Chapter 9 - Radon
According to the ANSI/AARST Protocol for measurements in homes, if you are an AARST member or certified by the National Radon Safety Board you are exempted from needing a QA/QC plan.
All measurement specialists are to operate under a QA/QC plan The correct answer is: False
According to the ANSI/AARST Protocol for measurements in homes, when a post mitigation test is conducted in a home having a livable basement and an attached garage that has been retrofitted into a living space, how many test locations are suggested?
Although one is not required to conduct an initial test in each foundation area, it is required when doing a post-mitigation test. Note also that some states may require all foundation areas to be tested, even during an initial test. The correct answer is: Two - one for the basement, and one for the slab-on-grade retrofitted garage area
A short-term, time sensitive test (collocated duplicates) has been performed with individual results being 4.1 pCi/L and 2.5 pCi/L. According to the ANSI/AARST Protocol for measurements in homes, what would be proper recommendation to the client?
Although one result is above 4.0 pCi/L and the other is below, the test is valid because the higher result is not twice the lower result. The average of the two measurements is 3.3 pCi/L. Unlike previous EPA protocols that would say that no further testing or mitigation is needed, the AARST protocol recognizes there is some risk at levels less than 4. The recommendation for results between 2 and 4 is to retest in the future or after major changes to house such as additions, HVAC system changes, etc. The correct answer is: Consider testing again in the future
A short-term test using an electret ion chamber was initiated on April 17 at 2:45 PM. It was retrieved two days later at 1:00 PM. According to the ANSI/AARST Protocol for measurements in homes, is this a valid short-term test, assuming proper conditions were met prior to and all during the test?
Although one should strive for 48-hour minimum duration, the AARST protocol allows for a test to be picked up a little early provided it has tested at least 46 hours. The correct answer is: Yes, it was since it was at least 46 hours in duration
According to the ANSI/AARST Protocol for measurements in homes, if a noninterference agreement has not been signed, the test is not a valid short-term test.
Although you should attempt to get such an agreement signed, as it would provide clear instructions to the occupant, it is not a requirement to have the document signed, but you must make an attempt. Also, in your report you are to stipulate whether a non-interference was signed or not. The correct answer is: False
According to the ANSI/AARST Protocol for measurements in homes, when deploying a test device that is designed to be suspended by a string or a pre-attached tape it should be:
Attached to the ceiling or a beam so it is at least 12 inches from the ceiling but no higher than 8 feet from the floor
According to the ANSI/AARST Protocol for measurements in homes, which of the following devices should NOT be deployed in areas of high humidity?
Electret ion chambers, alpha tracks, and continuous radon monitors are not affected by humidity like charcoal is. Of course, this must be stipulated by the manufacturer. In other words, one can follow manufacturers' recommendations provided they have validated it. The correct answer is: Activated Charcoal
According to the ANSI/AARST Protocol for measurements in new home construction, when testing a newly constructed home, which of the following conditions would prevent you from initiating a short-term test?
Exterior door hardware has not been installed
According to the ANSI/AARST Protocol for measurements in homes, with advances in radon technology, a mitigation system should have the ability to reduce radon levels to near outdoor radon levels of 0.4 pCi/L
False
When comparing duplicate results, such as in Time Sensitive real estate testing which of the following sets of measurements would represent good precision and hence provide confidence in the results?
For duplicates whose average is above 4 pCi/L one would expect the two measurements to agree with each other by having a relative percent difference (RPD) of less than 36 %. The correct answer is: 8 pCi/L and 9 pCi/L
You arrive at a house to conduct a short-term radon test and find that the occupant has not closed doors and windows as previously instructed. Which of the following is an acceptable approach?
If one is using a passive device like activate charcoal or an Electret Ion chamber you can deploy it after achieving closed house conditions but extend the duration of the test to at least 4 days. Be careful you do not extend it beyond the manufacturer's recommendation and a 30-day test for activated charcoal would be too long. You could deploy a continuous monitor after closing doors and windows, but you would have to exclude the first 12 hours of data rather than just the first four hours. Also, a 48-hour test where closed house conditions did not exist prior to initiation is an invalid test and merely stating it in the report does not absolve you from giving erroneous results. The correct answer is: Close doors and windows and deploy an activated charcoal device for 4 days
According to the ANSI/AARST Protocol for measurements in homes, equipment that supplies fresh outdoor air to the home are to be shut off.
If the fresh air make-up to the home is integral to the heating system of the home it should be left on. An example would be timed air introduction into the return duct of the furnace or even a small duct from the outside to the return duct of the furnace; both of which are designed into the home and should be left operational. A Window fan or a swamp cooler which operates intermittently or only in certain seasons should be disabled during the test. The correct answer is: True
According to the ANSI/AARST Protocol for measurements in homes, a radon decay product measurement should be accompanied by a radon measurement device located right next to it.
Measuring both radon and radon decay products allows one to calculate the equilibrium factor, or the percentage of radon decay products in the air. This in turn allows the measurement professional to assess the effects of air cleaners, air circulation etc. The correct answer is: True
When establishing closed house conditions, the occupant should:
Normal appliances like range hoods and clothes dryers can be operated, with the suggestion that they are not used excessively. A fireplace should not be operated unless it is the primary heat source for house. A whole house fan that pulls large amounts of air should also be off. The correct answer is: Be able to operate a clothes dryer
According to the ANSI/AARST Protocol for measurements in homes, what is the minimum period that records regarding a radon measurement should be maintained?
