Radon and damp proof membranes

[Anonymous]

Hello,
I've been looking at ways to avoid installing a damp proof membrane and concrete floor in a 200 year old stone and cob cottage. The current ground floor is covered with a thin screed of concrete over earth, laid in the 1920s. My problem is that I live in a mid-to-high radon area (West Cornwall). I've spoken with our council's building control section and they say that they can't force us to install any radon protection since the house is not a new build, but if I fail to provide a radon barrier, they will probably insist on a damp proof membrane! The only alternative that they cold suggest was to build sumps into the ground level course of stone. Since the stone footings are enormous chunks of granite with an earth and rubble infill this might be difficult. Are there any other measures that somebody may have used in a similar situation? Or is this just one issue I have to give in on?

thanks

Emma

 

[Anonymous]

Radon is certainly worth taking seriously, perhaps the same sort of danger as living with a smoker. DO some reading - I would start with these websites:

http://www.bgs.ac.uk/reference/radon/home.html
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/radioactivity/background/pdf/reducingradon.pdf
http://www.ehsni.gov.uk/environment/radiation/radon.shtml
http://www.hpa.org.uk/radiation/services/radon/home.htm
http://www.bre.co.uk/radon/nforum/index.html

 

[Anonymous]

It may be worth calling the SPAB helpline and asking for advice - I ams sure you aren't alone in trying to reconcile radon protection with the needs of an old building.

But do take this seriously as Biff says.


http://www.spab.org.uk

 

[Anonymous]

Thats very helpful,
thank you both.
I did join SPAB a few years ago, but I had completely forgotten that they had a helpline. Too many things to think about at the moment. I will call them this week.

Emma.

 

[Anonymous]

Emma- whle I would encourage anyone with an interest in hthe repair and conservation of of historic buildings to join SPAB, you don't have to be a member to use the free helpline!

 

[Anonymous]

You live in a radon area, but are you sure that your specific house has radon emissions sufficient to cause concern? If you can show that you haven't, then that might dispel the local authority's insistence on some kind of protection.
Radon testing of your home used to be done by the National Radiological Protection Board, but this has now been absorbed into the Health Protection Agency. Have a look at their web page (link below) on the subject of radon, and you might want to order their testing pack - there's a link for doing this on the web page.



http://www.hpa.org.uk/radiation/radon/index.htm