Radon protection for new buildings: a practical solution from the UK.

If indoor radon levels are to be significantly reduced across Europe it is essential to ensure that all new buildings built in areas affected by radon are protected. In the United Kingdom the Building Research Establishment Ltd (BRE) has been carrying out research on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) to develop protective measures for use in new buildings. This work commenced in the mid-1980s and has resulted in the development of a range of practical cost-effective techniques for providing radon protection in new UK buildings. Guidance has been developed in support of the Building Regulations for England and Wales. First published in 1991 the technical solutions have been gradually improved in light of experience gained on site. Likewise, the areas for which the guidance applies have also been revised in light of radon surveys carried out by the National Radiological Protection Board. This continuous process of refinement is scheduled to result in a further version during 1999. The techniques developed in the UK mainly rely upon passive radon barriers, which are low cost and simple to install. Even in the worst affected areas of the country, where some 30% of existing houses have radon levels greater than 200 Bq/m3 (UK recommended action level), houses with protection measures regularly result in indoor radon levels close to 20 Bq/m3 (UK average for all house types). Radon protective measures are now being installed routinely in many parts of the UK. The cost of installation has reduced as protection has become a matter of routine through regulation, so that currently radon protection is unlikely to cost much more than 0.25% of the total construction cost of a typical UK house. It is our view that many of the techniques developed in the UK could be used directly or with minor modifications in other countries in Europe. This paper describes these latest techniques and approaches used in the UK to successfully provide radon protective measures.