Radon Removal from Home
The chemical element Radon (symbol RN and atomic number 86) is a radioactive noble gas, colorless, odorless, and tasteless. Although we cannot detect its presence, we are exposed to radon daily because it is a gas commonly emitted by the ground and some construction materials frequently found around us.
Radon in the Home
Although we cannot smell or see it, radon is a dangerous gas, harmful to health. It is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and the second cause (after smoking) of lung cancer in smokers. The gas enters buildings from the ground through cracks in foundations and walls, through water supply and sewage networks, and it is difficult to prevent its entry into buildings. The only viable solution to limit radon exposure is the ventilation of rooms.
Therefore, removing radon from the home and any room/building where we spend a lot of time is essential for maintaining good health. Of course, children are more vulnerable to the harmful effects of radon, and attention to a healthy environment in schools, kindergartens, nurseries, and indoor play areas must be maximized. And efficient automated natural ventilation systems are the solution.
Modern constructions are increasingly well insulated from the outside, more airtight. If you type in a search engine “radon polystyrene” or “radon double glazing,” you can find detailed information on how superior sealing of modern buildings enhances exposure to radioactive radon, for us and our children.
To exemplify the harmfulness of radon, here are some figures below:
- The maximum reference level allowed for radon concentration is 300 Bq/mc. “Such exposure is equivalent to undergoing 150 chest X-rays per year or the equivalent of 16 cigarettes a day,” says Alexandra Cucoș-Dinu, Senior Scientific Researcher and Coordinator of the Radon Testing Laboratory “Constantin Cosma” (LiRaCC), Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering at Babeș-Bolyai University.
- Measurements conducted in kindergartens, nurseries, and schools in Cluj in 2019 and 2020 found that in 20% of educational institutions, the radon concentration exceeded 300 Bq/mc. High radon concentrations were associated with poor room ventilation, foundation cracks, and high radon values in the soil.
- According to statistics from the World Health Organization, approximately 4.3 million people die annually due to exposure to indoor air pollutants.
Ventilation Systems for Radon Removal from Homes, Schools, and Kindergartens
Of course, we cannot keep windows permanently open, especially in winter and especially in these times when the energy efficiency of buildings is so important. But the supply of fresh air and efficient natural ventilation, constantly correlated with the temperature in rooms (to avoid energy waste), can be ensured by intelligent, automated natural ventilation systems. KADRA can offer you such intelligent automated natural ventilation systems.
In principle, the system consists of a “brain” – a control unit with a microprocessor, to which several electric motors (actuators) are connected, which operate some of the building’s windows. Inside the building, CO2 and temperature sensors are placed, while outside there are wind, rain, and temperature sensors. Depending on the needs, the control unit commands the actuators to avoid the accumulation of harmful gases inside while maintaining a certain temperature. If the external sensors signal strong wind and/or rain, the control unit commands the immediate closing of the windows.
If the building is equipped with a BMS (Building Management System), we can provide intelligent actuators directly connectable to the BMS, and one or more of the system’s actuators can also serve as smoke extraction (evacuation of smoke and hot gases) in case of fire. Learn more about the intelligent automated natural ventilation systems we offer here.
Automated intelligent natural ventilation systems can be planned from the design phase for new buildings, but can also be added to existing buildings to improve indoor air quality while maintaining the building’s energy efficiency.
Legislative Context for Radon Removal from Buildings
- In 2013, the European Union issued Directive 59 Euratom, according to which member countries must take measures to limit the population’s exposure to radon.
- In 2018, Romania adopted the normative acts that transpose the European directive into national legislation. Radon is recognized as a public health hazard.
- From 2023, public building administrators will be REQUIRED to conduct measurements and take measures to limit radon exposure for those in nurseries, kindergartens, schools, public institution headquarters, theaters, cinemas, etc.
Regardless of the type of building, project phase, and requirements in the specifications, the KADRA team finds modern solutions for each project. Also read the article about KADRA’s intelligent automated natural ventilation systems.
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