Comments

  • RRNC soil gas matt performance data needed for code approval in Denver
    I would like to re-iterate Bruce Snead's request for technical performance data for soil gas mats. They appear to be an innovative and cost-effective solution to the installation of expensive aggregate materials.
    If any researcher or manufacturer has conducted tests of soil gas mats with various soil types and applied vacuum, I would like to see it.
    Bruce Schaepe, Braun Intertec, Minneapolis, MN
  • Alarms are mandatory now on radon systems
    Thank you Tony for providing information about the various ICC building codes adopted in Minnesota that are governed by Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. However, please be aware that the radon code for Minnesota professionals is governed by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) through Statute and MDH-promulgated Rule, not code, as provided on their website and reprinted below.

    Radon Laws, Rules and Standards
    The Minnesota Radon Licensing Act (Minnesota Statutes 144.4961) was passed by the legislature and signed into law in May 2015. This act gives Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) the authority to write rules and enforce laws related to the radon industry in the state.

    Professionals and companies that measure for radon, mitigate for radon or perform radon analysis in the State of Minnesota are required to be licensed and use system tags.

    Statutes
    144.4961 Minnesota Radon Licensing Act

    Rules
    4620.7000 Purpose
    4620.7050 Applicability
    4620.7100 Definitions
    4620.7200 Radon Measurement Professional License
    4620.7250 Radon Mitigation Company License
    4620.7300 Radon Mitigation Professional License
    4620.7350 Radon Analysis Laboratory License
    4620.7400 Standards of Conduct
    4620.7500 Incorporation by Reference; Required Work Practices for Radon Measurement and Mitigation and Measurement Devices
    4620.7600 Radon System Tag Requirements
    4620.7700 Approval of Initial Training and Continuing Education Courses
    4620.7800 Reporting Requirements
    4620.7900 Inspections and Enforcement
    4620.7950 Variance to Radon Licensing Rules


    The Rules went into effect on January 1, 2019 and MDH began conducting contractor audits in 2020.

    The radon Rules in Minnesota directly reference the current ANSI/AARST documents with no modifications (M.R. 4620.7500). Perhaps the recourse of mitigation professionals in Minnesota, like myself, is to get MDH to modify the Rule to make an exception for the use of active alarms until it is proven that "good" active alarms are available.
  • Alarms are mandatory now on radon systems
    Dane, can you identify the company that you are associated with? I'm really happy to see a supplier of these products participating in the discussion.
  • reasons for mounting the fan and exhaust piping outside building envelope in US
    So, this is a wonderful discussion among some knowledgeable practitioners. I think I see a common thread, i.e., it's okay to allow fans inside buildings. But, this is a very small group. By my review of the authors of SGM-SF Consensus Body Members listed in SGM-SF 2017, none of the comments in this thread were from members of that group.

    So how do we make a change? Do some of us need to contact members of the SGM-SF Consensus Body? I assume that some of you know some of those members. Who wants to run with this?
  • reasons for mounting the fan and exhaust piping outside building envelope in US
    So I will bite too.

    I think there was some rationale in preventing a pipe under pressure with dangerous gas from being present inside a living space. However, there is also concern that furnace exhaust under pressure should not be inside my living space, yet my furnace is in my basement and not outside. Somewhere along the way some very smart people figured out how to vent the exhaust from the house with minimal risk due to problems with the pipe (and that exhaust is hot, which radon exhaust is not). Why don't we do that with radon? I would love to put radon fans inside rather than on the roof. This is particularly true here in Minnesota where the cold weather can wreak havoc with the fans in the winter due to freezing of the ever present moisture in the air being drawn out of the ground. If I'm not mistaken, Canada allows fans inside the house in their radon code.

    Is it time that US radon experts take a fresh look at this?

Bruce Schaepe

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