Radon Testing
"The only way to know is to Test"
"Elevated
radon levels have even been found on upper floors of High Rises in Collier & LeeCounties"
We
perform radon testing in Southwest Florida for residential real estate.
We
also perform radon testing state-wide for schools, assisted living,& multi living complexes
We are FL DOH certified Radon Measurement Business RB1938 and
have 5 certified measurement technicians and have over
30 monitors to meet your testing needs
Office: (239) 498-4619
toll
free: (800) 881-3837
Radon Test start at $140.oo |
Our RADON
TEST PRICING ( Collier &
Lee Counties) 1 monitor (short-term).... Start at $140 One monitor typically covers about 3,000 square feet of living space, the
footprint of the home can influence the number of monitors. |
State
Wide Service: Please contact our office for pricing for schools, assisted living complexes, multi-living units. Buildings
with over 20 units - aprox. 2000 sq.ft.each approx. $38 per unit. Please Call for quote. toll free: 1 (800) 881- 3837
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Florida Adminstrative Code: 64E-5.1203 General Provisions
(1)
"Beginning January 1, 1989, no person may test for or mitigate the presence of radon in Florida for a fee
or other renumeration unless such person has been certified."
Collier and Lee County requires radon testers to have an
occupational license for the county the test is in. A home inspector license is not a radon testing license.
The County occupational license office says:
"You cannot get an occupational license for radon testing unless you are certified by the FL DOH to test."
The person placing and / or picking up a radon test must be FL DOH certified and have an
occupational license for radon testing (occupational license for home inspections does not qualify).
EPA Recommends:
"Test when you are buying a home."
Realtors tell us:
"It's usually the seller's responsibility to have the home mitigated (radon levels lowered) if it should
have elevated radon levels."
Our measurement specialist said:
"E.P.A. Protocols do not allow radon tests to be performed on the floor,
near a window or door, in the kitchen or bathroom , under the bed or inside
a wine cabinet with doors".
Examples of where testing should not be performed. (Below Photos)
(Monitors in photos below are Sun Nuclear radon monitors)
Radon & Mold Professionals do not use
this type of monitor.
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| "Cannot test with monitor on the floor" ........ (We don't use this monitor .. |
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| "Do not test normally in the Kitchen" |
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| "Do not test in the bathroom" |
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| "Do not test near a window" |
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EPA
"Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon"
Office of Air
and Radiation (OAR),
Office of Radiation and Indoor Air (ORIA)
MC-6609J
EPA 402-K-05-005, May 2005
General Information
for All Devices
A state or local radon official can explain the differences between devices and recommend the ones
which are most appropriate for your needs and expected testing conditions.
Make sure to use a radon measurement device from a qualified laboratory. Certain precautions
should be followed to avoid interference during the test period. See the Radon Testing Checklist for more information
on how to get a reliable test result.
Radon Test Device Placement
"EPA recommends that testing device(s)
be placed in the lowest level of the home suitable for occupancy. This means testing in the lowest level (such as a
basement), which a buyer could use for living space without renovations. The test should
be conducted in a room to be used regularly (like a family room, living room, playroom, den or bedroom); do not test in a
kitchen, bathroom, laundry room or hallway. Usually, the buyer decides where to locate
the radon test, based on their expected use of the home. A buyer and seller should explicitly discuss and agree on the
test location to avoid any misunderstanding. Their decision should be clearly communicated to the person performing
the test."
Change in the look of your Radon Report
July 22,2011
Radon Reports will look a little different. Just ignore
the =/- after your radon average number.
A 3.9 is a 3.9. They do
not get to choose whether to apply the + or to apply the - to make their wallets happy.
A
4.1 +/- 0.2 requires mitigation during a real estate transaction but a 3.9 +/- 0.2 does not.
This is becoming a National standard, so at first there is a bit of "oh crap", but in reality the
+/- have been there all along, it just wasn't printed. Now we have to print it. It is a natural "wobble"
associated with measuring a radioactive substance, whether it is Radon or Uranium.
