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Ever wonder where the cell phone industry would be if manufacturers simply continued to introduce variations of the flip phone ? If leaders in personal technology devices have taught us anything , it ’ s that innovation drives industry , especially when it is conceived around improving user experience . Innovation raises awareness ( and standards ) among consumers and ultimately increases demand . We ’ ve seen this play out thousands of times , albeit less dramatically , in virtually every type of home appliance from toaster ovens to water heaters . Unfortunately , the same cannot be said of radon mitigation products . Of course , it ’ s a bit more complicated when the appliance is there to eliminate a threat that homeowners can ’ t see , feel , smell or taste . That ’ s still no excuse for the shocking number of radon mitigation contractors ( mitigators ) that rely on the “ poke and hope ” method of sub-slab depressurization without performing pressure field extension testing . It ’ s also not an excuse for the persistent complexity of testing methods which discourages so many mitigators from adhering to recommended protocols .
A new Pressure Field Extension ( PFE ) Diagnostic Kit could be the answer . The industry needs an easy and accurate way to optimize fan and pipe size selection for more reliable and efficient outcomes . over or undersized . Pipe size is often crucial to the efficiency and effectiveness of a sub-slab depressurization system , a fact that is often overlooked by installers who utilize the same fan and piping out of habit . Radon mitigation system pipe sizing can be determined easily by good PFE testing .
Chad Robinson , a certified radon mitigation and measurement specialist and Lead Radon Mitigation Trainer for Kansas State Engineering Extension estimates that as few as 10 % of radon mitigators practice proper diagnostics . Why ? Proper diagnostics have been a time-consuming , multi-step process that is poorly understood by many practicing radon mitigators . And without any enforceable guidelines , there ’ s little incentive to learn . Mitigators commonly assume a job is done when a fan gets a home below 4 pCi / L continuously for a 48 hour test .
“ A lot of mitigators don ’ t think about the energy penalty associated with installing an oversized fan – and the fact that the fan can actually be pulling conditioned air out of the house ,” said Robinson .
“ This tool has the potential to awaken premitigation diagnostics that has been mostly nonexistent ,” remarked Brodhead , president of WPB Enterprises , the oldest radon mitigation company in Pennsylvania .
Bill is an internationally known radon mitigation expert , instructor and researcher with over 30 years of experience designing and mitigating residential and commercial buildings .
Brodhead , who has used the PFE Diagnostic Kit in his classes as an instructor for the Eastern Regional Radon Training Center at Rutgers University , is a strong advocate for pressure field extension testing both before and after system installation as a means to improve mitigation outcomes .
Accurately diagnosing the pressure field extension in a home has been avoided by mitigators because it was deemed too complicated and time consuming . It required a depth of understanding and a certain amount of engineering expertise . It also required an assortment of tools that mitigators often did not have , including a pitot tube and a micro-manometer .
The end goal of most radon mitigation is straightforward – create a negative pressure in the soil beneath the slab . If negative pressure under the slab is not generated or too much is generated it means having to return to the jobsite to install another suction or a larger fan or saddling the homeowner with a decade or more of unnecessarily high energy costs and noise levels due to an oversized fan . Pipe size selection is mostly guessed at even though it is often
Robinson , owner of Radon Solutions , a division of Building Performance Co ., is part of that “ 10 %” of mitigators who provide full diagnostics on the homes he serves in central Kansas . Like many in that small but elite group , Robinson developed his own procedures and assembled his own equipment for pressure field diagnostics . A mechanical engineer , who uses the Home Energy Rating System ( HERS ) and is an expert in home environments , Robinson has a keen awareness of how loose soils , tight soils or even buried sewer pipes can impact how much air a fan must move to keep radon from entering the home .
Diagnosing Pressure Field Extension with the PFE Diagnostic Kit
The PFE Diagnostic Kit is a simple to use tool that any radon mitigation expert or installer can learn to use quickly . It is a great time saver compared to older more complicated PFE testing methods . The Kit comes with a simple-to-use online application that facilitates fan selection and pipe sizing by accurately determining sub-slab pressure characteristics and calculating PVC pipe pressure drop ( loss ). The testing can easily be part of an actual radon mitigation installation or performed before a system is installed .
How it works :
Each kit includes a variable speed ECM ( electronically commutated motor ) fan , pressure sensing couplings to fit a 4-inch PVC pipe , digital manometer , and cross reference materials , all packaged in a heavy duty rolling case .
After the installer selects the best location for the slab penetration and a sensible routing course for the pipe , he or she seals a small
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