New build in a radon affected area

londoner2018

Hi all,


thank you for your replies. It's nice to hear from people in a similar situation.

I'm susprised that even if building regulations don't stipulate, they have to put the protective measures. It can't cost that much and for a large development surely it would be worth doing i they know it is in an affected area.

unforeseen

londoner2018 wrote: »

Hi all,


thank you for your replies. It's nice to hear from people in a similar situation.

I'm susprised that even if building regulations don't stipulate, they have to put the protective measures. It can't cost that much and for a large development surely it would be worth doing i they know it is in an affected area.

Building regulations don't stipulate because the reference document they use (BR211) says that none are required.

Its not a case of protection should be implemented but Building Regs are silent on it. It's purely a case of it is NOT required.

If you do want protection I'm sure the builder can quote you a silly figure for something you don't need

londoner2018

Yeh i think for 1-3% it's not required by building regulation by efault, but according to the radon site and public health England, a tets is required and if it shows high levels then remidation measures are required...

unforeseen

Why do you think a developer didn't do any tests to base his decision on or even used existing reports for the area? If he is local to the area then he probably knows what the levels are.

unforeseen

Get your own report. Only £3.90
https://www.ukradon.org/services/address_search

It will have a yes or no to

Guidance for new buildings and extensions to existing properties
What is the requirement under Building Regulations for radon protection in new buildings and extensions at the property location?

And that will tell you whether there should be protection

londoner2018

unforeseen wrote: »

Get your own report. Only £3.90


It will have a yes or no to


And that will tell you whether there should be protection

Thanks for the info:)


The test is only accurate when you are living in the property. Also that report is not the test, it will only tell you you are in an affected area with 1-3% of properties having above action level radon.


Protection or remidiation is required if the measurements show high.

unforeseen

So what did it say about new buildings?

You don't have to live in it to get a report. They don't check the electoral toll to make sure you live there. It's totally online

The report is based on any tests they have on record that have been carried out within that immediate area. You won't get one house that needs remediation but next door doesnt

If you are not prepared to put a bit of effort in by talking to the developer or even just spending £4 to see what the report says then I suggest you forget about this flat and anything else that is in a radon area. People on this forum can not give you any definitive answers if you won't help yourself by getting additional specific information about the flat/area to base a more refined decision on.

bouicca21

^
What he said. The radon maps give the odds based on underlying geological info for free. The paid report tells you what actual test results have been recorded. So if you want to buy in my street you will be given the result from my test, and any others carried out nearby.

londoner2018

unforeseen wrote: »

So what did it say about new buildings?

You don't have to live in it to get a report. They don't check the electoral toll to make sure you live there. It's totally online

No, you're not getting it. The test is recommended to be done when you are living there and not on a vacant property because it is affected by things like heating etc. This is the advice from public health England.




From UKradon site:
Can unoccupied homes be measured for radon?

The results are less reliable if the home is unoccupied for more than three weeks in the three months.

unforeseen wrote: »

The report is based on any tests they have on record that have been carried out within that immediate area. You won't get one house that needs remediation but next door doesnt

again, this isn't correct. if your nextdoor neighbour has high radon levels in their property, it doesn't mean your property does too.

unforeseen wrote: »

If you are not prepared to put a bit of effort in by talking to the developer or even just spending £4 to see what the report says then I suggest you forget about this flat and anything else that is in a radon area. People on this forum can not give you any definitive answers if you won't help yourself by getting additional specific information about the flat/area to base a more refined decision on.

I have put in a lot of effort, done a lot of research reading up on the topic for days and spoken to Public health England. There are some mixed views between people I have spoken to so I asked the question on the forum to hear from people who have been in a similar situation. I am not asking you to do any work.


"
The report will tell you the risk of the chosen address having a high level of radon. NOT the level of radon at that address." - from the ukradon website. I cannot add links as a newbie



Also the report was already obtained by my solicitor, hence why the radon risk as highlighted.

londoner2018

bouicca21 wrote: »

^
What he said. The radon maps give the odds based on underlying geological info for free. The paid report tells you what actual test results have been recorded. So if you want to buy in my street you will be given the result from my test, and any others carried out nearby.

It is pretty much the same as the website. The data isn't based on reports carried out at that address which is he issue.

There i a sample report there if you are curious. I can't link to it so i will try my best below:


ukradon dot org/resources/exampleriskreport