Long term durability of UK radon protective measures

This paper describes work undertaken by Building Research Establishment Limited (BRE) for the Building Regulations Division of the UK Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, as part of a study into radon protective measures used in new dwellings. The aim of the study was to establish whether the radon protective measures that are routinely installed in the UK provide long term protection against radon and do not result in any long term building defects. A sample of 73 houses monitored for radon shortly after construction were contacted ten years later to see whether radon levels remain low and check for signs of any construction defects. The results of the study have confirmed that the protective measures continue to provide adequate radon protection, without causing any adverse side effects. This offers confidence that the measures will continue to provide protection over the lifetime of the buildings.