Louie, I was able to retrieve a copy of the “Consumer Reports” published ratings on our Safety Siren Pro Series3 Radon Detector. It is attached for your review. Please note I didn’t have a clean copy so you will find my personal note (1 unit exposed 48 hours) written next to our product name. I called Consumer Reports to ask how they performed the evaluation unfortunately, the only thing they could recall from their scientific findings was that the test was performed for only 48 hours AND they only used ONE detector to serve in their study. But nonetheless here are their findings….. Safety Siren Pro Series# rated “GOOD” in Accuracy and “VERY GOOD” in Reliability…. (see attachment) Be patient…more to come. Jane Graham From: Louie Delaware [mailto:ldelaware@comcast.net] Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2012 4:37 PMTo: 'Jane Patlyek'; RADONPROFESSIONALS@LIST.UIOWA.EDUSubject: RE: [RNPROF] Safety Siren CRM questions Jane, I too would be very interested in hearing about the facts. I have had clients who were about to use these as the basis for mitigation because of a high level registered by the Safety Siren until I told them to place the device outside their home only to find out that they had a false positive (the reading was about the same inside as it was outside, about 8 picoCuries/liter). But more concerning is the homeowner who is basing not doing mitigation because of a false negative until they find out later that their home was indeed high, or worse yet, very high. We need more information about the calibration of these devices and how long they will remain in calibration. If you choose to not state the real facts and/or shortcomings of your product, the people on this site will continue to look upon your products with distrust. And I would suggest that we ask Consumer Reports to do real testing with it and post an article about it. Louie DelawareRadon Pros, LLCColorado From: International Web Resource for Radon Professionals [mailto:RADONPROFESSIONALS@LIST.UIOWA.EDU] On Behalf Of Jane PatlyekSent: Thursday, April 26, 2012 11:56 AMTo: RADONPROFESSIONALS@LIST.UIOWA.EDUSubject: Re: [RNPROF] Safety Siren CRM questions Tony, My offer still stands should you want to learn the facts to your questions. I find most of your statements to be misleading and inaccurate. I will not entertain you by having a debate on this forum. Best Regards,Jane Graham From: International Web Resource for Radon Professionals [mailto:RADONPROFESSIONALS@LIST.UIOWA.EDU] On Behalf Of Tony KiburisSent: Thursday, April 26, 2012 1:10 PMTo: RADONPROFESSIONALS@LIST.UIOWA.EDUSubject: Re: [RNPROF] Safety Siren CRM questions Terry,I am very interested in facts; that's why I wanted the responses on the RNPROF board.I do not want this to become a "He said; She said."Tony All the best,Tony Kiburis Radon Reduction Services, LLCNEHA Certification No. 104249 RMT Tele: 603-924-2949Fax: 877-504-1028 From: Terry Howell To: 'Tony Kiburis' ; RADONPROFESSIONALS@LIST.UIOWA.EDU Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2012 12:49 PMSubject: RE: [RNPROF] Safety Siren CRM questions So you are not interested in facts? Typical! Terry E. Howell, PresidentRadalink, Inc.5599 Peachtree Rd.Atlanta, GA 30341-2309THowell@Radalink.com800-295-4655 From: International Web Resource for Radon Professionals [mailto:RADONPROFESSIONALS@LIST.UIOWA.EDU] On Behalf Of Tony KiburisSent: Thursday, April 26, 2012 12:44 PMTo: RADONPROFESSIONALS@LIST.UIOWA.EDUSubject: Re: [RNPROF] Safety Siren CRM questions Jane,Thanks for your response.I would appreciate any comments in regard to my comments to be made using this forum.Thanks,Tony All the best,Tony Kiburis Radon Reduction Services, LLCNEHA Certification No. 104249 RMT Tele: 603-924-2949Fax: 877-504-1028 From: Jane Patlyek To: 'Tony Kiburis' ; RADONPROFESSIONALS@LIST.UIOWA.EDU Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2012 12:26 PMSubject: RE: [RNPROF] Safety Siren CRM questions Tony and to all inquiring minds; I’d be happy to answer your questions regarding our Safety Siren Pro Series 3 Radon Detector. If your interested to know the FACTS, please give me a call at your earliest convenience. Jane Graham, General Manager of OperationsFamily Safety Products, Inc.616-530-6540 From: International Web Resource for Radon Professionals [mailto:RADONPROFESSIONALS@LIST.UIOWA.EDU] On Behalf Of Tony KiburisSent: Thursday, April 26, 2012 11:29 AMTo: RADONPROFESSIONALS@LIST.UIOWA.EDUSubject: Re: [RNPROF] Safety Siren CRM questions Paul,Thank you for all of your Safety Siren research. I hope it prompts further study by others to conduct a rigorous examination of currently available radon test monitors. In researching my own questions based upon the groups responses (thank you all!) I have found that:1. Yes, there is an organization that approves Radon Testing Devices. That is the NRPP; If you go to the following URL you will see their list of "Approved Devices": www.radongas.org/radon_testing_devices.shtml2. The Safety Siren is not listed on the NRPP list of approved devices. 