Radon Policy

NAHB supports:

1. A response that is narrowly tailored to priority areas designated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that exceed the current indoor action level of 4pCi/l (as measured in living areas) and that passive building techniques be used for new construction in those areas;

2. Radon mitigation techniques that are prescriptive in nature, provided they are also well researched and justified in terms of health risks in the home environment;

3. The EPA’s “Model Standards for Control of Radon in New Residential Buildings” should be modified to result in prescriptive construction techniques that are technically and economically feasible and generally affordable;

4. Flexible EPA mapping guidelines that can be adjusted to reflect local conditions (to include areas smaller than counties) and provide local government entities the opportunity to challenge the EPA’s assessment and designation of a radon priority area; as well as giving the EPA the latitude to modify its designation; and

5. Research efforts to find cost-effective site testing techniques that can be correlated with future indoor radon levels that will aid in predicting when specific construction techniques should be employed; and

Further, NAHB supports legislative initiatives that would:

1. Establish priority radon areas where the predicted average indoor level exceeds 4pCi/l and only in those areas employing rules that require builders to use passive building techniques for new construction for federally insured or guaranteed housing;

2. Exempt builders from all liability regarding radon if the construction complies or complied at the time of construction with federally mandated or state adopted or recognized requirements;

3. Support educational and training programs for builders and others on the proper installation of radon mitigation construction techniques;

4. Provide funding for local governments to survey homes in the area to allow more precise mapping of sub-county areas, and to provide educational programs for the public informing them of the risks of radon exposure and actions they might take to mitigate these risks

5. Eliminate the statutory directive to achieve radon levels equivalent to ambient air radon levels; and

6. Advise EPA not to propose or implement additional restrictive actions relative to radon abatement; and

Further, NAHB resolves to maintain a working relationship with the EPA, both on a research and policy level, to assure that any changes in its radon policy and guidance are technically and economically feasible.

Resolution originally adopted: 2009.5, Resolution No. 3

Committee with primary jurisdiction:

• Construction, Codes & Standards Committee