ air and radon gas from the front elevation, through the underside of the floor and the dispel the radon gas at roof level to disperse harmlessly into the atmosphere. The pictures below show the key parts of the installation. The picture to the left shows the radon fan and the picture on the right shows how the gas is dispersed. The unit also blends perfectly with the existing rain water goods on the property.
Sub floor vent to allow fresh air to be 'pulled' to the rear of the property
Radon gas map - find out if there is radon where you live
To assist homeowners in identifying if their property is in an area of potentially high radon gas concentration the Health Protection Agency (HPA) have conducted an in depth study of radon gas and identified the risk of radon exposure across the UK. This information about radon gas areas is available from the HPA in the form of a Radon Map. The radon gas map identifies the probability of your property having an issue with radon gas. Click here to view the Radon Gas map. For a more accurate identification of the radon levels in your home Timberwise recommend the use of a radon test kit. For further information about radon testing visit our dedicated radon test kit page where you can also purchase a radon test kit safely on-line.
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) have released new advice regarding the levels of radon gas in homes and public buildings.
In an effort to reduce radon gas levels the HPA has introduced a new Target Level. Until recently, the HPA recommended that only if the level of radon in a property was over 200becquerels per cubic meter (BQ/m3) did action need to be taken to reduce radon levels. Following a review of the latest advice on the risks from radon gas from the Internal Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) the HPA have now also launched a Target Level of 100 Bq/m3.
As there is now a much better understanding of the risks to health on people exposed to radon gas levels of 200 Bq/m3 and below the Target Level was introduced to increase the awareness of the dangers of radon gas and to encourage people to take remedial action to reduce the levels of radon in their properties. It is recommended that Action Levels and Target Levels apply also to public buildings (where the public spends more than 2000 hours / annum) and all schools.
The new HPA report also focuses on the common misconception that radon gas is only in certain parts of the country. The HPA now classifies areas as Lower, Intermediate or Higher risk radon areas. The definition of Higher risk areas been that there is at least a 10% chance of exceeding the radon Action Level. Homeowners in areas classed as Intermediate or Higher are actively encouraged to have radon gas testing carried out to determine the true radon risk they are exposed to.
Home owners with basements are now advised that their basements stand a high risk of containing higher than average radon gas levels regardless of where they are in the UK. A radon test should be carried out in the basement area to confirm the concentration of radon gas and where needed remedial action taken to lower the radon gas level. Remedial action can take different forms depending on the levels of radon found. Timberwise offer a range of remedial solutions to lower radon levels from radon sumps to positive pressure ventilation systems.
Radon Test Kits
Radon testing kits are available from Timberwise. We supply 90 day radon test kits that proven to give a more accurate reading than other radon test kits that can be done over a shorter time frame. Kits are available to buy on-line using our shop facility and cost £45 inc VAT and free delivery.
Summary of new HPA Radon Guidance
The putting in place of a new Target Level of 100 Bq/m3. All existing and new homes should be beneath this level
The new Target Level is also relevant to all schools and public buildings
The introduction of risk areas – Lower Risk, Intermediate Risk and Higher Risk
ALL basements are at risk of increased radon levels regardless of location in the UK
It is advisable to test for radon gas rather than rely solely on probability estimates
The full report from the HPA – HPA Advice on the LImitation of Human Exposure to Radon is available from the HPA
Did you know that you are exposed to Radon Gas everyday? Did you also know that your home could be harbouring this odorless killer and you could be blissfully unaware? Read on to find out to keep you and your family safe from the silent menace that is Radon Gas…..
In small quantities Radon Gas does not represent a major health risk. Only when Radon Gas is in areas of increased concentration can it cause a major issue to health. Radon Gas has been linked to lung cancer and in the UK only it is estimated that anything up to 2000 deaths per year are caused by exposure to Radon Gas. After smoking Radon Gas is the next largest cause of lung cancer in the UK!
Radon Gas is a radioactive gas that is present in all rocks, solids, concrete and bricks. Since Radon Gas is naturally occurring, its concentration is directly related to the geology underneath your home. As Radon Gas is formed naturally there are some parts of the UK that are more at risk of Radon Gas than others. To help people identify if their home is in an area of high Radon Gas concentration the Health Protection Agency (HPA) in the UK have conducted an in depth study of Radon Gas and identified the risk of Radon contamination across the UK. This information is readily available from the HPA in the form of a Radon Map. The Radon Gas map identifies the probability of your property having an issue with Radon Gas. Click here to view the Radon Gas map.
