Treating Radon in a Basement

Summary

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  Treating Radon levels with Newton PAC 500 System

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  Radon Monitoring Chart – Before and After Application of Newton PAC-500 System

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  Testing of Newton PAC-500 System – remarkable reduction of Radon levels from 5000 bqm to 100 bqm

Newton PAC 500 (Positive Air Curtain) System combines radon gas protection for basements and waterproofing, it was used here to treat extremely high radon levels in a listed property in Derbyshire. The results with the Newton PAC were remarkable.

The Project

The owner of this picturesque listed property in Derbyshire wanted to upgrade their basement into a dry habitable area. Knowing their house was in a high-risk Radon gas area, the project required gas remediation and structural waterproofing to obtain habitable living.

High Radon Levels

First, a preliminary test for Radon showed startling results. The basement area tested over 5,000 becharels. This was 4,800 above what is considered the action level for remediation in domestic properties, which is 200 bqm. The owner contacted specialist gas remediation experts Prestige Air who recommend that the Newton PAC “Positive Air Curtain” system be installed to deal with the Radon but also the basement waterproofing combined.

The Solution

Prestige Air contacted Newton Specialist Basement Contractor Protectahome to perform the installation of the Newton System 500 Cavity Drain Waterproofing and Prestige Air installed the “Positive Air Curtain”. To ascertain the real time Radon levels, Prestige Air installed a continuous Radon monitor to the basement. This data logs Radon levels throughout the project, and to give guidance about the amount of air management required within the Newton PAC system to treat the problem.

The Newton PAC 500 System

First, the team installed an air duct at joist height around the entire retaining aspects of the basement. Specifically, the Air Duct contains pressure control bladders internally and air delivery points drilled into the bottom of the duct as a means of delivering an even air curtain down behind the Newton 508 cavity drain membrane.

Secondly, contractors hung Newton 508 as a high-level curtain to minimise penetrations. Installers fixed the 508 membrane using Newton MultiPlugs, which they sealed in this instance with Newton WaterSeal butyl rope. After fixing the membrane to the retaining walls, the team double-sealed all MultiPlugs with Newton Overtape. Furthermore, this prevents gas leakage through the fixings, all membrane joints, and the seal to the PAC duct.

Finally, the team installed Newton Basedrain on top of the slab, directing wastewater to a Titan Pro Sump and Pump. This manages water removal from the basement.

The Result

With the Newton PAC system installed, Prestige Air performed their patented gas integrity testing process on the system. This identified all defects in the membrane sealing before re-sealing and re-testing them.

The results with the Newton PAC installed were remarkable! Radon levels were now down from 5000 bqm to less than 100 bqm.