1、Designation: E 2121 08Standard Practice forInstalling Radon Mitigation Systems in Existing Low-RiseResidential Buildings1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 2121; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or, in the case of revision, th
2、e year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. Asuperscript epsilon () indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1. Scope1.1 This practice describes methods for reducing radonentry into existing attached and detached residential buil
3、dingsthree stories or less in height. This practice is intended for useby trained, certified or licensed, or both, or otherwise qualifiedindividuals.1.2 These methods are based on radon mitigation techniquesthat have been effective in reducing radon levels in a widerange of residential buildings and
4、 soil conditions. These fanpowered mitigation methods are listed in Appendix X1. Moredetailed information is contained in references cited throughoutthis practice.1.3 This practice is intended to provide radon mitigationcontractors with a uniform set of practices that will ensure ahigh degree of saf
5、ety and the likelihood of success in retrofit-ting low rise residential buildings with radon mitigationsystems.1.4 The methods described in this practice apply to cur-rently occupied or formerly occupied residential buildings,including buildings converted or being converted to residentialuse, as wel
6、l as residential buildings changed or being changedby addition(s) or alteration(s), or both. The radon reductionactivities performed on new dwellings, while under construc-tion, before occupancy, and for up to one year after occupancy,are covered by Guide E 1465.1.5 This practice also is intended as
7、 a model set of practices,which can be adopted or modified by state and local jurisdic-tions, to fulfill objectives of their specific radon contractorcertification or licensure programs. Radon mitigation per-formed in accordance with this practice is considered ordinaryrepair.1.6 The methods address
8、ed in this practice include thefollowing categories of contractor activity: general practices,building investigation, systems design, systems installation,materials, monitors and labeling, post-mitigation testing, anddocumentation.1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concer
9、ns, if any, associated with its use. It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. See Section 6 forspecific safety hazards.2. Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:
10、2E 631 Terminology of Building ConstructionsE 1465 Practice for Radon Control Options for the Designand Construction of New Low-Rise Residential Buildings3E 1745 Specification for Plastic Water Vapor RetardersUsed in Contact with Soil or Granular Fill under ConcreteSlabs2.2 Government Publications:E
11、PA “Asbestos School Hazard Abatement ReauthorizationAct,” regulation 40 CFR Part 763, Subpart E.4EPA “A Citizens Guide to Radon (Second Edition),” EPA402-K92-001, May 1992.4EPA “Consumers Guide to Radon Reduction,” EPA 402-K92-003, August 1992.4EPA “Handbook, Sub-Slab Depressurization for Low-Permea
12、bility Fill Material,” EPA/625/6-91/029, July1991.4EPA “Home Buyers and Sellers Guide,” EPA 402K-00008, July 2000.4EPA “National Emission Standard for Asbestos,” 40 CFR61, Subpart M.4EPA “ Radon Mitigation Standards,” EPA 402-R-93-078,April 1994.4EPA “Radon Reduction Techniques for Existing Detached
13、Houses, Technical Guidance (Second Edition),” EPA/625/587/019, revised January 1988.4EPA “Radon Reduction Techniques for Existing DetachedHouses, Technical Guidance (Third Edition) for ActiveSoil Depressurization Systems,” EPA/625/R-93-011, Oc-tober 1993.41This practice is under the jurisdiction of
14、ASTM Committee E06 on Perfor-mance of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.41 on AirLeakage and Ventilation Performance.Current edition approved June 15, 2008. Published August 2008. Originallyapproved in 2001. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as E 2121 03.2For refere
15、nced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org. For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information, refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.3Withdrawn.4Available from United States Environmental Protection Agency
16、 (EPA), ArielRios Bldg., 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20460, http:/www.epa.gov.1Copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.NCRP “Measurement of Radon and Radon Daughters inAir,” NCRP Report No. 97, 1988.5NIOSH “Guid
17、e to Industrial Respiratory Protection,”NIOSH Publication No. 87116.6OSHA “Asbestos Standard for the Construction Indus-try” 29 CFR 1926.1102.7OSHA “Hazard Communication Standard for the Construc-tion Industry,” 29 CFR 1926.59.7OSHA “Occupational Safety and Health Regulations, Ioniz-ing Radiation,”
