I have a question.

Are they asking you to write passive radon mitigation procedures, not active?
Maybe that's the key disconnect..
The radon systems should be active to avoid having to mess with the other variables hence what Jay stated earlier.
Let the weatherization experts handle making the home green and let us fix the radon in the best way possible
Just my 2 cents

Answer to Question #12071 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

I would also defer to the physician for that answer. I always tell the client that if they have a concern to please inform their doctor, especially if they are working with a pulmonologist for other respiratory issues such as asthma or COPD

We have discussed mounting fans on roofs and between the risk and benefits we have adopted a guideline to just retrofit the systems on the exterior.
1. We don't want any liability of damaging or causing issues with roofs, newer roofs have warranties so we don't want to be owning any of those future issues or warranties.
2. In NJ it is so costly and time consuming to license an in installer; and they are so valuable and limited in supply, that we cant afford to risk having of our men fall off a roof or get hurt by installing the fans up there.

I have had many weatherization contractors who are being subsidized by the state for low income housing contact us for radon remediation based upon their testing of clients homes. It is nice to see that they are taking this step and consider the correlation between making a house more green or air tight with elevated radon levels.
Passive radon remediation or simply 'blocking out" radon has not seemed to be that effective and we have always recommended active radon remediation to ensure overall effectiveness.
Share the knowledge and lets get active radon systems into all homes

It is our responsibility to ensure that we mitigate radon to the best of our abilities. Much like a medical professional, we must adapt with the changing environment. To treat radon with a broad standard gives too much room for grey areas and improper mitigation which puts the consumer at an unnecessary risk.
You wouldn't want your physician treating your body with a general mindset when treating a disease with other underlying comorbidities and complications would you?

Under the Green Building Standards & The LEED Standards both being pushed by the USEPA and NHBA require the conditioned space be moved to the bottom of the roof deck.
This theory makes the unusable attic space that was separated from the conditioned space of the habitable area of the house by insulating the top of the ceiling of the second floor.
This would make the area of the attic similar to the outside air.
This concept even requires passive or active ventilation of the attic space to protect the roof from overheating reducing the life of the shingles.
The new concept of insulating the underside of the roof itself has inspired roof shingle manufacturers to change their product so each shingle has a built in ventilation delivered with each shingle.
The issue to the radon industry is this method of construction makes it a Violation of the Radon Mitigation Standards regardless of the standard adopted by your company or State.
NJ has adopted the ASTM E-2121 and it clearly stated a radon fan cannot be placed in the conditioned space of the house.
If a fan is placed in the attic of a home even where the builder has complied to in NJ the Radon Hazard Subcode in my case, or the National RRNC in other states, a full external radon system will be the only way to safely overcome this issue.

Don't forget now we are also faced with a new issue when activating builder installed pipes in Leed or Green Buildings.
As builders scramble to comply with the new point system for LEED or GREEN HOME designated homes the guidelines are to include the attic area in the conditioned space.
Basically the issue is when the conditioned space is designed to include the attic, radon fans cannot be placed in the attic without violating all Radon Mitigation Standards.
Regardless of the Standards used a radon fan cannot be located in “Conditioned Space”.
After reviewing with 1 State Regulator it was determined, builder installed pipes (RRNC) that are routed through an attic where the underside of the roof is insulated are now a conditioned space and can not receive a radon fan.
The only solution at this time would be to run the radon system on the exterior of the building and abandon the radon system installed by the builder (RRNC).

Kevin

That's a great point to make from the single study. I try to explain radon risk to people as not just an association with lung cancer and potential death, but also a risk with other heath effects on the body. Especially when the person I am speaking with doesn't believe in the danger of radon exposure I tie it into other "potential" health effects. This is something heavily used in the pharmaceutical industry to help patients understand the importance of compliance with their disease states and medications. There is always a negative cost associated with our health aside from death. Missed work, slowed productivity, medical bills, and other expenses for being "sick." If you can become sick from radon exposure, aside from cancer then there other costs associated with that. Doctor visits, medical bills, medication (inhalers for COPD), missed work, missed play, etc.
I always say its not just the end result of radon exposure that is a concern its also everything in between that we should be aware of and look further into.

When a patient goes to the physician because they don't feel well and the doctor completes blood work, does he not offer treatment at the diagnosis?