UPDATE
Radon Mitigation
Consumers should KNOW:
If you are hiring a FL DOH certified radon
mitigation business that is not an HVAC or Mechanical contractor or partnered with one, your system needs an engineer’s
signature and or seal on the mitigation system design.
Mechanical contractors are NOT permitted to design or install mechanical ventilation systems
to reduce radon levels without also being certified for radon mitigation by the Florida Department of Health.
Radon Mitigators that are not mechanical contractors,
parting with a mechanical contractor will permit them to use the approved materials and techniques for mechanical ventilation
available to the mechanical contractor.
FL DOH contact for any questions concerning readon in Florida: (800) 543-8279
It would be wise for Realtors, Homeowners and all consumers hiring a Radon Mitigation Business to:
ASK for a certificate of insurance from the Radon Mitigation Business. (some apparently do not have insurance)
Make sure your proposal, system design has the name or signature or seal of the FL DOH certified Radon Mitigation
Business AND THE HVAC OR MECHANICAL CONTRACTOR they are partnered with. (apparently some Radon mitigation
businesses are ignoring the Florida law)
6-23-2008
News
Associated Radon Services
has expanded our radon analysis into soil and building material Radium-226 and radon emanation measurement
in our lab and in the field. We can run up to 60 samples with as short as 10 day turnaround for radium-226 analysis.
Also have extensive radon soil gas measurement in place capability along with portable highly shielded Radium-226
gamma scan for open land radium survey.
http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/radon/radonFAQ.htm
"As
a Realtor, I have been told by home inspectors that my county has elevated radon levels. How can I addresses this with my
clients?
Radon is found everywhere, and the only way to know the levels in any particular building is to test that
structure. Florida Statute 404.056(5) requires the following notification about radon in real estate transactions: "RADON
GAS: Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that, when it has accumulated in a building in sufficient quantities,
may present health risks to persons who are exposed to it over time. Levels of radon that exceed federal and state guidelines
have been found in buildings in Florida. Additional information regarding radon and radon testing may be obtained from your
county health department." Radon is like any other issue encountered in a real estate transaction, and
elevated levels can be reduced. To further discuss radon measurement in real estate transactions or for any other issues please
call 1-800-543-8279.
Radon from your Granite Countertop? (click here)
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| FL DOH certified Radon Measurement Business |
East Coast of Florida:
Associated Radon Services
Bill Levy
(561) 219-4334
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In central Florida
Radon Evaluations, Inc.
Sarasota, Hillsboro, Pasco, Marion, Polk, Alachua,
Brevard, Seminole, Orange, & St
Pete Counties
1 (888) 621-8622
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It is a violation of Chapter 404, Florida Statutes
and Chapter 64E-5, Florida Administrative Code to provide radon services without being currently radon certified by the Florida
Department of Health. Specialists and technicians must provide radon services only through affiliation with a Florida certified
radon business. Businesses and individuals will be fined for non-compliance. FL DOH http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/radon/meabuslst.htm
Naples Radon testing must be performed by individual
certified to do so by the FL DOH.
Naples Radon Test report must
come from a FL DOH certified Radon Measurement Business.
Naples Radon Test
for Real Estate should be at least 48 hours long.
For a Naples Radon
Test, home should be in "closed house" conditions 12 hours prior to and during radon test.
Long Term Naples Radon Test should be from 90 days to 12 months long.
Long Term Radon Tests in Naples do not require "closed house conditions",
doors and windows can be open as you normally have them.
Marco Island Radon testing must be performed by individual certified to do so by the FL DOH.
Marco Island Radon Test report must come from a FL DOH certified Radon Measurement
Business.
Marco Island Radon Test for Real Estate should be
at least 48 hours long.
For a Marco Island Radon Test,
home should be in "closed house" conditions 12 hours prior to and during radon test.
Long Term Marco Island Radon Test should be from 90 days to 12 months long.
Long Term Radon Tests on Marco Island do not require "closed
house conditions", doors and windows can be open as you normally have them.
