By Margaret Henderson
Minnesota’s high risk for indoor radon exposure, due to the relatively high source content in its soils, coupled with the practice of building homes with basements used as living spaces where concentrations are often the highest, makes a focus on building practices important to preventing the radon problem during the building process. Almost 80% of Minnesota counties are in Zone 1, the EPA designated high radon zone, where potentially concentrations may exceed the 4 pCi/L action level recommended by EPA.
Since June of 2009, radon resistant new construction (RRNC) features have been built into new homes. Passive radon systems must be installed during construction, as required by the state building code. The code began by requiring passive systems for one to three unit homes and expanded the requirement to multi-family homes.
A goal of the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Indoor Air Unit is to sustain and increase the number of homes built with active radon reduction systems installed. “While passive systems can reduce the radon concentrations as much as 40% on average, MDH advocates building new homes with active RRNC, including the fan,” says Dan Tranter, Supervisor of the Indoor Air Unit. In order to accomplish this, MDH’s Indoor Air Unit works with builders to encourage the builder to offer a fan to home buyers and activate systems through its program called the “Gold Standard for Radon Resistant New Construction.”
As of July 31, 2015, builder commitment to the Gold Standard has included 115 builders and of those, 13 of the top 25 builders in the Twin Cities are included. This represents 30% of all new home permits. In developing the Gold Standard program, builders were encouraged to participate through outreach events at professional builders’ association meetings, community groups and other organizations. In addition, MDH sponsors events, advertises in industry publications and teaches continuing education classes on radon for builders and realtors.
Builders must have demonstrated the knowledge and experience to build RRNC homes. Benefits to builders who qualify as Gold Standard builders include, but are not limited to:
• free fan and manometer for a model home;
• yard signs for model homes;
• free test kits for homebuyers;
• radon brochures and pamphlets for potential customers;
• technical training for construction and sales teams; and
• a listing as a Gold Standard builder on the MDH Radon website.
In addition, homes built with active RRNC qualify for one point toward the Minnesota Green Path designation.
The goal set by the MDH in its State Indoor Radon Grant (SIRG) was to have 20 Gold Standard Builders commit to the program over the three-year grant period. MDH has exceeded that goal. In the current grant period the challenge will be to sustain participation and identify new builders.
To read about the Gold Standard program and find a listing of participating builders, visit http://www.health.state.mn.us/goldstandard/
A brochure on the Gold Standard designation that gives consumers helpful information may be downloaded from http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/indoorair/radon/goldstand/goldbrochure.pdf
For more information of the activities of the Indoor Air Unit, contact:
Dan Tranter, M.P.H.
Supervisor
Indoor Air Unit
P.O. Box 64975
St. Paul, MN 55164
United States