The Real Estate Browser Volume 7, Issue 14 | Page 12

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Do you have Radon in your Home?
By Drew Howard , President, HomePro, Inc.
Few hazards are as insidious as radon. A product of the radioactive decay of the uranium in rocks and soil,
the gas is invisible and odorless. It can accumulate silently in the home. The EPA estimates that 1 in 15 homes
in America contain levels that are unsafe. In Central Virginia that number is 1 out of 4 according to the VA
Department of Health- Radiological Health. Radon gas is measured in picocuries per liter of air. The national
indoor level of radon gas is 1.3 pCi/l. The action guidelines to mitigate radon in the home is 4.0 pCi/l or higher.
The EPA estimates that a level of 4.0 pCi/l is equivalent to smoking a half pack of cigarettes a day, and a level of 10.0
pCi/l is equal to smoking 2 packs a day. I have tested homes with levels over 40.0 pCi/l in Central VA.
The VA Department of Health has a detailed map of each county in Virginia and the number of homes found to
be above 4.0 pCi/l. There are 3 zones in the state of Virginia. Zone 1 is the highest level of radon, zone 2 is moderate, and zone 3 is low. Central Virginia consists of zone 1 and 2. Appomattox and Campbell Counties are in zone
1. Amherst, Bedford, and the City of Lynchburg are zone 2. According to the State of Virginia, 1 out of 4 homes in
zone 1 are higher than 4.0 pCi/l while 1 out of 7 are higher than 4.0 pCi/l in zone 2.
In the real estate transaction all radon testing must be performed by a licensed radon professional.
§ 32.1-229.01. Companies listed as proficient to perform radon screening, testing or mitigation; compliance.
A. No person shall conduct or offer to conduct any radon screening, testing or mitigation in the Commonwealth
unless he has been listed as proficient by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the National Radon
Measurement Proficiency Program of the National Environmental Health Association or the National Radon Safety
Board Certified Radon Professional Program or any other proficiency program acceptable to the Board of Health to
offer such screening, testing or mitigation.
B. Radon professionals listed as proficient pursuant to subsection A shall comply with the radon mitigation and
testing standards outlined in the Environmental Protection Agency’s publication, EPA 402-R-93-078, as revised, or
the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM International) Standard, E-2121-02, or any other radon testing and mitigation standards accepted by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Board.
(1988, c. 736; 1989, cc. 275, 283; 2001, cc. 408, 426; 2003, c. 709; 2005, c. 839; 2008, cc. 41, 466.)
Commonwealth of Virginia
Authorizes state to promulgate a Uniform State-wide Building Code. Enforces the radon-resistant new construction provision; Virginia Code Ann. § 36- 98. The 2003 Edition of the Virginia Construction Code (effective
11/16/05) requires group R-3 and R-4 structures to meet requirements of Appendix F of IRC  Virginia State RRNC
Codes (PDF)
State of Virginia - 2000 Uniform Building Code
R329.1. General. Following official action under Article 7 (§ 15.2-2280 et seq.) of Chapter 22 of Title 15.2 of
the Code of Virginia by a locality in areas of high radon potential, as indicated by Zone 1 on the U.S. EPA Map of
Radon Zones (IRC Figure AF101), such locality shall enforce the provisions contained in Appendix F. Exemption:
Buildings or portions thereof with crawl space foundations which are ventilated to the exterior, shall not be required
to provide radon-resistant construction.  www.dhcd.virginia.gov/BFR/PDFs (PDF)
Every home has radon gas. If you are unsure or have questions please give me a call [phone].
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