EXPLAINER: The dangers of Radon in your home

placeholder image — EXPLAINER: The dangers of Radon in your home

By Radon Services Ireland (RSI) - A new company based in Kilkenny

Radon Services Ireland (RSI) is a new and upcoming business based in Kilkenny.

A family run organisation led by Yvonne who holds a Degree in Business & HR and her husband Aidan, a Chartered Construction Manager, with support from their daughter Sarah who recently completed a HDip in Art.

The company has been set up by the Power family to raise awareness about the risks associated with radon gas, to offer detection devices for homes and businesses, and also to provide remedial solutions for premises exposed to high levels of radon gas.

RSI offer a unique and professional service - firstly detecting the presence of radon in the premises and depending on test results, RSI then provide options and solutions for remedial works that are undertaken by its experienced team.

So, whether it’s a privately owned house, a rental property, an office, retail unit or storage facility, please get in touch with us today to arrange a test kit for your property.

What is radon

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas formed in the ground.
It is tasteless, odourless and colourless. Radon can move through the soil and into the atmosphere, seeping into homes and workspaces through cracks in the foundation, walls and floors.

More than 100,000 homes and businesses across the country are exposed to dangerously high levels of radon gas. Radon levels are measured in becquerels per cubic meter of air (Bq/m3).
The recommended action levels for long-term radon exposure in homes is 200Bq/m3, above which remedial measure should be considered.
In workplaces, it is a legal requirement to remediate if radon levels are above 300Bq/m3.
It’s essential to note that these reference levels are not a hard and fast boundary between safe and dangerous levels, but rather a guideline indicating when it’s time to take action to reduce radon concentrations.
Radon risks
Radon can have devastating health impacts, despite it's deadly reputation, radon remains a largely unknown and misunderstood threat to many homeowners and workplaces.
Radon is a known carcinogen, classified alongside asbestos and tobacco smoke as a cause of lung cancer. When inhaled, the radioactive particles produced by radon decay in the airways and on lung tissue, delivering a radiation dose that can increase the risk of lung cancer.
In Ireland, its estimated that around 350 lung cancer cases each year can be attributed to radon exposure. Certain individuals, such as active smokers, former smokers, children and those with pre-existing lung conditions, are more susceptible to the dangers of radon. — What is radon Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas formed in the ground. It is tasteless, odourless and colourless. Radon can move through the soil and into the atmosphere, seeping into homes and workspaces through cracks in the foundation, walls and floors. More than 100,000 homes and businesses across the country are exposed to dangerously high levels of radon gas. Radon levels are measured in becquerels per cubic meter of air (Bq/m3). The recommended action levels for long-term radon exposure in homes is 200Bq/m3, above which remedial measure should be considered. In workplaces, it is a legal requirement to remediate if radon levels are above 300Bq/m3. It’s essential to note that these reference levels are not a hard and fast boundary between safe and dangerous levels, but rather a guideline indicating when it’s time to take action to reduce radon concentrations. Radon risks Radon can have devastating health impacts, despite it's deadly reputation, radon remains a largely unknown and misunderstood threat to many homeowners and workplaces. Radon is a known carcinogen, classified alongside asbestos and tobacco smoke as a cause of lung cancer. When inhaled, the radioactive particles produced by radon decay in the airways and on lung tissue, delivering a radiation dose that can increase the risk of lung cancer. In Ireland, its estimated that around 350 lung cancer cases each year can be attributed to radon exposure. Certain individuals, such as active smokers, former smokers, children and those with pre-existing lung conditions, are more susceptible to the dangers of radon.

Domestic radon detection

It is recommended that all homeowners have their homes tested for radon, regardless of whether they live in an area known to have high radon levels.

This is because radon levels can vary significantly from one building to another, even if neighbouring homes have tested below the national reference level.

The only way to determine the safety of your home’s radon level is through testing, so it’s essential to take this step to ensure your indoor air quality is safe and healthy.

Radon Services Ireland provides a standard testing method which involves deploying two sectors in average-sized homes for a long term 90 day test.

These are typically placed in most frequently used areas, such as the living room and bedroom, which captures an accurate representation of average radon levels.

After three months, you must return the detectors for analysis. The results are then returned to you within a few weeks.

Our comprehensive service includes detector installation, retrieval, and interpretation of lab results, followed by customised solutions to address any identified radon issues.

Workplace radon detection

Every employer has a general duty to identify and minimise hazards in the workplace. By law, you must test for radon if your workplace is on the ground floor or basement level in a high radon area.

However, it is recommended that every workplace should have a radon test carried out. The number of radon detectors required for your workplace depends on room type, occupancy, and size.

Contact RSI today for a radon testing plan for your workplace.

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EXPLAINER: The dangers of Radon in your home

By Radon Services Ireland (RSI) - A new company based in Kilkenny

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