Bonita Springs Radon testing must be performed
by individual certified to do so by the FL DOH.
Bonita Springs Radon
Test report must come from a FL DOH certified Radon Measurement Business.
Bonita
Springs Radon Test for Real Estate should be at least 48 hours long.
For
a Bonita Springs Radon Test, home should be in "closed house" conditions 12 hours prior
to and during radon test.
Long Term Bonita Springs Radon
Test should be from 90 days to 12 months long.
Long Term Radon Tests in Bonita
Springs do not require "closed house conditions", doors and windows can be open as you normally have
them.
Estero Radon testing must be performed by individual certified to do so by the FL DOH.
Estero Radon Test report must come from a FL DOH certified Radon Measurement
Business.
Estero Radon Test for Real Estate should be
at least 48 hours long.
For a Estero
Radon Test, home should be in "closed house" conditions 12 hours prior to and during radon test.
Long Term Estero Radon Test should be from 90 days to 12 months
long.
Long Term Radon Tests in Estero do not
require "closed house conditions", doors and windows can be open as you normally have them.
Ft Myers Radon testing must be performed by individual
certified to do so by the FL DOH.
Ft Myers Radon Test report
must come from a FL DOH certified Radon Measurement Business.
Ft Myers Radon
Test for Real Estate should be at least 48 hours long.
For a Ft
Myers Radon Test, home should be in "closed house" conditions 12 hours prior to and during radon
test.
Long Term Ft Myers Radon Test should be from 90
days to 12 months long.
Long Term Radon Tests in Ft Myers do
not require "closed house conditions", doors and windows can be open as you normally have them.
Cape Coral Radon testing must be performed by individual certified to do so by
the FL DOH.
Cape Coral Radon Test report must come from a FL
DOH certified Radon Measurement Business.
Cape Coral Radon
Test for Real Estate should be at least 48 hours long.
For a Cape
Coral Radon Test, home should be in "closed house" conditions 12 hours prior to and during radon test.
Long Term Cape Coral Radon Test should be from 90 days to 12 months long.
Long Term Radon Tests in Cape Coral do not require "closed house conditions",
doors and windows can be open as you normally have them.
(4)" MANDATORY TESTING.--All
public and private school buildings or school sites housing students in kindergarten through grade 12; all state-owned, state-operated,
state-regulated, or state-licensed 24-hour care facilities; and all state-licensed day care centers for children or minors
which are located in counties designated within the Department of Community Affairs' Florida Radon Protection Map Categories
as "Intermediate" or "Elevated Radon Potential" shall be measured to determine the level of indoor radon, using measurement
procedures established by the department. Testing shall be completed within the first year of construction in 20 percent of
the habitable first floor spaces within any of the regulated buildings. Initial measurements shall be completed and reported
to the department by July 1 of the year the building is opened for occupancy. Follow up testing
must be completed in 5 percent of the habitable first floor spaces within any of the regulated buildings after the building
has been occupied for 5 years, and results must be reported to the department by July 1 of the 5th year of occupancy. After radon measurements have been made twice, regulated buildings need not undergo further testing unless
significant structural changes occur. No funds collected pursuant to s. 553.721 shall be used to carry out the provisions of this
subsection. "
Average price of a radon test
in Florida
is
about $180 to $225
Consumers should request test be performed with a CRM (Continuous
Radon Monitor) with hour by hour readings.
Non Real Estate consumers and FL DOH certified inspectors who only perform a few test a
year:
Best
Passive tests are from Air Chek, Inc.,
_______________________________________
EPA's Home buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon:
"THE EPA recommends that the (post mitigation)
test be conducted by an independent, qualified radon tester."
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Alpha Track Radon Test
long term test (91 days or more)
Important to know about if you have a high test
Our measurement specialist tells us:
"If the 1st radon test is performed with a CRM
and is high, we don't have protocol for a second test, BUT it is a common practice for the seller to have a second test
done.
If the home is "aired out" before any test, it must be
in closed house conditions 12 hours before a short-term radon test (EPA protocol)."
