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Reduction of Radon Levels in Schools and Other
Large Buildings
Jeffrey Havelin, P.E.
Overview
Radon
is a naturally occurring
radioactive
gas in ambient air. It can also accumulate in varying amounts in enclosed
buildings. Radon is estimated to cause many thousands of lung cancer deaths each
year. In fact, the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading
cause of lung cancer in the
U.S.
today.
Our
increased understanding of the risks posed by indoor radon has underscored the
need for construction techniques that prevent exposure to radon in residential
and non-residential buildings. The Indoor Radon Abatement Act of 1988 states,
"The national long-term goal of the United States with respect to radon levels
in buildings is that the air within buildings should be as free of radon as the
ambient air outside the building.” This course is intended to address this
goal in the new construction of schools and other large buildings.
The student must take a multiple-choice quiz consisting of twenty-five (25) questions
at the end of the course to obtain PDH credits.
Specific Knowledge or Skill Attained
The
following three radon prevention techniques are recommended for construction of
schools and other large buildings in radon-prone areas; (1) install an active
soil depressurization (ASD) system, (2) pressurize the building using the
heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, and (3) seal major
radon entry routes.
Specific guidelines on how to incorporate these radon prevention features in the
design and construction of schools and other large buildings are detailed in
this course.
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Review of Passive Soil Depressurization (PSD) systems
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Review of Active Soil Depressurization (ASD) systems
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Review of Sub-membrane Depressurization (SMD) systems
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Review of (PFE) measurement of the sub-slab pressure field or sub-slab
communication.
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Review Pressure-driven transport of radon gas
Course
Click on the following PDF
attachment and review
Radon Prevention in the Design and Construction of Schools and Other Large
Buildings
Third Printing with Addendum, June 1994 EPAl625/R-921016
prior to taking a quiz for credit. You will be quizzed on the attached document
on its entirety.
Radon Prevention in the Design and Construction of Schools and Other Large
Buildings (4 MB)
Having Trouble Downloading the PDF File?
Right click on the link. Select "Save Target As..."
Then save on your desktop. To view the file, double click the icon on your
desktop and return to this page to take the quiz.
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Click on the link below to download a free copy of Acrobat Reader.
To obtain PDH credits for this course, you will need to take a quiz for
credit. Click on the link below.
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