A Brief Explanation of Radon
Radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas, is produced when uranium in soil and rock decays. However, it is not a gas that is easily detectable, due to the fact it is odourless, invisible and tasteless. Due to this, testing is essential.
Radon infiltrates homes by seeping up from the ground, through cracks, pipes and gaps/open spaces in foundations. And every building will contain radon gas – that’s a given. But to find out how much radon gas is in your home, and whether it is a dangerous amount, professional testing is necessary.
The Dangers of Radon
Exposure to radon gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer. According to the UK Health Security Agency, radon is responsible for over 1000 lung cancer deaths, per year, in the UK. Prolonged exposure to high radon levels will significantly increase the risk of lung cancer, and for smokers or ex-smokers, that risk is even higher.
The danger of radon isn’t immediate, but the effects will build up over time. Therefore the sooner you test your home and take any necessary action, the better.
Is My Home Affected?
There is no way of telling whether your home is affected by radon gas until you test it, as each household is different. The true level of radon risk in any particular property depends on local geology, soil type and building characteristics such as floor construction and ventilation.
The Interactive Map on the ukradon.org website is a helpful tool that shows radon “hotspot” areas across the entire UK where risk is the highest and allows you to drill down by postcode to see the predicted risk category at your location based on the UKHSA’s historical database of real measurements going back many years. That being said, the only way to know for sure if your property is safe or not is to perform radon measurement using passive or real-time sensors.
Radon Measurement
There are two approaches to test for and measure radon. One using passive sensors and the other using professional-grade real-time sensors. There are pros and cons with each approach. Most radon measurement is performed using passive sensors and the UKHSA service records the official results on the national radon database. Real-time measurements provide quicker results and can provide greater clarity of data such as fluctuation ranges rather than a single long term average which might show safe levels but will hide any periods when levels are not safe. We believe for a property to be safe in the context of radon, it must be safe with every breath taken by the occupants and not just on a long term average basis. At Better Indoors, we make testing simple for either approach:
1. Passive radon measurement
We offer a total Passive Radon Measurement service, or you can do it yourself following the steps below:
Pros
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Lower cost -
Results become part of official UKHSA records on national radon database
Cons
2. Real-time measurement
We offer a total Real-Time Radon Measurement service subject to quotation that follows the below steps:
Pros
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Fast, same-day results
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Cannot be manipulated. Surveyor controls test locations and environment during testing
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Greater granularity of data. Shows range fluctuations. Our predictor is usually within 5-10% of 3-month passive test results if as passive test is performed afterwards
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Report contains property specific mitigation recommendations where appropriate
Cons
How We Solve It
If the results show high radon gas levels within your home (over 200 Bq/m³), we will advise you of the effective, long-lasting mitigation solutions that are available to you.
Typically, our process involves:
Radon Mitigation Design, Specification and Installation
We require floorplans (including foundation cross section if possible), a property description and your radon test report or screenshots from your electronic detector. Better Indoors is one of the only UK companies capable of specifying remotely or we can visit the property anywhere in the UK at cost. Afterwards we will provide a specification and installation quotation.
There are two main retrofit mitigation methods that Better Indoors implement:
Positive Pressure Ventilation (PIV/Whole-Building Ventilation):
Positive input ventilation (PIV) is the only whole building ventilation strategy designed for retrofitting. PIV is highly effective at reducing radon ingress by delivering fresh, filtered air and creating a very gentle positive air pressure throughout and reducing indoor radon concentrations through scaled-up and continuous dilution/displacement/replacement ventilation performance. It is essential PIV is properly specified and installed in order to achieve the desired outcomes. Unfortunately poor performance is all too common in this industry mainly due to contractor ignorance and inexperience. Better Indoors have designed and installed over 10,000 PIV systems across the UK, which have achieved proven results and long-term reliability.
Loft Mounted Positive Pressure System with integrated Photohyodroionisation technology
Wall Mounted Positive Pressure System - Government House Jersey
Sump Extraction Systems
For properties with suspended floors or voids or where sump voids can be created and are suitable, we install extraction systems that draw radon gas directly from beneath the building before it can enter. In many cases, the most effective solution combines both sump extraction and positive pressure ventilation.
The main purpose of sump extraction is to evacuate as much radon as possible from these spaces before it can ingress into the property above.
It should be noted radon sump extraction tends to be the default choice for most inexperienced contractors and is usually the main recommendation from UKHSA. In our experience sump extraction alone is not always the best mitigation. We can advise on the most suitable mitigation strategy for your home or office.
Radon sump at a domestic property in Derbyshire
Radon sump at a domestic property in Devon
Why Choose Better Indoors?
There are many reasons to choose Better Indoors to help keep your home safe:
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We are a member of Radon Council, UK Radon Association and Property Care Association. -
Our expert radon services are award winning (H&V News Awards Building a Safer Future Award 2024)
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We have over a decade of experience designing and installing radon mitigation systems nationwide, and a proven track record in high-radon regions (Devon/Cornwall, the Channel Islands, the South West and South Wales, Brighton, Oxon, Bucks, Northants, the Midlands, Derbyshire and the Dales, Lincs, North and South Yorkshire and Scotland)
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We offer remote design & consultation available for any UK location
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We provide dedicated aftercare and post-installation radon gas testing
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