oRADON MITIGATION SYSTEM INSPECTION CHECKLIST

Revision date:  January 9, 2017

 
Client:_______________________________________________________________ Date:_________________
 
Address:___________________________________________________________________________________
 
I.  INSPECTION RESULTS (complete only one of A, B or C)
 
A.  This home has an active radon mitigation system*
Yes. The system appears to meet recommended design/installation and operating standards at time of installation. Test the home to verify that the radon level is below 4 pCi/L.

No.   The system does not appear to meet recommended design/installation and operating standards at time of installation. Repair or upgrade the system (as recommended). Test the home to verify that the radon level is below 4 pCi/L. 
 
B.  This home has a passive radon mitigation system*
Yes. The system appears to meet recommended design/installation standards. Test the home to verify that the indoor radon level is below 4 pCi/L.  If the test result is 4 pCi/L or more, have a qualified radon Mitigator activate the system by installing a vent fan and a warning device.

No.  The system does not appear to meet recommended design/installation standards. Have a qualified radon Mitigator repair or upgrade the system (as needed).  Test the home for radon and have a qualified radon Mitigator activate the system if the test result is 4 pCi/L or more.
 
C.  This home does not appear to have a radon mitigation system of any kind
Test the homes indoor air for radon.  If the result is 4 pCi/L or more, have a qualified radon Mitigator install a mitigation system that meets the States or EPAs Radon Mitigation Standards for existing homes.
 
*An active radon mitigation system has four basic elements:

 (1) an electric vent fan (located outside of conditioned space, i.e., in the attic, garage or outside the building envelope);

 (2) a system failure warning device (may also be in the basement);

 (3) a vent pipe running between sub-slab dirt/gravel up to above the roof or eave; and,

 (4) sealed and caulked cracks and joints.

 (5) a physical barrier (polyethylene membrane) between the soil and house foundation. The estimated life of a quality vent fan (operating continuously) is 10 years. In an existing home, the vent fan, wiring and piping are all part of the same installation.

*A passive system (installed at the time of construction) has:

(1) a vent pipe extending from the sub-slab dirt/gravel up to above the roof or eave; and;

(2) a physical barrier (polyethylene membrane) between the soil and house foundation.
 
II.  CONSUMER INFORMATION
 
 US EPA, States of WV and OH all recommend that home owners and home buyers test their current or prospective homes for the presence of radon gas in indoor air. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) strongly recommends that steps be taken to reduce the indoor radon level in your home when the test result is 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of radon in air, or more. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year are radon-related. Exposure to radon in indoor air is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking.

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About this Checklist
 
The main purpose of the Radon Mitigation System Inspection Checklist, is to educate home owners about radon, and to encourage radon testing and mitigation when elevated radon levels (4 pCi/L or more) are found.  The Checklist also helps to determine whether an existing system may need to be repaired or upgraded.  The Checklist is not a comprehensive inspection tool.  It does not replace, nor is it a substitute for, mitigation system inspections conducted or required by state or local governments or agencies.
 
Prior to 1989, EPA had no specific recommendations on the design of an effective mitigation system or how it should be installed.  Between 1989 and 1991, EPA did make such recommendations, and allowed locating radon vent fans in basements.  However, in 1991, EPA codified its earlier recommendations, including research results, and published the Radon Mitigation Standards. After 1991, radon vent fans were to be located only in unconditioned spaces, e.g., an attic or outside the building.
 
This Checklist is based upon EPAs Radon Mitigation Standards (EPA 402-R-93-078, Revised April 1994), the Model Standards and Techniques for Control of Radon in New Residential Buildings (EPA 402-R-94-009, March 1994), and radon control methods contained in residential construction codes.  Also, this Checklist incorporates elements from several state radon inspection checklists (e.g., those of WV and OH).

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MITIGATION SYSTEM INSPECTION CHECKLIST

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III.  INSPECTION ELEMENTS
 
(1) Vent pipe size/type and labeling.

Vent pipe/fittings appear to be PVC, ABS or equivalent; (downspout NOT OK after June 30, 2006).                                                                         Yes  No N/A

Vent pipe main stack diameter is approximately 3-4".                                                                                                                                                  Yes  No N/A 

Vent pipe labeled as a radon reduction system; on each level where pipe is visible.                                                                                                   Yes  No N/A
 
(2) Vent pipe location and installation.

Vent pipe appears to extend at least 10-feet above the ground, and at the exhaust point to end above the eave/roof (12-18" is typical).                 Yes  No N/A 

Vent pipe appears to end at least 10-feet from any opening into conditioned space (e.g., window or door), or at least 2-feet above any

such opening.                                                                                                                                                                                                                Yes  No N/A

Vent pipe appears to end at least 10-feet from any opening into conditioned space (e.g., window or door), in an adjacent or nearby building.         Yes  No N/A

Collar/damper appears to be present if vent pipe penetrates fire rated wall.                                                                                                                 Yes No N/A Short rough-in vent pipe ending above the slab within the basement is capped.                                                                                                          Yes  No N/A

   (This type of vent pipe is not an approved installation.  As a safety precaution the vent pipe should be capped or sealed to prevent radon entry. 

   These installations are incomplete and a consequence of non-conformance with recommended standards; see II in this checklist.
 

(3) Vent pipe system integrity.

Pipe, fittings/connections appear to be air tight, properly joined/sealed.                                                                                                                      Yes  No  N/A

There are no visible openings or breaks in the pipe system.                                                                                                                                        Yes  No  N/A A pressure monitor is present and operating, and is accessible.                                                                                                                                  Yes  No  N/A

   (In active systems only; a non-electric instrument, e.g., U-Tube manometer, cylinder, or gauge; or an audible instrument.)
 
(4) Vertical vent pipe penetration(s) (to subsoil beneath the basement floor or slab)

The sealing/caulking around the vent pipe in the basement/slab floor and/or walls is intact.                                                                                       Yes  No  N/A

A vertical or horizontal vent pipe penetration is present in a (full or partial) crawl space.                                                                                             Yes  No  N/A

The crawl space vapor barrier (soil-gas-retarder, e.g., polyethylene) appears to extend to the foundation walls and sealed, and the seams appear

to be overlapped by at least 12".                                                                                                                                                                                   Yes  No  N/A
 

(5) Electrical  (for active systems only)

Vent fan plugged cord connection appears to be no more than 6-feet long.                                                                                                                Yes  No  N/A

Vent fan plugged cord connection is visible, and not concealed within a wall.                                                                                                             Yes  No  N/A

If outside the building, the vent/mitigation fan is hard wired to a disconnect switch.                                                                                                    Yes  No  N/A 

Vent fan appears to be wired into a non-switched circuit.                                                                                                                                             Yes  No  N/A(That is, not wired through any other switches, e.g., lighting wall switch.) 

The circuit/breaker controlling (hard-wired) vent fan is labeled a Radon System.                                                                                                        Yes  No  N/A
 
(6) Vent or Mitigation Fan(s) (for active systems only) 

If outside, the fan is not below ground (e.g., in a pit).                                                                                                                                                   Yes  No  N/A

Vent fan is mounted in a vertical (not horizontal) section of pipe.                                                                                                                                 Yes  No  N/A

If inside, the fan is located in an unconditioned space, e.g., the attic.                                                                                                                          Yes  No  N/A(A fan located in the basement does not meet post-1991 EPA recommendations or standards.)
 

(7) Sump

If the sump is sealed, a trapped drain (or equivalent) should be present.                                                                                                                    Yes  No  N/A 

(Independent of whether the vent pipe(s) passes through the floor/slab or is installed in the sump.)

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