Radon protection in apartments using a ventilation system wireless-controlled by radon activity concentration

The new German Radiation Protection Act (StrlSchG) of 31 December 2018 established a reference value of 300 Bq m(-3) for the annual average radon activity concentration in buildings with recreation and living rooms, as well as in workplaces. It is expected that the reference value will be exceeded in a vast number of buildings throughout Germany and that radon protection measures will become indispensable. A simple and inexpensive radon protection measure for existing buildings is ventilation. In the scope of a joint project, ventilation systems with zone control and heat recovery are to be extended by the control parameter radon activity concentration. A highly sensitive, miniaturized radon monitor will be developed for this purpose, which can be integrated wirelessly into ventilation systems. Radon measurements were carried out in 13 apartments of an unoccupied heated apartment block in Germany over a period of three weeks in the wintertime. High radon activity concentrations were found on all three floors. The maximum values were 14000 Bq m(-3) on the first floor, 6000 Bq m(-3) on the second floor, and 2000 Bq m(-3) on the third floor. Ventilation experiments were carried out in an apartment with high radon activity concentration. Two decentralized ventilation systems with heat recovery were installed in each of the two opposite outside walls. The controlling device of the system was activated wirelessly depending on the radon activity concentration. The radon activity concentration was reduced from 8000 Bq m(-3) to 800 Bq m(-3) in a first experiment in the living room.

Automated summary

The new German Radiation Protection Act established a reference value for radon activity concentration and highlighted the importance of radon protection measures in buildings. In an experiment, ventilation systems controlled by radon activity concentration successfully reduced radon levels from 8000 Bq m(-3) to 800 Bq m(-3) in a high radon concentration apartment.