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Enhancing Radon Mitigation with Reliable Systems and Ongoing Verfication
Reading time: 4 minutes
Safety
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Preface: Homeowner Considerations for Mitigators
While this article is written for certified radon mitigators, it’s useful to keep homeowner perspectives in mind. These points can help guide conversations with clients and reinforce the importance of professional mitigation:
Testing is essential, even in new homes: Many new homes include passive radon-resistant features such as a layer of gas-permeable gravel beneath the slab, a plastic membrane to reduce soil-gas entry, sealed sump pits, and a vertical vent stack that runs through the roof. While these passive measures help reduce radon levels, they rarely bring concentrations down to the recommended safe actions levels alone. As Steve Baczek puts it:
Someone will have to pay to do it the right way.
Contributor, This Old House
In other words, homeowners (or their builders) may invest in passive features, but without activation by a certified mitigator, verification testing and monitoring, the system isn’t truly complete. Only a professional system that includes a properly sized fan and post-installation testing ensures safe indoor air.
Radon levels fluctuate over time: Seasonal changes, foundation shifts, and HVAC operation can all impact indoor concentrations. Regular verification maintains safety.
Certification matters: Homeowners should work only with trained, certified professionals to ensure proper system installation and testing.
Monitoring adds confidence: Alarms and verification points reassure homeowners that mitigation systems are functioning as intended.
Integrating these insights into discussions with clients helps mitigate risk, educate homeowners, and emphasize the value of professional installation and verification.
Supporting Professionals Across North America
Radon exposure is one of the leading causes of lung cancer in North America, accounting for thousands of deaths each year in both the United States and Canada. Certified radon mitigators play a critical role in reducing this risk by implementing effective mitigation systems. As a manufacturer, the goal is to provide reliable, durable, and compliant solutions that enable mitigators to maintain consistent radon reduction in homes across varying building types, foundation designs, and soil conditions.
Radon systems should be designed to support professionals in both countries by adhering to applicable regulations, standards, and best practices. This ensures that mitigators can rely on products to deliver long-term performance while meeting the expectations of homeowners and regulators alike.
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Variability in Radon Levels Requires Robust Systems
Radon concentrations can differ significantly between neighboring homes — and even between rooms on opposite sides of the same house. In one example shared by architect Steve Baczek, testing revealed 16 pCi/L on one side of a home and only 2 pCi/L on the other. This kind of disparity highlights how unpredictable radon behavior can be and why thorough testing and verification are critical.
Factors such as soil composition, foundation type, slab thickness, and construction methods all influence radon infiltration. Even small differences in these conditions can lead to wide variations in measured levels.
For North American mitigators, this variability underscores the importance of high-performance systems that are adaptable to different environments. Systems must provide consistent, predictable performance across a range of conditions, simplifying verification and supporting compliance with regulatory standards in both the U.S. and Canada.
Because radon levels can fluctuate so dramatically — even within the same structure — relying solely on passive design features in new construction is rarely sufficient. Active mitigation is often necessary to achieve safe, consistent indoor air quality, reinforcing the need for robust, adaptable systems.
Supporting New Construction and Passive Features
Many modern homes are built with passive radon-resistant features, such as vent stacks, sealed sump pits, or dedicated rough-ins. While these measures reduce radon levels, they often do not achieve the recommended action levels:
United States: ≤ 4 pCi/L (≈ 148 Bq/m³)
Canada: ≤ 200 Bq/m³ (≈ 5.4 pCi/L)
Passive mitigation systems may lower radon by 30–50%, but additional active mitigation is often necessary to achieve safe indoor levels. Systems should be engineered to enhance passive designs by providing active, fan-driven ventilation that ensures consistent depressurization and reliable radon reduction.
Fluctuating Radon Levels Highlight the Need for Verification
Radon is not a static hazard. Seasonal changes, barometric pressure shifts, HVAC system operation, and building envelope modifications can all affect indoor radon levels. Even a home with a properly installed mitigation system may experience temporary or long-term fluctuations.
