Radon Testing & Mitigation
Managing radon in a multi-family property starts with understanding the building. Radon Reaperz works with property owners and managers throughout Delaware and Greater Columbus to plan testing, review results, and discuss mitigation options suited to the property.
Apartments. Condos. Slab Foundations.
A first-floor apartment, a condo, or a home built on a concrete slab can have elevated radon levels. A basement is not a requirement for radon to enter a building.
Radon Reaperz® has worked on apartment developments without basements where testing identified elevated readings. The foundation style alone did not tell the full story.
Whether you live in the building or manage it, start with testing. Results give you something concrete to work with when deciding what should happen next.
Start the Conversation
Ask your property manager about the building’s testing history and whether results are available for your unit.
Gather previous reports, building plans, and information about any existing systems before planning new work.
A multi-family testing plan should define the locations being tested, access arrangements, resident instructions, and how results will be documented.
Avoid treating a single reading as the result for an entire apartment community.
Make retesting part of ongoing maintenance. EPA recommends retesting homes with mitigation systems at least every two years. For a multi-family property, confirm the schedule that applies to its testing protocol and any applicable program or regulatory requirements.
Mitigation Without a Basement
A common mitigation approach uses suction beneath the concrete slab to collect soil gas before it enters the occupied space. Piping carries that gas outdoors to a properly located discharge.
Apartment buildings need a plan that accounts for their layout. Foundation sections, separate buildings, access, and available pipe routes all affect the installation.
Radon Reaperz reviews the property and test results to discuss a suitable approach, including where equipment and piping can be placed.
Understand the Difference
Seeing a radon pipe does not tell you whether a building has an operating fan or whether its radon levels are low. Identify the system, then check the test results.
A passive system has collection and venting components but no operating radon fan. It can reduce radon, although natural airflow may not provide enough reduction for every building.
The next step: Test the property and evaluate whether the existing system needs activation or other changes.
An active system uses a radon fan to draw soil gas through the collection piping. Fan selection and system design depend on the building and the conditions beneath it.
The next step: Check performance with follow-up radon testing and keep the system operating according to its instructions.
A fan upgrade starts with an evaluation. Existing passive piping may be suitable for activation, but the collection points, pipe route, electrical supply, and discharge location should be reviewed first. Energy use varies with the equipment selected.
Plan the Equipment Location
Some projects use exterior equipment. Others may accommodate a system through an attic and roof. The route needs to account for equipment placement, service access, and the discharge location—not just appearance.
For Builders & Developers
New construction is an opportunity to plan collection points, pipe routes, and equipment access while the building is still open.
Whether the design starts with passive piping or an active system, include testing and any needed follow-up work in the project plan. New construction alone does not establish a building’s radon level.
A Clear Path Forward
Discuss the building layout, available reports, existing equipment, and the concerns that prompted your call.
Identify the testing or mitigation work proposed for the property and discuss access, scheduling, and documentation.
Plan installation access and communication with property management so residents know what to expect.
Complete follow-up radon testing after mitigation and review system operation, maintenance, and future testing.
Common Questions
Yes. Buildings constructed on slabs can have elevated radon levels. Testing is needed to determine the level in the occupied space.
Not necessarily. The number of fans and collection points depends on the foundation layout and system design. A property evaluation is needed before proposing equipment quantities or coverage.
It may be, but the presence of passive piping does not confirm the result. Testing determines whether further reduction is needed. A suitable passive system can sometimes be upgraded by adding a fan and associated components.
Existing buildings can often be fitted with radon mitigation systems. The approach depends on test results, foundation construction, access, and workable pipe routes.
No. A running fan or system pressure indicator does not measure indoor radon concentration. Follow-up testing checks the result, and periodic testing helps track performance over time.
Ask when testing was performed, whether your unit was included, what the results showed, and whether any elevated readings received follow-up. If a system is installed, ask about its maintenance and testing history.
Delaware & Greater Columbus
From an individual condo building to an apartment community, start with a conversation about your property. Radon Reaperz can help you plan testing, review an existing system, or discuss mitigation.
Locally based. Serving Delaware & Greater Columbus. 833-732-7379
