Run by the UK Radon Association, this year’s UK Radon Awareness Week marks its 10th anniversary with the campaign aiming to raise awareness of the silent health risk that affects homes, schools and businesses across the UK: radon gas. Taking place from 4-10 November, the campaign is emphasising that radon testing is a simple yet crucial step to ensure a healthy home environment. Airtech is therefore advising households, private landlords and employers, to learn about radon and its health effects and to carry out a radon test in homes and workplaces to help protect families and employees.
This year Radon Awareness Week’s theme is ‘Healthy Homes, Healthy Living’ encouraging families not to forget radon testing when taking other steps such as checking smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to ensure a family’s safety, since radon testing is just as important. Radon is one of the leading causes of lung cancer after smoking, posing a significant risk to lung health with 1,100 deaths each year estimated to be caused by exposure to the gas. It is therefore vital to learn about radon and its health effects and fortunately it is simple to carry out radon testing in homes and workplaces to help protect families and employees.
“Nowadays, people are diligent about installing smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in their homes because they recognise the immediate dangers that these devices can protect their families from,” says Dr Maria Dugdale, Chair of the UK Radon Association. She continues, “Similarly, we are all well-versed in needing to open windows when we’re decorating, or using strong cleaning chemicals to avoid inhaling fumes. Yet many don’t consider the risks posed by radon. Whilst it’s a less obvious risk and requires some research to establish whether it could affect your home, addressing it is just as crucial for maintaining a safe and healthy living environment.”
"We are proud to support UK Radon Awareness Week once again. Awareness of radon and its health risks remains surprisingly low, and we’re committed to raising awareness about this colourless, odourless radioactive gas," says Natasha King, RMI Product Manager. "By encouraging homeowners, landlords, and employers to learn about radon, test for it, and take action if needed, we aim to protect more people from its potential impact on lung health. At Airtech, we offer both testing and remediation services to help ensure properties are safe from elevated radon levels."
For social housing and private landlords, it is essential they take action, since they have a duty of care to protect their residents from radon under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018. Properties are assessed on a range of criteria and they will be deemed unfit for habitation if there are serious defects in one or more of them. Radon is listed as a hazard under the category ‘Hazards under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System’. It is therefore vital for landlords to ensure their properties do not breach the Homes Act. Airtech can help housing providers by offering them a complete solution to protect both residents and landlords.
Similarly, employers also have a duty of care to their employees and must comply with the HSE Health and Safety at Work Act, which states all employers must review the potential radon hazard in their premises to ensure the health and safety of employees and others who have access to their work environment. Risk assessments for radon should be carried out in all below ground workplaces in the UK, and all workplaces located in radon affected areas. Airtech can help employers by providing both radon testing and remediation.
A naturally occurring colourless, odourless radioactive gas, radon disperses harmlessly into the air outdoors. However, once it finds its way indoors, through gaps and cracks in floors and walls, it may build up to potentially harmful levels. Every building has radon and in most areas the levels are low, however, some buildings in radon affected areas have higher levels. Households, landlords and employers in radon affected areas should have their properties tested to ensure they are not above the 200Bq/m3 action level set by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Airtech offers an effective and efficient programme, testing properties with small unobtrusive pods placed in a property to detect radon over a three-month period to ensure accurate testing. If levels are above the threshold, high levels of radon in a property can be reduced with simple measures.
When high levels of radon are detected, Airtech will recommend an appropriate solution to help reduce radon presence. In a domestic building, this could be installing positive input ventilation (PIV), which forces contaminated air out of a home by introducing fresh air into the property. Alternatively, in properties with very high levels of radon they may need to have an active radon sump fitted with a fan. Sumps work effectively under solid floors and under suspended floors if the ground is covered with concrete or a membrane.
Airtech offers a complete solution to help protect properties from the risks caused by radon gas with over 30 years of experience in radon prevention. The company offers a full range of products and services, from radon testing to full remediation of housing stock.
For more information and to find out how Airtech Solutions can help finding the right ventilation solution, get in touch using the information below.
