Research and analysis

Radon: performance of basic protection in new homes

Comparable measurements taken in homes expected to have radon prevention and those without to determine protection effectiveness.

• From: Public Health England
• Published: 5 April 2019

Documents

Performance of basic radon protection in new homes

Ref: PHE publications gateway number: GW-305

PDF, 834 KB, 21 pages

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Details

This report investigates the performance of preventive measures in reducing radon levels in new homes built in areas of elevated radon risk by comparing radon levels in new properties built with basic radon prevention measures with levels observed in properties, in the same areas, that were built without preventive measures, prior to this Building Regulations requirement.

The results show that ‘basic’ preventive measures reduce radon levels in new properties by around 40% when compared with properties built without these measures in areas of elevated radon risk.

Radon levels in some properties were high despite having these basic measures in place. This supports existing Public Health England advice that these properties should be tested for radon.

This evidence will be useful to those involved in designing and reviewing radon prevention measures in new properties.

Published 5 April 2019