Radon in Sheffield
Despite working in the city for many years now, Radon was not on our radar until recently. We noticed a rise in our clients having queries on the subject and have since then done some research into the matter.
What exactly is Radon? It is a noble gas that occurs as a product of Uranium decay in rocks and soils, building materials and, to a lesser degree, water (95% of exposure to Radon is from indoor air and about 1% is from drinking water sources). It is radioactive, with a half-life of 3.82 days, colourless, odourless and tasteless, with the potential to cause significant health issues.
From this we have decided that Radon should be part of our considerations when waterproofing basements to the British Standard BS8102. As we begin our journey into tackling this issue, we would like to share these 4 things we believe you need to know about this potentially harmful ground gas.
Please note we are far from experts on this subject!
1. Health implications:
First and foremost, just how damaging is radon exposure to our health, and should you be concerned? As has been proven, Radon is a hazardous element that can lead to the following problems:
- Persistent cough
- Hoarseness
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
- Coughing up blood
- Chest pain
- Frequent infections like bronchitis and pneumonia
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
Smokers and ex-smokers are at a much greater, essentially doubled risk as the correlation between Radon exposure, smoking and lung cancer is a linear progression. It is estimated that 2,500 lung cancer deaths a year in the UK occur due to Radon exposure. All in all, it’s better to be safe than sorry on this one.
2. Detection and Measurement:
Radon can be measured in the unit of becquerels (Bq) using a specialist tool. A Becquerel is a minute measurement (a single nuclear disintegration per second) and is often prefixed with Mega, Giga, or even Tera, but don’t let that intimidate you!
One can be excused for assuming that radon is not a problem for us in Sheffield, a cursory look at the Radon map for the UK identifies Sheffield as a low Radon risk.
Feel free to examine the UK Radon map for yourself! (UKradon – UK maps of radon)
However, as is the case with all forms of radiation, it can spike in very concentrated spots and present the same issues as high-risk areas. Conversely, areas in high-risk zones can have individual properties that are well within the safe limits outlined by public health England.
Contrary to our initial interpretation and seemingly others within the industry this is only a snapshot as we have since learned. We have found this in several properties we have carried out measures on.
For reference, Public Health England have set an action level of 200 Bq per meter cubed (BqM3), and should a home meet or exceed this, measures should be taken.
Their recommended target level is 100 Bq per meter cubed or less and is the ideal result remedial works or preventative measures on new buildings. These levels refer to the annual average concentration in a home and have been endorsed by the UK government. They recommend a measurement should be taken with two detectors, placed in a bedroom and living room of a property, for 24 hours to gain an accurate reading.
3. Managing radon exposure and remedial works:
What can we do at L.A.B.S do to help you with this? On our end, the main measures we can take are:
- Improving the ventilation of a property (i.e. under-floor ventilation)
- Installing a specialist Radon sump pump system
- Taping detail on the membranes
- Sealing walls and floors
4. Further information and resources:
At LABS we never like to sit still, our company ethos focuses on continual learning and developing our practices by applying the highest standards and waterproofing methods that are backed by empirical research. We as a company have enrolled on some basic online training and have also become members of the UK Radon Association. Further to this we have purchased our very own testing kit.
Additionally, we have devised our working policy on Radon. This is an ongoing policy that is subject to amendment the more we learn about the topic. In summary;
- Upon acceptance of a basement quote, we will then carry out a discreet 24-hour measure, by way of leaving our testing kit at your property. This is in line with the UK Government guidelines detailed in the section above. Data is downloaded and graphed across the 24-hour period. Consideration is given to the time of year the test takes place, as Radon levels known to be elevated in the winter months due to reduced ventilation.
- These results are discussed with the client and a scheme of remedial works is agreed upon.
- A second test will follow, then the introduction of the agreed remedial methods.
- Last but not least, we will continue learning and developing our knowledge by attending training courses, workshops and by meeting with individuals and organisations working within the sector. We are fortunate enough to a have a client of ours assist with testing the accuracy of our new Radon testing kits. Said individual works for the NHS, monitoring Radon exposure levels in their employees and implementing countermeasures where exposure is found.
In summary, while this new development may seem potentially dangerous and unsettling, we here at L.A.B.S. are committed to doing all we can to help deal with Radon and the associated issues across Sheffield.