Other contributing factors to the amount of Radon Gas contamination in the home are the construction of the property and the ventilation of the property. In all likelihood even the though a property may be situated in an area of low risk where there appears to be low concentration of Radon Gas the property may still have Radon Gas problems if not ventilated properly. It is also possible for a property that is constructed well with good ventilation to be safe in a high risk area.
How do I find out if my home is safe from Radon Gas ?
Radon Gas cannot be detected by any human senses – it is a colourless and odourless gas so it is impossible to know the levels of Radon Gas without proper testing. Thankfully testing for Radon Gas is a simple process. The first step any home owner should take is to look at the HPA Radon Gas map to identify the level of Radon Gas risk in their area. Secondly, a Radon Test Kit should be purchased. These are available from Timberwise and can be safely purchased on-line in our Property Care Experts shop. The test we supply are 90 day test kits which provide an accurate measure of the amount of Radon Gas in the property. Click here to purchase a Radon Gas Test Kit.
What is the best way to lower Radon Gas levels in my home?
If Radon Gas is a problem within the property don’t panic! There are many ways to lower the Radon Gas level within the property from the introduction of improved ventilation in the form of positive pressure ventilation through to Radon Gas Fan Assisted Sump Systems. Timberwise are able to provide advice on which solution is best for you and your family.
For more detailed information on Radon Gas why not read our Radon Gas Article written by our Radon Gas Expert. For lowering Radon Gas levels in your home there is only one name you need to know – Timberwise! Radon specialists and experts in Radon Gas control.
When a family in Kent needed an effective way to lower Radon levels in their home Timberwise were called upon to provide an effective solution. Through our specialist Envirowise division we were able to recommend the most effective way of lowering the Radon gas levels in the property.
Ordinarily, it is always best to stop Radon entering a house. In some cases though this is not practical and other Radon reducing techniques have to be employed. The aim in both cases is to reduce indoor radon levels to significantly below the Action Level. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) recommends that Radon levels should be reduced in homes where the average is greater than 200 becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m3). The government has also endorsed this recommendation. The Action Level refers to the annual average concentration of Radon in a home.
There are five main ways to achieve a reduction in Radon levels in a property . Depending on the kind of property and the amount of Radon reduction that is required the following could be utilised to lower Radon levels:
A Install a Radon fan
B Improve ventilation under suspended timber floors
C Use positive ventilation in your house
D Seal cracks and gaps in solid concrete floors
E Change the way your house is ventilated
If you need to reduce your indoor Radon level by a large amount, and your house has a solid concrete floor a Radon fan is the perfect solution. This method can be very effective and is usually the best choice. In some cases it has been found to reduce indoor Radon levels by as much as 90 per cent. The short video below shows the fitting of a Radon fan for our client.
To install the Radon fan we used a wall mounted corer to initially drill through the wall below the damp proof course and into the substrate to form a sump. The sump is necessary as this is where ultimatley the Radon will be extracted from. A ‘sleeve’ then connects the Radon fan to the sump allowing extraction of Radon gas from beneath the property. The Radon is then vented to free air at roof height where the Radon is safely dispersed and diluted. For more information on Radon gas read our Radon advice leaflet.
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas released through the decay of uranium which is present to some degree in all soils and rock. The amount of radon gas released varies greatly depending on where you live in the UK and is more likely to be found in areas where the geology features concentrations of granite and limestone. To see if you live in an area where there is a high concentration of Radon Gas visit the Health Protection Agency website where there is a Radon Gas Map showing Radon levels throughout the UK. We all breathe in radon to some extent and it accounts for half of the radiation dosage each of us receives.
Envirowise offer professional radon protection and remedial services covering surveying, monitoring and detection through to the recommendation and installation of radon sumps and other ventilation devices that reduce the presence of the gas. To read the full Radon Gas advice article visit our Radon Gas web page.
For Further information on Radon Gas and the solutions available visit www.enviropropertycare.co.uk or call 0800 288 8661
In an effort to reduce 
