Radon Publications

This guidance offers strategies for testing your home for radon and discussions of what steps to take after you have tested, discussions of the risk of radon and radon myths.

• HTML Version | PDF Version (PDF, 16 pp, 852KB)
• Get the files to print this publication yourself
• [EPA 402-K-09-001, January 2009]

Manual Informativo Sobre El Radón, La Guía para proteger a su familia y a usted del radón

Esta publicación para el sitio Web es la traducción al español de "A Citizen’s Guide to Radón".  Este manual le ofrece información sobre los riesgos debido a la exposición al gas radón y aclara datos acerca de los mitos existentes sobre el mismo. También encontrará estrategias para hacer la prueba de radón en su hogar y los pasos a seguir después de hacer la misma.

• PDF Versión (PDF, 16 pp, 1.47MB)

This booklet is intended for anyone who is buying or selling a home, real estate and relocation professionals, home inspectors and others.

• HTML Version
• Get the files to print this publication yourself
• [EPA 402-K-09-002, January 2009]

El presente folleto está destinado a toda persona que esté en proceso de comprar o vender una vivienda, a los profesionales de bienes raíces y traslados, a los inspectores de viviendas y a otras personas. Vaya a la Sección 8.c.1, en este supervínculo, para conseguir información sobre como obtener uno o varios ejemplares de esta Guía.  Si está interesado en imprimir este folleto, llame al (202) 343-9427 donde obtendrá más información sobre cómo obtener un CD.Rom (Adobe PageMaker 6.5 para Windows).

• HTML Versión | PDF Version (PDF, 52 pp, 604KB)
• [EPA 402-K-02-001, julio de 2002]

• View the video (22.7MB, 13.10 minutes, Windows Media Player)
• Single copies of the video are free and are available in VHS, CD and DVD formats
• [EPA 402-V-02-003 (TRT 13.10)]

You have tested your home for radon, but now what? This recently revised booklet is for people who have tested their home for radon and confirmed that they have elevated radon levels -- 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher.  This booklet can help you to select a qualified contractor to reduce the radon levels in your home, determine an appropriate radon reduction method, and maintain your radon reduction system.

• HTML Version | PDF Version (PDF, 20 pp, 602KB)
• Get the files to print this publication yourself
• [EPA 402-K-06-094, December 2006]

This introductory brochure provides basic information on radon-resistant construction in new homes and directs the reader to more detailed information.

• HTML Version
• [EPA 402-F-98-008, April 1998]

This brochure is designed for consumers who are purchasing newly constructed homes and are curious about radon-resistant features, builders who construct homes with radon-resistant features, and real estate professionals who are selling homes which have radon-resistant features. It can be used as a marketing tool for the home building industry.

• HTML Version
• [EPA 402F-98-001, September 1998]

• HTML Version
• [EPA 520/1-89-027A, September 1992]

Written for Native Americans, this 18-page booklet discusses radon's place in the world, the basics on testing, and how homes can be fixed to reduce radon levels. Native Americans should contact their Tribal health department or state radon program office for more information.

• PDF Version (PDF, 10 pp, 3.3MB)
• [EPA 402-K-02-002, February 2002]
• See also www.epa.gov/iaqtribal

This guide, created by the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) with EPA's review, is for people who rent their apartments or houses. The guide explains what radon is, and how to find out if there is a radon problem in your home. The guide also talks about what you can do if there are high radon levels in your home.

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

• PDF Version (PDF, 10 pp, 50 KB)

This document presents the wide range of technical analyses, radon risk communication research, legislative directives, and other information that the U.S. EPA used to shape the policies that are set forth in the 1992 "A Citizen's Guide to Radon." The document summarizes extensive technical analyses of the data that have been gathered over the past years.

• Link to NSCEP Web site
• [EPA 400-R-92-011, May 1992]

This booklet on radon has been developed for physicians by the EPA in consultation with the American Medical Association (AMA). Its purpose is to enlist physicians in the national effort to inform the American public about the serious health risk posed by indoor radon gas.

• HTML Version
• [EPA 402-K-93-008, September 1993]

The purpose of this map is to assist National, State, and local organizations to target their resources and to implement radon-resistant building codes. This map is not intended to be used to determine if a home in a given zone should be tested for radon. Homes with elevated levels of radon have been found in all three zones. All homes should be tested regardless of geographic location.

• PDF Version (PDF, 1 page, 405KB)
• [EPA-402-F-93-013]
• For more information relating to the EPA Map of Radon Zones, and to view individual state maps, see www.epa.gov/radon/zonemap.html

Every day in the United States someone is exposed to radon gas in their home. EPA and its partners are working to inform and educate citizens of the dangers associated with exposure to radon gas. Read about some outstanding examples and lessons learned of the successes achieved.