EPA's Home Buyers & Seller's Guide to Radon: "A long-term
test will give you a reading that is more likely to tell you, your home's year-round average radon level than
a short-term test."
Real Life according
to a Realtor: "If the buyer's test is high and the seller has
a test that is low, you have two people who do not believe the others test."
Many Realtors tell us that they want a long term radon
test because:
"The test can be placed in the property for 91 days or
more and the homeowner can have doors and windows open as they normally would.
"This means the real estate transaction can go
through.
Typically, you should get at least two proposals for
mitigation."
"Mitigation money would go into escrow and then just wait
for results. If it comes back elevated, then the buyer can have a system they want put in."
"This seems to keep both parties "happy" at closing.
The buyer is the one who has to live with the system."
(long-term radon test above) Alpha
Track Test
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Before Conducting a Radon Test:
·
Notify
the occupants of the importance of proper testing conditions. Give the occupants written instructions or a copy of this Guide
and explain the directions carefully.
·
Conduct
the radon test for a minimum of 48 hours.
·
When
doing a short-term test ranging from 2-4 days, it is important to maintain closed-house conditions for at least 12 hours
before the beginning of the test and during the entire test period.
·
When
doing a short-term test ranging from 4-7 days, EPA recommends that closed-house conditions be maintained.
·
The
test should include method(s) to prevent or detect interference with testing conditions or with the testing device itself.
·
If
the house has an active radon-reduction system, make sure the vent fan is operating properly. If the fan is not operating
properly, have it (or ask to have it) repaired and then test.
During
a Radon Test:
Closed-house conditions
means keeping all windows closed, keeping doors closed except for normal entry and exit, and not operating fans or other machines
which bring in air from outside. Fans that are part of a radon-reduction system or small exhaust fans operating for
only short periods of time may run during the test.
·
Maintain
closed-house conditions during the entire time of a short term test, especially for tests shorter than one week in length.
·
Operate
the home's heating and cooling systems normally during the test. For tests lasting less than one week, operate only air-conditioning
units which recirculate interior air.
·
Do
not disturb the test device at any time during the test.
·
If
a radon-reduction system is in place, make sure the system is working properly and will be in operation during the entire
radon test.
__________________________________________________________
WallRadon Testing, Inc. FL DOH certified Radon Measurement Business RB1938
Radon
& Mold Professionals
Doug Wall, FL DOH certified R1751
John Cosgrove, FL DOH certified R1867
Office: (239) 498-4619 (800) 881-3837 www.radonmoldhelp.com
We always leave a copy of the EPA “Home
Buyer’s & Seller’s Guide to Radon” with every radon test.
With 1 out 4 homes tested in Collier and Lee Counties having elevated radon, Real Estate agents should
always recommend a radon test to buyers. Some areas have 1out of 2 with elevated radon. "Fixing elevated radon
is just a home repair".
Radon testing and radon mitigation must be performed by Florida Department of Health certified radon
businesses for Real Estate transactions.
Florida Department of Health allows only FL DOH measurement specialists and FL DOH certified mitigation specialists
to "express" "evaluations and observations" of radon tests or radon mitigations to "Florida citizens and customers, or potential customers".We have been the leader in performing residential
Real Estate radon tests for years, we think, in part, because we strive to follow the FL DOH's many rules concerning radon.
The radon evaluations, observations and opinions posted on this website are
not those of the Radon & Mold Professionals.
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Associated Radon
Services http://radonserv.com (great website) Contact us!
Associated Radon Services
info@radonserv.com Bill Levy
(772) 219-4334 --- FAX (772) 287-1341 Associated Radon Services has
provided independent unbiased evaluation and analysis of radon problems in Florida since 1990. We specialize in radon testing
and radon entry analysis in homes, condos, apartments, schools and complex commercial buildings. Our experienced certified
Radon Measurement Specialists and Radon Mitigation Specialist stand ready to undertake any radon risk control assignment.
