Problem of radon exposure in energy-efficient buildings: a review

Abstract

The paper presents an overview of the international scientific and technical publications on a problem of radon accumulation in new energy efficient buildings and in houses reconstructed according to requirements of energy saving. Energy efficiency is an important requirement of the environmentally sustainable development. Housing and communal services have significant potential for energy saving. In Russia, the construction of highest energy efficiency classes buildings occurs at an accelerated rate and reached 75% of all multiapartment houses built in 2017. The applying of modern technologies that reduce heat loss is accompanied by a decrease in the air exchange rate, which leads to deterioration of indoor air quality, in particular, the accumulation of radon. In the international literature, there are examples of the several times growth of radon concentration after the reconstruction of the building, the average radon concentration in retrofitted buildings increased by 22–120%. In new houses built to meet energy saving requirements, there can also be a significant increase in radon concentration compared to low-energy efficiency classes houses. Excess of sanitary and hygienic norms was found in some countries, including Russia. Radon exposure of dwellers of energy-efficient buildings is largely determined by the living habits. Based on the review data, it can be assumed that the average level of Russian population exposure to radon can increase under conditions of intensive construction of energy-efficient buildings.

Radon concentration in conventional and new energy efficient multi-storey apartment houses: results of survey in four Russian cities

“…E.g. in previous studies, relatively high radium-226 concentration in building materials (90 Bq/kg) was found in a flat of new energy efficient building (Ekaterinburg, 15-th floor), which, in combination with low uncontrolled ventilation rate, caused high indoor radon concentration (370 Bq/m 3 ) 20 .…”

“…In England, measures to reduce the permeability of the shell of single-family houses led to a decrease in uncontrolled ventilation by an average of 1.9 times 13 and an increase in radon concentration by about 1.7 times 19 . Comparative studies in samples of energy retrofitted and unreconstructed residential low-rise buildings demonstrated 22–120% increase of average of radon concentration 20 . Studies in the Czech Republic 21 and Russia 22 have shown 1.6 times average increase of radon concentrations in children institutions.…”

“…Recent study in Ireland and the UK showed decreasing of radon concentration in two storey houses with mechanical ventilation (passive houses) 26 . In general, the change of radon concentration depends on the conditions of entry, ventilation pattern and relative contributions of the diffusion and convective mechanisms of radon transport 20 .…”

Designing an Indoor Radon Risk Exposure Indicator (IRREI): An Evaluation Tool for Risk Management and Communication in the IoT Age

“…On the other hand, the common use of different types of heating and air conditioning solutions determines less air renovation by natural ventilation, thus contributing to potentiate indoor Radon exposure [30]. In combination with a less ventilated built environment, indoor Radon exposure is therefore strongly related to the occupancy of the buildings [31].…”