• PDF Version (PDF, 12 pp, 352KB)

This 81-page, fully illustrated guide contains all the info you need in one place to educate home builders about radon-resistant new construction (RRNC), including: Basic questions and detailed answers about radon and RRNC; Specific planning steps before installing a system; Detailed installation instructions with helpful illustrations; Tips and tricks when installing a system, Marketing know-how when dealing with homebuyers; and, Architectural drawings.

• PDF Version (PDF, 84 pp, 5.52MB)
• [EPA 402-K-01-002, April 2001]

*ASTM E1465-07a; July 15, 2007. EPA reprints E1465-07a by permission with ASTM. Copies of E1465-07a may be purchased from ASTM International , or from the American National Standards Institute .

These architectural drawings are intended for use by architects, home builders, designers, radon mitigators and other interested in the installation of passive radon control systems in one and two-family dwellings.  Architectural drawings of: passive radon control system; crawlspace radon control system; and additional fan for active system are available.

• 522K zipped file for use with CAD programs
• PDF Version (PDF, 4 pp, 962KB)
• [EPA 402-95-012, May 1995]

This document is intended to serve as a model for use by the Model Code Organizations, States and other jurisdictions as they develop and adopt building codes, appendices to codes, or standards specifically applicable to their unique local or regional radon control requirements.

• HTML Version | PDF Version (PDF, 17 pp, 79KB)
• [EPA 402-R-94-009, March 1994]

This report has been prepared to provide school administrators and facilities managers with instructions on how to test for the presence of radon. The findings from EPA's comprehensive studies of radon measurements in schools have been incorporated into these recommendations. This report supersedes Radon Measurements in Schools - An Interim Report (EPA 520/1-89-010).

• PDF Version (PDF, 51 pp, 1.28MB)
• This document is only available on-line

It is typically easier and much less expensive to design and construct a new building with radon-resistant and/or easy-to-mitigate features, than to add these features after the building is completed and occupied.

• This document is available from EPA's ORD site - www.epa.gov/ORD/NRMRL/pubs/625r92016/625r92016.htm (PDF, 50 pp, 436KB)
• [EPA 625-R-92-016, June 1994]

It is important that students, teachers and parents be aware that a potential radon problem could exist in their school.

• HTML Version
• This document is only available on-line

EPA recommends the Standard Practice for Radon Mitigation Systems in Existing Low-Rise Residential Buildings* for residential radon mitigation. The Agency initially recognized this standard in 2003 as the most appropriate guide to reducing radon in homes as far as practicable below the national action level of 4 pCi/L in indoor air.  A single free copy of the E-2121 standard is available from the Agency’s National Service Center for Environmental Publications. Copies of the standard may be purchased from ASTMI , or from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) .

*E-2121-03 (February 10, 2003), American Society for Testing and Materials International (ASTMI); an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approved consensus standard. Note: As of May 2006, EPA's Radon Mitigation Standards (EPA 402-R-93-078, Revised April 1994) is no longer recommended or available.

This technical guidance document has been prepared to serve as a comprehensive aid in the detailed selection, design, installation, and operation of indoor radon reduction measures for existing houses based on active soil depressurization techniques.  It is intended for use by radon mitigation contractors, building contractors, concerned homeowners, state and local officials and other interested persons.  Office of Research and Development

• [EPA 625/R-93-011, October 1993]

This document provides information, recommendations, and technological guidance for anyone providing measurement services using 15 radon and radon decay product measurement methods. These protocols provide method-specific technological guidance that can be used as the basis for standard operating procedures.

• HTML Version
• [EPA 402-R-92-004, July 1992]

This document presents the U.S. EPA's technical guidance for measuring radon concentrations in residences. It contains protocols for measuring radon for the purpose of deciding on the need for remedial action, as presented in the 1992 A Citizen's Guide to Radon, and in the Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon.

• PDF Version (PDF, 47pp, 674KB)
• [EPA 402-R-92-003, May 1993* this is a corrected document number]

EPA’s Indoor Environments Division commissioned an Exploratory Study of Basement Moisture During Operation of ASD Radon Control Systems, under a cooperative agreement with Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama.  The principal investigator was Brad Turk of Environmental Building Sciences, Inc., Las Vegas, New Mexico. The purpose of the study was to better understand the potential moisture reduction benefits from the operation of residential radon control systems. The report contains information of interest to a wide variety of audiences.  Therefore, EPA is making this contractor’s report publicly available.  Because it is a contractor’s report, its findings, conclusions and recommendations are those of its authors, not necessarily those of EPA.  The Agency believes that this information may be useful to industry associations, standard-setting organizations, government agencies and consumers.

The principal investigators are currently conducting an extended analysis of the existing information and data.  The Agency will develop a public position on the additional analysis and the report’s findings and recommendations.

• Read the Report (PDF, 144 pp, 1.23MB)
• This report is only available on-line