3. The answer to the third question (Does the safety Siren take 7 days to record a Short-Term result?) is a little confusing : A. By reviewing the two sets of Safety Siren documentation for this model (thanks to the Radon Prof members who sent them to me) there are several refferences which seem to indicate a seven day period is used for the Short-Term results: 1. I quote from p.4. "Short-Term Display":"The display for the short-term reading is an average of thelevels of radon gas over the past seven days. . . ." 2. From p.9. "Specifications" the enrty for "Short-Term" states:"Short-Term Average over the past 7 days." B. However, on two occasions in the Safety Siren documentation they indicate only 2 days is needed for an accurate reading: 1. p.4. under "Start-Up" it reads, in part:". . . For the short-term and long-term readings,samples need to be taken for 2 days (48 hours) before anaccurate reading can be displayed." 2. p.6. under "Reset/Clear Memory" it reads, in part:" . . . Once the memory has been cleared, the display will read “--“ for 48 hours until enough samples have been taken to provide an accurate reading."TK's Conclusion #1 - Both versions of the Safety Siren Documentation has apparently conflicting information regarding what what number of days are required for their "Short-Term" results. I have heard anecdotal results that the Safety Siren does display results after 48 hours; but I have no definitive proof of this.TK's Other Observations: A. Another fault I place upon the Safety Siren Docmentation is that they do not conform to the EPA definition of "Long-Term" Testing, which I recall from my training is "91 Days of Longer". They have invented a whole new definition of "Long-Term" Testing, For example: 1. p.4. under "Long-Term" Display, they state in part: "The display for the long-term reading is an average of thelevels of radon gas for the length of time that the detector hasbeen powered up or last reset. This reading relates to theaverage radon level that you would be exposed to if you werein the continual presence of the Safety Siren Pro Series3Radon Detector. . . ." 2. From p.9. "Specifications" the Long-Term entry states: "Average from the time of last reset. Maximum sampling time of 5 years. The detector will automatically reset after 5 years of accumulated data."TK's Conclusion #2 - The Safety Siren is targeted at both the radon Measurement Professional at well as the Home User. A. It appears that the Safety Siren folks, at one time, claimed their device as EPA approved. From the second copy of their Safety Siren documentation (Model HS71512) under "Note for Radon Measurement Professionals. . . Calibration" they stated in part:" The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Radiation and Indoor Environments National Laboratory (R&IE) has approved this device for radon measurement. If you are a radon measurement professional using this device for home inspections, etc, the EPA recommends a calibration and background check be performed annually. . . ."B. I went to the following R&IE web site ( http://www.epa.gov/radon/radontest.html ) and found this:What does "EPA-Listed" or "EPA Approved" or "Meets EPA Requirements" Mean?Read the letter announcing closure of National Radon Proficiency Program (RPP) dated July 30, 1998EPA-issued Radon Measurement (RMP) and Mitigation (RCP) Program photo-identification cards, and ANY item with EPA's logo or name, listing letters and identification numbers has not been valid since EPA closed its proficiency program in October 1998. Consequently, persons and companies should not represent themselves, their products or their services as "EPA Listed" or "EPA Approved" or "Meets EPA Requirements" or otherwise imply an EPA sanction. Consumers are encouraged to contact their State radon office for additional information or if you have a complaint or question.The EPA also stated on the URL:EPA Acknowledgement of Non-Federal National Radon Proficiency ProgramsAfter the close of EPA's National Radon Proficiency Program (RPP) in 1998, there were requests that EPA offer some form of recognition of non-Federal radon proficiency programs. EPA developed recognition criteria and offered a one-time acknowledgment to both of the existing non-Federal national radon proficiency programs (The National Radon Safety Board (NRSB) and The National Environmental Health Association's (NEHA) National Radon Proficiency Program). . . . "It appears the folks at Michigan-based Family Safety Products, Inc., the manufactures of the Safety Siren may have deleted their reference to the EPA approval of their device in their in some versions of their documentation. I have no way to date the different copies of the documentation because Family Safety Products, Inc., did not date stamp their different versions of the Safety Siren documentation I have reviewed.I do know that several online sellers of the Safety Siren, InspectUSA, for one, currently advertise the Safety Siren as "EPA Approved" and a 2012 article on Ezine@rticles, an