ASTM E2121-21
(Practice)Standard Practice for Installing Radon Mitigation Systems in Existing Low-Rise Residential Buildings
Standard Practice for Installing Radon Mitigation Systems in Existing Low-Rise Residential Buildings
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The purpose of the methods, systems, and designs described in this practice is to reduce radiation exposures for occupants of residential buildings caused by radon and its progeny. The goal of mitigation is to maintain reduced radon concentrations in occupiable areas of buildings at levels as low as reasonably achievable. This practice includes sections on reducing radiation exposure caused by radon and its progeny for workers who install and repair radon mitigation systems. The goal for workers is to reduce exposures to radon and its progeny to levels as low as reasonably achievable.
5.2 The methods, systems, designs, and materials described here have been shown to have a high probability of success in mitigating radon in attached and detached residential buildings, three stories or less in height (see EPA, “Radon Reduction Techniques for Existing Detached Houses, Technical Guidance (Third Edition) for Active Soil Depressurization Systems”). Application of these methods does not, however, guarantee reduction of radon levels below any specific level, since performance will vary with site conditions, construction characteristics, weather, and building operation.
5.3 When applying this practice, contractors also shall conform to all applicable local, state, and federal regulations, and laws pertaining to residential building construction, remodeling, and improvement.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice describes methods for reducing radon entry into existing attached and detached residential buildings three stories or less in height. This practice is intended for use by trained, certified or licensed, or both, or otherwise qualified individuals.
1.2 These methods are based on radon mitigation techniques that have been effective in reducing radon levels in a wide range of residential buildings and soil conditions. These fan powered mitigation methods are listed in Appendix X1. More detailed information is contained in references cited throughout this practice.
1.3 This practice is intended to provide radon mitigation contractors with a uniform set of practices that will ensure a high degree of safety and the likelihood of success in retrofitting low rise residential buildings with radon mitigation systems.
1.4 The methods described in this practice apply to currently occupied or formerly occupied residential buildings, including buildings converted or being converted to residential use, as well as residential buildings changed or being changed by addition(s) or alteration(s), or both. The radon reduction activities performed on new dwellings, while under construction, before occupancy, and for up to one year after occupancy, are covered by Practice E1465.
1.5 This practice also is intended as a model set of practices, which can be adopted or modified by state and local jurisdictions, to fulfill objectives of their specific radon contractor certification or licensure programs. Radon mitigation performed in accordance with this practice is considered ordinary repair.
1.6 The methods addressed in this practice include the following categories of contractor activity: general practices, building investigation, systems design, systems installation, materials, monitors and labeling, post-mitigation testing, and documentation.
1.7 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. See Section 6 for specific safety hazards.
1.9 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles...
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This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E2121 − 21
Standard Practice for
Installing Radon Mitigation Systems in Existing Low-Rise
1
Residential Buildings
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2121; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope building investigation, systems design, systems installation,
materials, monitors and labeling, post-mitigation testing, and
1.1 This practice describes methods for reducing radon
documentation.
entry into existing attached and detached residential buildings
1.7 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
three stories or less in height. This practice is intended for use
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
by trained, certified or licensed, or both, or otherwise qualified
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
individuals.
and are not considered standard.
1.2 Thesemethodsarebasedonradonmitigationtechniques
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the
that have been effective in reducing radon levels in a wide
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
range of residential buildings and soil conditions. These fan
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
powered mitigation methods are listed in Appendix X1. More
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
detailedinformationiscontainedinreferencescitedthroughout
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
this practice.
See Section 6 for specific safety hazards.
1.3 This practice is intended to provide radon mitigation
1.9 This international standard was developed in accor-
contractors with a uniform set of practices that will ensure a
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
high degree of safety and the likelihood of success in retrofit-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
ting low rise residential buildings with radon mitigation
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
systems.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1.4 The methods described in this practice apply to cur-
rently occupied or formerly occupied residential buildings,
2. Referenced Documents
including buildings converted or being converted to residential
2
use, as well as residential buildings changed or being changed 2.1 ASTM Standards:
by addition(s) or alteration(s), or both. The radon reduction E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
activities performed on new dwellings, while under
E1465 Practice for Radon Control Options for the Design
construction, before occupancy, and for up to one year after and Construction of New Low-Rise Residential Buildings
3
occupancy, are covered by Practice E1465.
