Literature Search and Development of Draft Radon-Resistant Construction Guidelines for Use In Florida, 1988


Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas that is estimated to cause approximately 13,000 lung-cancer deaths each year in the United States. Radon is created naturally in the soil beneath most structures, and often accumulates to hazardous concentrations in the indoor environment. This contract analyzed previously completed work on radon-reduction technologies, synthesized the findings into guidelines for new home construction in Florida, convened a national panel of experts for a technical review meeting, and resulted in a consensus document that was accepted by the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services and the United States Environmental Protection Agency as the reference for all radon-resistant new construction in the state.

An important result of this project was creation of the Florida Radon Research Program. The Principal Investigator worked closely with the legislature, the Florida Home Builders Association, and the many other special interest groups to translate complex scientific studies into understandable language, and to help formulate a coalition of all interested parties. As a result, the Florida Radon Research Program, operated by the Florida Departments of Community Affairs and Health and Rehabilitative Services, is generally recognized as the most comprehensive radon-resistant code development effort in the nation.

It is estimated that this entire research program, which has generated approximately $6-million of building-related research support over the past 5 years, has saved the state's construction industry over $1 billion while providing safer housing to thousands.

Sponsor:
Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services

Principal Investigator:
Thomas Pugh

Duration:
9 months

External Funding Level:
$25,000

Resulting Publications:
Radon-Resistant Construction Guidelines for Use In Florida, Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, 1988

Radon-Resistant Construction Guidelines for Use In Florida - 1989, USEPA Office of Research and Development, 7D4130NTGX, July 1990

Resulting Presentations:
Architectural Implications of Radon Control: Design of Buildings - Design of Radon Research, International Symposium on Environmental Contamination In Central and Eastern Europe, Budapest Hungary, October 1992

Design and Construction Strategies for Radon-Resistant Buildings, The Science, Technology and Environmental Policy Seminar, Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia, June 1991

Evolving Strategies for Radon-Resistant Construction, Moscow Division, Committee of Architecture, Moscow USSR, April 1990 Evolving Strategies for Radon-Resistant Construction, Central Board of Engineering Societies, House of Scientists, Moscow USSR, April 1990

Research In Support of Radon-Resistant Construction Standards, 1990 SBCCI Annual Research and Education Conference, New Orleans, October 1990.