Radon gas can be an invisible enemy
According to the WHO Radon is the second most common cause of lung cancer after tobacco. The growing awareness of the problem is generating regulatory changes and the adaptation of materials and construction solutions.
We has been researching the subject for some time now and carrying out tests to provide its waterproofing products with the appropriate characteristics so that its polyurea and polyurethane membranes comply with the new national and international regulations.
What is Radon Gas?
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas. This gas has a tendency to concentrate indoors in buildings such as homes, schools and workplaces. Radon is produced through the natural radioactive decay of uranium. It is found in our ecosystem in granitic soils and rocks although it can also be found in water. Radon readily emanates from the soil and passes into the air. Once in the air, it disintegrates and emits radioactive particles. In the environment, it dilutes quickly as the concentration is very low and does not pose any health risk.
RADON REMEDIATION
The problem is in enclosed spaces. Radon enters homes through cracks in the floor, cracks between floors and walls, spaces near pipes or cables, pores in hollow concrete walls, drains and sewers. This is why radon has been found to have higher concentrations in basements, cellars, and living spaces that are directly in contact with the ground.
It can also appear inside the home due to emissions from building materials, both from the concentration of radium in the materials and the fraction of radon produced that is released, as well as the porosity of the material, surface preparation and wall finish.
To reduce the concentration of radon in interiors, both in new and existing homes, we must on the one hand prevent its filtration and on the other hand ensure the refreshment indoor air so that it does not stagnate.
To do so, the WHO recommends: Improving the ventilation of slabs. Installing a mechanical extraction system in basements, flooring slabs or basement slabs to remove radon from areas of highest concentration. Preventing seepage from the basement into the rooms by depressurising the space between the base of the building and the ground. Sealing the floor and walls. Generally improving the ventilation of the house.
In Spain, the Council of Ministers approved, at its meeting on 20 December, the Royal Decree amending the Technical Building Code, which will serve to improve the energy efficiency of buildings and which includes, among other issues, the new "Basic Energy Saving Document" and the new section of the "Basic Health Document" concerned with the protection of buildings against exposure to radon gas. https://www.codigotecnico.org/index.php/menu-actualidad/390-aprobacionRD.html
Last week the publication of the "New Radon Remediation Guide edited by the CTE” was in the news