Note that this was increased from 5 to 6 years. The correct answer is: 6 years
Which of the following is an appropriate location for an active soil depressurization system fan?
Outdoors
How soon after a soil gas mitigation system is installed can a post-mitigation test be started?
Post-mitigation tests should not be started any sooner than 24 hours after system has been activated nor later than 30 days afterwards The correct answer is: 24 hours
When deploying side by side detectors, the maximum separation between devices should be:
Previous protocols stated to separate the devices 4 inches apart. The newer protocol now says no more than 8 inches apart. The correct answer is: 8 inches
What is "spiking" with respect to your QA/QC plan?
Spiking is the only method where you can determine the accuracy of your measurements. It is done by arranging for placement of your device in a chamber of controlled and known radon and operated under Standard Test Atmosphere for Radon (STAR). You are to conduct spiking at a rate of 3% of your test locations with a minimum of 3 per year or a maximum of 6/month. The correct answer is: When your device is exposed in a radon chamber and the result is compared to the chamber value
A short-term, time sensitive test has been performed with the result being 5.8 pCi/L. A follow up short-term test in the same location yielded a result of 3.8 pCi/L. According to the ANSI/AARST Protocol for measurements in homes, what would be proper recommendation to the client?
The average of the two collocated devices is 4.8 pCi/L. Since the average is above 4, the recommendation would be to mitigate. In previous approaches a recommendation might have been to conduct another test. However, with the Time Sensitive protocol one can go right to a final recommendation. The correct answer is: Mitigate the home
According to the ANSI/AARST Protocol for measurements in homes, when testing homes with large areas like entertainment areas, one should:
The correct answer is: Select multiple test locations at a rate of 1 test location per every 2,000 square feet
According to the ANSI/AARST Protocol for measurements in homes, which of the following should NOT be included in report to the client for a test conducted with a continuous monitor?
The first four hours of data collected by the CRM is to be excluded from the determination of the average radon level. Similarly, if you set out the monitor for the initial 12 hours after closing the buildings doors and windows, that data should also be excluded. You may want to make mention of the fact that although the test started at (for example) 08:00 AM, valid data was collected after 12:00 to allow for equilibration. That way the client will not think you are making a mistake and can't tell time. The correct answer is: Excluded data at the beginning of the test to allow for device or home to come to equilibrium
According to the ANSI/AARST Protocol for measurements in homes, when conducting a Time Sensitive test, a window style air conditioner is to be shut off and covered.
The window air conditioner can be operated provided it can be put into total recirculation mode (sometimes referred to as maximum cooling). The correct answer is: False
You send a passive device such as an electret ion chamber or an activated charcoal detector device off to a chamber for a spike test. The chamber exposed the device to 18 pCi/L. Your laboratory reported a result of 22 pCi/L from your device. Is this acceptable?
To determine this one calculates a Performance Ratio with the formula being as follows: Performance Ratio = Measured Value/Target Value Where the Measured value is what the lab reported (22) and the Target Value is what the chamber exposed your device at (18). Plugging these numbers into the equation we get: Performance Ratio = 22/18 = 1.22 The range that a PR can be is 0.750 to 1.25. Since the PR calculated is 1.22 it is less than 1.25 and hence acceptable. That being said, this is a pretty high disagreement, and you probably should look int it. You may also set a tighter band of agreement within your QA/QC plan. The correct answer is: Yes, the Performance Ratio is less than 1.25
According to the ANSI/AARST Protocol for measurements in homes, a house should be retested after a ground contact area that was not previously tested becomes an inhabited space.
True
According to the ANSI/AARST Protocol for measurements in homes, a house should be retested if a foundation is possibly damaged due to an earthquake or nearby blasting.
True
According to the ANSI/AARST Protocol for measurements in homes, an attic fan that removes hot air out of an attic can be operated during a Time Sensitive Testing Approach.
True
According to the ANSI/AARST Protocol for measurements in homes, if air to air heat exchangers are not regularly used or maintained, they are to be shut off during short-term test.
True
According to the ANSI/AARST Protocol for measurements in homes, individuals who are deploying passive detectors such as activated charcoal from a certified lab are required to deploy duplicates and blanks as part of a Quality Control Plan.
True
Which of the following discharge points of an active soil depressurization system is appropriate?
We don't want to expose occupants or passersby. Certainly, it can go through the roof, but need only be 12 inches above roof. A brief list of requirements is below. Note the discharge is to meet ALL of these and not just one or the other. Minimum of 10 feet above grade, AND Exhaust point at least 10 feet horizontally away from operable openings, AND Not less than 4 feet above operable openings closer than 10 feet away, AND Not less than 6 inches above edge of roof (eave) or surface of roof when penetrating roof Note the newer ANSI/AARST standards stipulate being 4 feet above an opening that is within 10 feet. Previous standards listed 2 feet. The correct answer is: At least 10 feet above the ground and above the eave
A radon test was conducted using a long-term alpha track detector. The lab results were calculated to be 6.785 pCi/L. What number should be provided to the client in the report?
When providing results of radon tests, they should be rounded to the nearest single decimal. In this case it would be rounded to 6.8 pCi/L. If a radon decay product measurement is made in units of working levels it should be reported to 3 decimal places, such as: 0.017 rather than 0.01658 The correct answer is: 6.8 pCi/L