Mitigation systems should be designed to support professional verification and monitoring. Key features — including durable fan motors, accessible monitoring ports, and pressure-field maintenance capabilities — allow certified mitigators to confirm system performance, detect deviations quickly, and ensure ongoing compliance with both U.S. and Canadian guidelines. By focusing on the complete, installed system, rather than individual components alone, mitigators can maintain consistent radon reduction and provide homeowners with lasting confidence in their indoor air quality.
Compliance With North American Standards
Adherence to industry standards is essential for effective mitigation and professional credibility. Systems should be designed to meet or exceed the following standards:
United States
ANSI/AARST SGM-SF-2023: Soil Gas Mitigation for Existing Homes
ANSI/AARST MS-PC-2022: Performance Specifications for Radon Measurement
EPA & HUD Guidelines: Action levels and verification procedures (EPA Radon Standards)
Canada
Health Canada Residential Radon Guidelines (2023): Recommended action level 200 Bq/m³
CSA Group Standard CSA Z317.2-17: Ventilation systems for residential radon mitigation
Canadian Guidelines for Radon Measurement in Residential Dwellings (2019): Measurement and verification protocols
By designing systems that align with these standards, mitigators in both countries can implement solutions confidently and maintain compliance throughout the system’s lifecycle.
Features That Support Certified Mitigators
Mitigation systems should provide practical advantages for professional mitigators, including:
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Durable fans and components: Designed to maintain consistent suction and pressure fields over years of operation.
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Easy verification: Built-in access points for radon measurement and system monitoring streamline post-installation testing.
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Adaptable designs: Suitable for a variety of foundation types including basements, slabs, and crawl spaces.
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Compliance support: System designs incorporate U.S. and Canadian standards to facilitate verification, reporting, and client reassurance.
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Technical guidance: Manufacturers’ documentation and training materials help mitigators optimize installation and long-term performance.
These features simplify professional work, reduce callbacks, and help maintain consistent radon reduction for homeowners.
Trends and Considerations for the Industry
The radon mitigation landscape is evolving, and several trends are influencing how certified mitigators select and use systems. Understanding these developments helps manufacturers provide solutions that support long-term performance and professional success:
Increasing use of Radon-Resistant New Construction (RRNC) in new homes: Many modern homes are built with radon-resistant design features, such as sub-slab gas-permeable layers and vent stacks, which help reduce radon infiltration. Essential construction practices, like sealing sump lids and other potential entry points, are necessary to prevent soil gas from bypassing passive systems. Even when these requirements are met, activation with an appropriately sized fan and professional verification are usually needed to achieve safe, consistent indoor air quality.
Growing emphasis on radon awareness: Homeowners increasingly expect clear notifications when radon levels rise. Radon alarms provide real-time alerts, helping mitigators and homeowners respond quickly and maintain confidence in the system’s effectiveness.
Data-driven insights: Collecting and analyzing system performance data over time helps mitigators identify trends, refine installation practices, and optimize results for different building types and soil conditions.
Manufacturers play a key role in this evolving landscape by designing systems that simplify verification, support monitoring, and provide reliable long-term protection, enabling mitigators to deliver measurable, high-quality outcomes for homeowners across North America.
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Partnering for Long-Term Safety
Reliable radon mitigation systems are critical for creating safe indoor environments across North America. As a manufacturer, our focus is on delivering products that help certified mitigators achieve consistent results, maintain compliance with U.S. and Canadian standards, and provide homeowners with lasting peace of mind.
We equip radon mitigators with the tools for pressure field testing (PFEDK linked) and product selection (PFEDK app linked) to help ensure every ADS system protects the home as it’s meant to.
Sources
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Radon Standards of Practice. https://www.epa.gov/radon/radon-standards-practice
ANSI/AARST Standards. SGM-SF-2023 and MS-PC-2022. https://standards.aarst.org/
Health Canada. Residential Radon Guidelines (2023). https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-risks-safety/radiation/radon/government-canada-radon-guideline.html
CSA Group. CSA Z317.2-17: Ventilation Systems for Radon Mitigation. https://www.csagroup.org/
Canadian Guidelines for Radon Measurement in Residential Dwellings (2019). https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/health-risks-safety/guide-radon-measurements-residential-dwellings.html
Steve Baczek, Architect: Radon Mitigation
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