Radon Testing in zone3, West Washington

[Dale Rowe]

I'd like to know how many inspectors in zone 3 areas, considered least likely to have elevated radon levels, are doing radon testing in the course of an inspection, or separately. Is it ever requested by the client, realtor, or governmental/mortgage entities?
Thanks

[Peter C. Russell]

What are zone 3 areas, are they areas known for high or low levels of radon?

[Dale Rowe]

Zone 3 is lowest levels, relatively speaking.

[Peter C. Russell]

Meaning what? I still don't understand.

[Dale Rowe]

The likelihood of radon in the soil varies by geographical area, based on several factors. Radon is theoretically considered much more prevalent in some parts of the country, much less in others. So the country has been divided into zones to indicate that difference. There are currently 3 zones, with zone 1 being most likely to contain radon. I suspect radon tests happen as a matter of course during or concurrent with inspections in zone 1. I inspect exclusively in zone 3, where radon levels of any concern are rarely found. I was just wondering if other inspectors in zone 3 do radon testing.
This link: http://www.epa.gov/ has information about areas of concern, maps, and other info about lead, mold, etc.
Thanks

[Peter C. Russell]

Does anyone have a graphic of this. In NE it's all over the place, you can inspect a home with no radon and the next town over it's in the double digits.
But that's NE, same thing with radon water and arsenic.

[Peter C. Russell]

PS, They don't call NH the granite state for nothing!!!

[arussell]

Dale - good link, thanks.

Pete - go figure NH is only zone 2. Me. and parts of Ma. are zone 1!!!!!!!!

[Joseph Hagarty, CMI]

Zone 1 counties have a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L (pico curies per liter) (red zones)Highest Potential

Zone 2 counties have a predicted average indoor radon screening level between 2 and 4 pCi/L (orange zones)Moderate Potential

Zone 3 counties have a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L (yellow zones)Low Potential

[Peter C. Russell]

Thanks Joe, but I still don't get it.
That map is not accurate at all, Is it just a generalisation?

[David A. Andersen]

Not only is it not accurate, it's not accurate!

The EPA graphical maps are based on areas tested for radon.
Is there an area where more testing will be done? Yes in heavily populated areas.
Is there an area where the population is more likely to test than in others? Yes.

The graphical maps show, were testing was performed, the testing results resulted within a certain scale.

When a map depicts an area which is uninhabitable, therefore never tested, does that mean there is no elevated radon concentrations in that area?

EPA's opinion is that all homes should be tested for radon, regardless of location or geographical dynamic. To recommend testing or not to test based upon a graphical representation is a liability to you. EPA specifically states that propertys adjacent to an area where high radon levels were obtained will not necessarily have the same results.

In parts of the state of Tennessee there is a heavy clay based soil which keeps the radon in the ground. There are also caves, caverns, sinkholes and solution chambers where high concentrations of radon exist. If you stick your house on top of one of these geological anomalies and dig down through the clay based soil to install your foundation, you will have a higher probability to have elevated radon levels. The design of your house (full basement or concrete slab foundation) will have a significant impact on the testing results.The results is always a case-by-case basis.

[afrost]

Originally Posted by prussell

Does anyone have a graphic of this. In NE it's all over the place, you can inspect a home with no radon and the next town over it's in the double digits.
But that's NE, same thing with radon water and arsenic.

it can vary from one house to the next