HUD Radon Requirements : Handbook 4231.2 Revisions
INTRODUCTION The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development issued revisions on December 6 , 2016 to Handbook 4232.1 , which details HUD Radon Requirements . The revisions will become effective starting Thursday , January 5 , 2017 , and will apply to new loan applications , all underwriter / lender approval requests , and other transactional requests for any existing Section 232 projects .
RADON TESTING REQUIREMENTS Any applications received by HUD on or after January 5 , 2017 , for properties in all zones , will require radon sampling in accordance with the handbook . The radon testing program is similar to the Multifamily program , but with a few differences that include :
� There are no exceptions for properties in low radon zones ( Zone 3 ) – testing is required
� Testing is required for transactions that include New Construction ( post construction ), Substantial Rehabilitation , and Refinance
� The AARST Large Building Standard is required to be followed instead of the Multifamily testing standard
� The Large Building Standard requires more substantial testing of nonresidential areas
� Initial testing of 25 % of all areas is permitted ; however , if results are high (> 4.0pCi / L ), 100 % building mitigation or 100 % follow up testing is required
LARGE BUILDING STANDARD There are several significant differences between the Large Building Standard and the Multifamily standard that should be noted , including :
� Residential and Non-Residential testing are now combined into one group
� Unoccupied ground-contact rooms must be tested ( for example - utility rooms , storage rooms , and maintenance rooms ) if they could easily be converted for occupancy
� Duration for short-term tests are extended to 3 or 4 significantly occupied days
� Follow up testing will be more complex including a combination of standard canisters and electronic , hourlymonitoring equipment ( Continuous Radon Monitors ( CRM ))
� CRM devices utilized for follow up testing to assess how radon levels differ between work hours and non-work hours ( i . e . nights and weekends )
CONCLUSION It is important to comply with the new radon testing requirements . We have been advised that exceptions will not be accommodated . Compliance with the new standard will mean : � �
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Radon testing in all zones More precise building information ( floor plans ) needed to determine radon pricing Revised price structure due to extensive non-residential area testing and extended ( 3-4 day ) initial test duration More technically involved and strategically planned follow up testing
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