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For Radon Information, Florida Department of Health certified (Click Here)
For more information about radon & mold visit: www.certifiedradonmold.com
H. William Levy / Most knowledgeable person
for radon we know. (Testing or Mitigation, Bill is the "man")
Publications and more ..... Home Buyers & Sellers guide to Radon
Great site for info and links
American Association of Radon Scientists & Technologists
www.aarst.org "The" organization for radon professionals
Lots of info and links
News article about radon in Florida:
Radon Mitigation
Services / news
Radon News:
Radon / Cancer
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lindsay Hodges
January 7, 2005
(850) 245-4111
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
RECOGNIZES RADON AWARENESS MONTH
-- Agencies
Unite to Urge Home Testing --
TALLAHASSEE–The Florida Department of Health (DOH) joins with
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in recognizing January as Radon Awareness Month. The observance aims
to educate Floridians about the dangers of exposure to elevated indoor radon.
“Exposure to high levels of radon has been shown to cause several health complications, including lung
cancer,” DOH Secretary John O. Agwunobi, M.D., M.B.A., M.P.H. said. “I encourage all Florida residents to
protect themselves and their families through proactive testing of radon, and by addressing any hazards found.”
Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless, radioactive
gas emitted from soils. While outdoor levels produce little risk, higher concentrations found indoors can create a potential
health hazard.
According to the National Academy
of Sciences, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, causing approximately 21,000 deaths nationwide each year.
In Florida, 750 residents died from long-term radon exposure last year.
To prevent dangerous radon exposure, the DOH and EPA suggest:
- All homeowners test for radon. Test kits ......
through DOH-certified radon businesses.
- DOH-certified radon contractors can also be hired to test homes.
- Address any radon-related problems immediately—this can be done for a
relatively low cost.
- New
homes should include radon-resistant features which can be installed by the builder—these features are especially important
in areas reporting elevated radon levels.
For more information
on radon, its health effects and testing procedures call the DOH Radon Hotline at 1-800-543-8279, or visit www.doh.state.fl.us.
State Certified Radon Businesses
Your radon test report should include the following information:
1) the name and Florida certification number
of the radon business,
2) the name and Florida certification number of the individual that performed the test,
3)
the date and time of the start and end of the test, and
4) the type of device used.
It is a violation of Chapter
404, Florida Statutes and Chapter 64E-5, Florida Administrative Code to provide radon services without being currently radon
certified by the Florida Department of Health. Specialists and technicians must provide radon services only through affiliation
with a Florida certified radon business. Businesses and individuals will be fined for non-compliance.
Use the list of
Florida Certified Radon Measurement Businesses to hire a radon-testing provider. The listing of Florida certified radon measurement individuals is provided to assist you
in verifying current Florida certification status of the individuals affiliated with Florida certified radon measurement businesses.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the business or individual performing radon services, promptly contact the
Florida Department of Health by telephone (800)-543-8279 or FAX: (850) 414-9069
Florida Department of Health allows
only FL DOH measurement specialists and FL DOH certified mitigation specialists to "express" "evaluations and
observations" of radon tests or radon mitigations to "Florida citizens and customers, or potential customers."
We have been the leader in performing
residential Real Estate radon tests for years. We think, in part, because we strive to follow the FL DOH's many
rules concerning radon.
The radon evaluations, observations and opinions posted on this website are not those of the Radon
& Mold Professionals.
Radon testing for Real Estate transactions are required to be performed by a Florida Department of
Health certifed radon business.
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Disclaimer
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In no event shall WallRadon Testing, Inc. be liable for any special, indirect or consequential
damages or any damages whatsoever resulting from loss of any kind including profits, in any action arising out of or in connection
with the use or performance of information available from this email, website or newsletter. All advertisers or links
in this website are for general information purposes only. It is the sole responsibility of any person viewing these
pages to verify by outside means the accuracy of the information prior to taking any action based on the content of this email
and any site connected to it via a hyperlink and you should consult your personal realtor, attorney, accountant or respective
professional before acting upon information contained herein. |