18、29 CFR 1910.96.7OSHA “Respiratory Protection Standard,” 29 CFR1920.134, 1998.7OSHA “Safety and Health Regulations for Construction,Ionizing Radiation,” 29 CFR 1926.53.73. Terminology3.1 DefinitionsDefinitions of terms used in this practiceare defined in accordance with Terminology E 631.3.2 Definiti
19、ons of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.2.1 active soil depressurization (ASD), na family ofradon mitigation systems involving mechanically-driven soildepressurization, including sub-slab depressurization (SSD),sump pit depressurization (SPD), drain tile depressurization(DTD), hollow block wall dep
20、ressurization (BWD), and sub-membrane depressurization (SMD) (see Appendix X2).3.2.2 backdrafting, na condition where the normal move-ment of combustion products up a flue (due to the buoyancy ofthe hot flue gases), is reversed, so that the combustion productsenter the building (see pressure-induced
21、 spillage).3.2.3 communication test, na diagnostic test to evaluatethe potential effectiveness of a sub-slab depressurization sys-tem by applying a vacuum beneath the slab and measuring,either with a micromanometer or with a heatless smoke device,the extension of the vacuum field. Also called pressu
22、re-fieldextension test.3.2.4 contractor, nfor the purposes of this practice, acontractor is one who contracts to performs radon reductionactivities or is an employee of one who contracts to perform orperforms radon reduction activities, with the expectation thatpayment will be received for the work
23、performed. A personwho does radon reduction activities as an employee of abuilding owner is also a contractor for purposes of this standardpractice. Persons whose normal activity is not radon reduction,but who do work related to radon reduction like indoor airquality consultants, radon consultants,
24、plumbers, building con-tractors, or employees of these persons are all viewed ascontractors when performing radon reduction activities cov-ered by this practice.3.2.5 crawlspace depressurization (CSD) (active), na ra-don mitigation technique designed to achieve lower air pres-sure in the crawlspace
25、than in the rooms bordering and abovethe crawlspace. A radon fan, draws air from the crawl spaceand exhausts that air outside the building. Crawlspace depres-surization (CSD) is intended to mitigate rooms bordering andabove the crawlspace but not the crawlspace itself. All CSDsystems, for purposes o
26、f this practice, are active.3.2.6 depressurization, na negative pressure induced inone area relative to another.3.2.7 diagnostic tests, nprocedures used to identify orcharacterize conditions under, beside and within buildings thatmay contribute to radon entry or elevated radon levels or thatmay prov
27、ide information regarding the performance of amitigation system.3.2.8 drain tile depressurization (DTD) (active), na typeof active soil depressurization radon mitigation system wherethe suction point piping attaches to a drain tile or is located ingas-permeable material near the drain tile. The drai
28、n tile orperimeter drain may be inside or outside the footings of thebuilding.3.2.9 hollow wall depressurization (BWD) (active), naradon mitigation technique that depressurizes the void spacewithin a foundation wall (usually a block wall). A radon faninstalled in the radon system piping draws air fr
29、om within thewall.3.2.10 manifold piping, nthis piping collects the flow ofsoil-gas from two or more suction points and delivers thatcollected soil-gas to the vent stack piping. In the case of asingle suction point system, there is no manifold piping sincethe suction point piping connects directly t
30、o the vent stackpiping. The manifold piping starts where it connects to thesuction point piping and ends where it connects to the ventstack piping.3.2.11 mechanically-ventilated crawlspace system, naradon-control technique designed to increase ventilation withina crawlspace by use of a fan.3.2.12 mi
31、tigation system, nany system or steps designedto reduce radon concentrations in the indoor air of a building.3.2.13 natural draft combustion appliance, nany fuelburning appliance that relies on natural convective flow toexhaust combustion products through flues to outside air.3.2.14 occupiable space
32、s, nfor purposes of this practice,are areas of buildings where human beings spend or couldspend time, on a regular or occasional basis.3.2.14.1 DiscussionExamples of occupiable spaces arethose that are or could be used for sleeping, a work shop, ahobby, reading, student home work, a home office, ent
33、ertain-ment (TV, music, computer, etc.), physical work-out, laundry,games, or childs play.3.2.15 pressure-field extension, nthe distance that a pres-sure change, created by drawing soil-gas through a suctionpoint extends outward in a sub-slab gas permeable layer, undera membrane, behind a solid wall
34、, or in a hollow wall (seecommunication test).3.2.16 pressure-induced spillage, nthe unintended flow ofcombustion gases from an appliance/venting system into adwelling, primarily as a result of building depressurization (seebackdrafting).5Available from the National Commission on Radiation Protectio