online states that the Safety Siren Pro Series 3 as the "only EPA evaluated radon gas alarm". TK's Conclusion #3 - I personally would not use the Safety Siren for professional test results; it does seem to be a good home owner's testing tool if the accuracy can be established by an independent 3rd. party & one understands the differences between the EPA definition of Short-Term & Long-Term Test periods vs. those of the Safety Siren. To all: Thanks for your input; it's been an adventure trying to get to the bottom of my three questions. I hope I was not too long winded but I felt that I needed to document my evidence so that my findings would have a basis in fact, not just opinions.Thanks,Tony All the best,Tony Kiburis Radon Reduction Services, LLCNEHA Certification No. 104249 RMT Tele: 603-924-2949Fax: 877-504-1028 From: Paul Muntak To: RADONPROFESSIONALS@LIST.UIOWA.EDU Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2012 8:59 PMSubject: Re: [RNPROF] Safety Siren CRM questionsPro Series III Monitors, are not an approved device as far as is have ever been able to find out. Here are my findings of a testing scenario that I used them for in British Columbia, Canada. By the way as part of the answer to the original post is these meters are set to give only one reading for the first seven days. Even though it is only the LT light meaning "long-term" that is on it is still only regarded as a short-term measurement. It is just there is not enough data to substantiate two readings until the seven day mark. The actual instructions state "the short-term reading is an average of the levels of radon gas over the past seven days". So this may be the reason these units are not certified. There can be huge variations on these testers compared to "certified units", please read through this post. Health Canada, I'm sorry, I have tried to convey this information (verbally) with no real response. Maybe I am not talking to the right people? You should compile so additional testing to substantiate either side, as I have not seen it other then you are condoning these testers (higher values it does not matter but the lower ones may). At any rate I can not (apparently others can't either) find the reference where these are certified units for testing.This is the actual numbers on the testing that I had run for three months with Alpha Tracks and Pro Series III continuous monitors. The differences are astounding to me and perhaps Health Canada should do some more research on these monitors prior to advising people they could use them. I have also used them on short term testing against Activated Charcoal tests and have found them to be very close to well over.The numbers are as follows:· Alpha Track – detector number 1994511 Dining room 15.4 pCi/L 93 day exposure· Alpha Track – detector number 1994514 Basement 22.1 pCi/L 93 day exposureContinuous monitors were set 4" away from each Alpha Track respectively for the 93 day exposure. After the sampling period the CM's were brought back and reset and each one was run against another CM not used on the job and the first 48 hours the results on both monitors were very similar to each other (just checking for calibration) +/- 0.2 pCi/L.· Continuous MonitorsDecember 4, 2010 basement long term 43.9 pCi/L short term 45.0 pCi/L dining room long term 38.8 pCi/L short term 40.6 pCi/LDecember 23, 2010 basement long term 44.3 pCi/L short term 44.2 pCi/L dining room long term 40.5 pCi/L short term 39.2 pCi/LJanuary 4, 2011 basement long term 43.8 pCi/L short term 40.4 pCi/L dining room long term 40.4 pCi/L short term 37.5 pCi/LFebruary 20, 2011 basement long term 41.6 pCi/L short term 37.8 pCi/L dining room long term 38.9 pCi/L short term 36.5 pCi/LPlease let me know your thoughts!Radon Professionals - Subscription changes and archives - http://list.uiowa.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=RADONPROFESSIONALS&A=1No virus found in this message.Checked by AVG - www.avg.comVersion: 2012.0.1913 / Virus Database: 2411/4960 - Release Date: 04/26/12Radon Professionals - Subscription changes and archives - http://list.uiowa.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=RADONPROFESSIONALS&A=1 Radon Professionals - Subscription changes and archives - http://list.uiowa.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=RADONPROFESSIONALS&A=1 This email me… virus found in this message.Checked by AVG - www.avg.comVersion: 2012.0.1913 / Virus Database: 2411/4960 - Release Date: 04/26/12Radon Professionals - Subscription changes and archives - http://list.uiowa.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=RADONPROFESSIONALS&A=1Radon Professionals Subscription changes and archives - http://list.uiowa.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=RADONPROFESSIONALS&A=1No virus found in this message.Checked by AVG - www.avg.comVersion: 2012.0.1913 / Virus Database: 2411/4962 - Release Date: 04/27/12
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From Name
Jane Patlyek
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