Estudio, medida y mitigación de la concentración de radón en la Escuela Universitaria de Arquitectura Técnica de la Universidade da Coruña

Abstract

RESUMENSe ha llevado a cabo un estudio de la concentración de gas radón en la Escuela Universitaria de Arquitectura Técnica de la Universidade da Coruña. Para ello se ha analizado la ubicación del edificio, el terreno y los materiales de construcción empleados. A continuación se han efectuado mediciones para determinar la concentración de gas radón, empleando dos técnicas: medida in situ con un detector de cámara de ionización (corto espacio de tiempo), y medida con detectores de trazas (largo espacio de tiempo). En función de los resultados obtenidos, y teniendo en cuenta la legislación vigente (BOE, Instrucción IS-33, de 21 de diciembre de 2011), se han efectuado medidas correctoras (sellado de grietas, instalación de un sistema mecánico de ventilación) con el objetivo de mitigar las elevadas concentraciones de radón. Tras la ejecución de dichas medidas correctoras se efectuaron nuevas mediciones, verificándose la mitigación de radón en valores que oscilan entre el 50 y el 90 %.Palabras clave: radón; cámara de ionización; detectores de trazas; ventilación mecánica; mitigación. ABSTRACT

Study of Radon concentrations in a single-family home and their relationship with the ventilation system

“…Looking at ventilation efficiency over the maximum Radon value, the data obtained are the following: 92.58% for the basement, 54.36% for the ground floor, and 24.46% for the upper floor. These data regarding the efficacy of natural ventilation are seen to be very similar for the Radon in mean and maximum concentrations, and lie in the range of values described elsewhere (Frutos et al, 2018;Frutos et al, 2011;Otero et al al., 2017) -a noteworthy exception being the very low value obtained for the upper floor. The reason for this is that ventilation was unfeasible during the entire interval of data collection, because the bedroom window was closed at night (2300 to 0700 hours).…”

“…The contributions of this article should be analyzed in light of a limitation that justifies the development of future research: as other authors have appealed, (Otero et al, 2017;Piedecausa, 2013), taking measurements of longer duration (between 9 and 12 months) is a priority in order to fine-tune maximum and annual mean values, as well as possible fluctuations in concentration in the different seasons of the year. More precise results in this sense could help improve the implementation of measures intended to reduce the concentration of gas in buildings.…”

“…Studies intended to establish approximate gas concentrations and the reduction effectiveness of such measures arrived at respective values around 65%, 50%-90% and 99%, respectively (Frutos el al., 2018;Frutos et al, 2014;Frutos et al, 2011;NSCS, 2010b) Ground pressurization techniques present a percentage of efficiency much higher than the other two, in some cases doubling the effectiveness of traditional ventilation systems. However, previous studies involving the latter systems (Frutos et al, 2018;Frutos et al, 2011;Muñoz et al, 2017;Otero et al, 2017) below 400 Bq/m 3 , since mixing polluted air with the outside air reduces accumulation through dilution, giving these systems an efficiency level for reducing Radon concentration of 50%, as opposed to approximately 90% for forced ventilation. The efficacy values indicated are very similar to those that appear in Figure 2, indicating the effectiveness of protection measures documented in other countries by the UK´S Building Research Establishment Institute (NSCS, 2010b).…”

Study, measurement and mitigation of radon activity concentration in the School of Computer Science of A Coruña in the North West of Spain

“…From a geological point of view, the building is located in the upper area of the A Coruña granite massif, which is based on late granodiorite [3]. This is characterized microscopically by textures of the allotriomorphic, or coarse-grained, hypidiomorphic type, and very rarely oriented.…”

“…Radon gas is naturally present in almost every rock on the planet in small proportions (parts per million, ppm), but it varies depending on the type of soil [1,2]. Radon may also be present in water [2][3][4]. In Galicia (Spain), the soil is largely made up of granitic rock, which favours the accumulation and presence of radon.…”