Radon Building Code
and Guidelines
Empowering Your Understanding for a Healthier Living or Working Space
Navigating Radon Guidelines:
Understanding Health Canada Standards
Radon is invisible, but your path to healthier living isn’t. Understand Health Canada’s recommendations for radon levels and take timely actions. Explore the Current Guidelines to ensure your space aligns with the highest standards. Stay informed and stay protected.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Health Canada recommends corrective actions for buildings determined as over 200 Bq/m3 within 2 years and buildings determined as over 600 Bq/m3 within 1 year.
- The higher the concentration, the sooner remedial action should be taken.
- Radon levels should be reduced to as low as practically possible.
- The National Building Code now includes provisions intended to make radon reduction easier if high levels are determined.
- Additional code requirements dependent on province and region apply
- In Alberta, Child Care Facilities will soon require radon testing. Please see details on our Childcare Facilities page.
- NORM Management is applicable for Candian workplaces detemined as over 200 Bq/m3 – 800 Bq/m3. Radiation Protection Management is applicable for Canadian workplaces determined as over 800 Bq/m3
- Uranium and other mines are governed by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
Radon Guidelines FAQs
Health Canada guidelines recommend corrective action at 200 Bq/m^3, the World Health Organization (WHO) at between 100-300 Bq/m^3 and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at 148 Bq/m^3. No doubt it’s confusing! The reason behind the difference of opinion lies in the risk potential and availability of resources for corrective action. Studies (check out our Research page) have concluded that health risks increase on exposure to 100 Bq/m^3. Despite the difference in guidelines, it is agreed that the lower the level of radon exposure the better.
Health Canada guidelines recommend corrective action at 200 Bq/m^3, the World Health Organization (WHO) at between 100-300 Bq/m^3 and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at 148 Bq/m^3. No doubt it’s confusing! The reason behind the difference of opinion lies in the risk potential and availability of resources for corrective action. Studies (check out our Research page) have concluded that health risks increase on exposure to 100 Bq/m^3. Despite the difference in guidelines, it is agreed that the lower the level of radon exposure the better.
Likely, your builder has taken every precaution to reduce the risk of radon gas entry as is possible before home possession including:
• Sealing building envelope as well as slab (basement floor)
• Air Barrier underneath the slab
• Radon rough-in system to make mitigation simple and efficient should it be deemed necessary. Despite all precautions, radon accumulation is still a possibility, which is why a rough in for a mitigation system has already been installed. Should your home be one in eight Alberta homes with high radon levels, much of the work to remediate has already been done.
Building for Safety: Radon Standards in Construction
Building codes play a crucial role in creating radon-resilient spaces. Navigate through the standards outlined in the National Building Code and Alberta Building Code. Understand Building Code Standards to ensure your construction aligns with radon safety.
National Building Code
The National Research Council updated guidance specifies provisions for both large building and residential housing pertaining to radon which include:
- Air barrier systems and requirements
- Drainage and waterproofing
- Ventilation systems
- Air contaminants
- Excavation
- Control of Air Leakage
- Good Engineering Practice
- Foundation wall and floor material
- Floors-on-ground
- Dampproofing
- Slab perimeter sealing
- Penetrations sealing
- Sump pit sealing
- Air seal drains where required
Alberta Building Code
Soil gas mitigation systems, of which radon is included, fall under Part 6 of the Alberta Building Code, introduced in 2016 (ABC 2014).
The following provisions were introduced to permit radon mitigation system installation in new construction, should it be determined that radon concentrations are in excess of current guidelines.
- Vapour barrier underneath the slab
- Clean 100 mm aggregate fill sub-slab
- Perimeter fully sealed
- All penetrations sealed
- Radon rough in pipe, caped, seal and labelled
- Sump pit airtight
Answers to Your Questions: Radon Resources FAQs
Have questions about our resource content? Explore our FAQs for answers to common queries. Get the clarity you need to navigate through guidelines, scientific insights, and building standards.
Current building codes across Canada have measures in place to ensure mitigation is effective if required but do guarantee low levels. Radon Rough In’s (Alberta) will have no effect on levels, and Passive Stacks (BC) can give a slight reduction in levels but without activation will not keep levels below guidelines.
Current building codes across Canada have measures in place to ensure mitigation is effective if required but do guarantee low levels. Radon Rough In’s (Alberta) will have no effect on levels, and Passive Stacks (BC) can give a slight reduction in levels but without activation will not keep levels below guidelines.
Health Canada guidelines recommend corrective action at 200 Bq/m^3, the World Health Organization (WHO) at between 100-300 Bq/m^3 and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at 148 Bq/m^3.
Because the risk of radon comes from the radiation dose of the gas it is difficult to pinpoint exactly where the dangerous level is. Take smoking for example – while 5 cigarettes a month is not as dangerous as 50 it still would not be considered “safe”, and while one smoker may get sick after smoking for 5 years another may not get sick after smoking for 50 years. No one can say exactly how many cigarettes it takes to cause lung cancer.