Radon

Radon

  • Document Category: Radon

    • New radon maps for Scotland

      9 August 2011

      New, high definition radon maps were published last week by the Health Protection Agency (HPA). The maps were developed by the HPA and the British Geological Survey using new techniques developed to combine radon measurements with geological data to produce radon maps at a much finer resolution. This enabled an ‘indicative’ 1km resolution atlas to be published, similar to that available in England and Wales.

      The guidance contained within Section 3.2 of the technical handbooks currently makes reference to the superseded 2009 maps and this will be updated when the handbooks are next revised in October this year. However, there is an immediate need to ensure that designers and local authority verifiers have the most up-to-date radon probability information when designing, or assessing buildings under the building standards system.

      Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas which seeps up from the ground and is the second largest cause of lung cancer in the UK. Functional Standard 3.2 tackles this potential health risk by requiring that ‘every building must be designed and constructed in such a way that there will not be a threat to the health of people in or around the building due to the emission and containment of radon gas’. The guidance contained within the technical handbooks makes reference to radon maps available on the HPA website.

      Interim guidance, including a link to the HPA website (http://www.hpa.org.uk) and new map (http://www.hpa.org.uk/Publications/Radiation/CRCEScientificAndTechnicalReportSeries/HPACRCE023/), will be made available on our website shortly, pending revision to the text in the technical handbooks.

      Note: revised or amended guidance normally applies only to building warrant applications submitted on or after the date the revised guidance becomes operational and this is the case with the new radon maps. However, consideration should be given to providing or increasing radon protection where:

      - A building warrant has been applied for but has not yet been approved or
      - A building warrant has been issued but works have not yet commenced.

      When the new or extended building is now within a radon area when previously it was not or the probability of radon exposure has increased. In view of this, the local authority verifier may wish to advise the applicant of any building warrant affected in this way for the building owner to consider what action, if any, to take.

    • What do we need to know about radon?

      30 July 2009

      Briefing by Morag Brown and Ron Reid