35、n and Mea-surement, 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 400, Bethesda, MD 20814, http:/www.ncrponline.org.6Available from Centers for Disease Control soil-gas is collected at oneend of the vent stack piping and is discharged from the buildingat the other end. In active soil depressurization systems, therado
36、n fan is installed in the vent stack piping.3.2.27 ventilation, nthe process of introducing outdoor airinto a building.3.2.28 working level (WL), na unit of radon decay productexposure. Numerically, any combination of short-lived radondecay products in one litre of air that will result in the ultima
37、teemission of 130 000 MeV of potential alpha energy. Thisnumber was chosen because it is approximately the total alphaenergy released from the short lived decay products in equi-librium with 100 pCi of Rn-222.3.2.29 working level month (WLM), na unit of exposureused to express the integrated human e
38、xposure to radon decayproducts. It is calculated by multiplying the average workinglevel to which a person has been exposed by the number ofhours exposed and dividing the product by 170.4. Summary of Practice4.1 This practice describes methods for mitigating elevatedlevels of radon in existing attac
39、hed and detached residentialbuildings three stories or less in height.4.2 The mitigation process is described in terms of thecategories of activity associated with radon mitigation andincludes: general practices, building investigation, systemsdesign, systems installation, materials, monitors and la
40、beling,post-mitigation testing, and contracts and documentation.4.3 The systems installation category contains subsectionsdescribing the specific requirements applicable to each of thecomponents of radon mitigation systems, for example, radonsystem piping, radon fans, sealing, electrical, etc.5. Sig
41、nificance and Use5.1 The purpose of the methods, systems, and designsdescribed in this practice is to reduce radiation exposures foroccupants of residential buildings caused by radon and itsprogeny. The goal of mitigation is to maintain reduced radonconcentrations in occupiable areas of buildings at
42、 levels as lowas reasonably achievable. This practice includes sections onreducing radiation exposure caused by radon and its progenyfor workers who install and repair radon mitigation systems.The goal for workers is to reduce exposures to radon and itsprogeny to levels as low as reasonably achievab
43、le.5.2 The methods, systems, designs, and materials describedhere have been shown to have a high probability of success inmitigating radon in attached and detached residential buildings,three stories or less in height (see EPA, “Radon ReductionTechniques for Existing Detached Houses, Technical Guida
44、nce(Third Edition) for Active Soil Depressurization Systems”).Application of these methods does not, however, guaranteereduction of radon levels below any specific level, sinceperformance will vary with site conditions, construction char-acteristics, weather, and building operation.5.3 When applying
45、 this practice, contractors also shallconform to all applicable local, state, and federal regulations,and laws pertaining to residential building construction, re-modeling, and improvement.6. Safety Hazards6.1 Contractors shall comply with all OSHA, state and localstandards or regulations relating t
46、o worker safety and occupa-tional radon exposure. Applicable references in the Code ofFederal Regulations include those in 2.2. Contractors also shallfollow occupational radon guidance in 2.2.6.2 In addition to OSHA standards and NIOSH recommen-dations, the following requirements specifically applic
47、able tothe safety and protection of radon mitigation workers shall bemet:6.2.1 The contractor shall advise workers of the hazards ofexposure to radon and the importance of protective measureswhen working in areas of elevated radon concentrations. Inaddition, the contractor shall advise employees of
48、other poten-tial hazards according to the hazard communication standardE2121083for the construction industry (see OSHA, “Hazard Communi-cation Standard for the Construction Industry”).6.2.2 The contractor shall ensure that appropriate safetyequipment, such as ventilators, respirators, hard hats, fac
49、eshields, and ear plugs, are available on the job site duringmitigation activities.6.2.3 Work areas shall be ventilated to reduce workerexposure to radon, dust, or other airborne pollutants.6.2.4 Consistent with OSHA permissible exposure limits,contractors shall ensure that employees are exposed to no morethan four working level months (WLM) over a 12-monthperiod (or the equivalent 68 000 pCi/L-h, when converted at anequilibrium ratio of 100 %. A WLM is calculated by multiply-ing the average working level to which a person has beenexposed by the number o