(Withdrawn 2017)
E1745 Specification for Plastic Water Vapor Retarders Used
1.5 Thispracticealsoisintendedasamodelsetofpractices,
in Contact with Soil or Granular Fill under Concrete Slabs
which can be adopted or modified by state and local
2.2 Government Publications:
jurisdictions, to fulfill objectives of their specific radon con-
EPA “Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Reauthorization
tractor certification or licensure programs. Radon mitigation
4
Act,” regulation 40 CFR Part 763, Subpart E.
performed in accordance with this practice is considered
EPA “A Citizen’s Guide to Radon (Second Edition),” EPA
ordinary repair.
4
402-K92-001, May 1992.
1.6 The methods addressed in this practice include the
following categories of contractor activity: general practices,
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on Perfor- the ASTM website.
3
mance of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.41 on Air The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
Leakage and Ventilation Performance. www.astm.org.
4
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2021. Published October 2021. Originally AvailablefromUnitedStatesEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA),William
approved in 2001. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as E2121 – 13. DOI: Jefferson Clinton Bldg., 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20004,
10.1520/E2121-21. http://www.epa.gov.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100
...
This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E2121 − 13 E2121 − 21
Standard Practice for
Installing Radon Mitigation Systems in Existing Low-Rise
1
Residential Buildings
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2121; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This practice describes methods for reducing radon entry into existing attached and detached residential buildings three stories
or less in height. This practice is intended for use by trained, certified or licensed, or both, or otherwise qualified individuals.
1.2 These methods are based on radon mitigation techniques that have been effective in reducing radon levels in a wide range of
residential buildings and soil conditions. These fan powered mitigation methods are listed in Appendix X1. More detailed
information is contained in references cited throughout this practice.
1.3 This practice is intended to provide radon mitigation contractors with a uniform set of practices that will ensure a high degree
of safety and the likelihood of success in retrofitting low rise residential buildings with radon mitigation systems.
1.4 The methods described in this practice apply to currently occupied or formerly occupied residential buildings, including
buildings converted or being converted to residential use, as well as residential buildings changed or being changed by addition(s)
or alteration(s), or both. The radon reduction activities performed on new dwellings, while under construction, before occupancy,
and for up to one year after occupancy, are covered by GuidePractice E1465.
1.5 This practice also is intended as a model set of practices, which can be adopted or modified by state and local jurisdictions,
to fulfill objectives of their specific radon contractor certification or licensure programs. Radon mitigation performed in accordance
with this practice is considered ordinary repair.
1.6 The methods addressed in this practice include the following categories of contractor activity: general practices, building
investigation, systems design, systems installation, materials, monitors and labeling, post-mitigation testing, and documentation.
1.7 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. See Section 6 for specific safety hazards.
1.9 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on Performance of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.41 on Air Leakage
and Ventilation Performance.
Current edition approved March 1, 2013Oct. 1, 2021. Published March 2013October 2021. Originally approved in 2001. Last previous edition approved in 20122013 as
E2121 – 12.E2121 – 13. DOI: 10.1520/E2121-13.10.1520/E2121-21.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
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E2121 − 21
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
E1465 Practice for Radon Control Options for the Design and Construction of New Low-Rise Residential Buildings (Withdrawn
3
2017)
E1745 Specification for Plastic Water Vapor Retarders Used in Contact with Soil or Granular Fill under Concrete Slabs
2.2 Government Publications:
4
EPA “Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Reauthorization Act,” regulation 40 CFR Part 763, Subpart E.
4
EPA “A Citizen’s Guide to Radon (Second Edition),” EPA 402-K92-001, May 1992.
4
EPA “Consumer’s Guide to Radon Reduction,” EPA 402-K92-003, August 1992.
4
EPA “Handbook, Sub-Slab Depressurization for Low-Permeabi
...
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