Ecotrak™® – Radon Monitoring in Soil
Soil measurement is often used to determine radon levels before building a new property or modernizing an existing property. Uranium and radium are the two elements that contribute to the high levels of radon gas found in soil. Radon must pass through the soil levels before it can escape. Levels of radon gas can vary widely depending on the type of soil. In general, the more porous the soil composition, the higher the level of radon because air can circulate through it easily. A more dense soil composition makes it more difficult for the radon to circulate and slower to reach the air.
We recommend using no less than three detectors for an area of 100 m² (approximately 120 sq. yards) and at least one extra detector per extra 50 m² (50 sq. yards).
How radon is monitored in soil
The detector is delivered packed in an airtight bag. To start monitoring radon in the soil, break the airtight bag to begin exposing the detector. Set the detector to the ON position by turning the top of the detector before placing it in the protective bag supplied. The detector and the protective bag supplied are then placed in a 75 mm-wide PVC pipe 85 cm deep. A ventilation grill is placed on the bottom of the PVC pipe and the top of the pipe is sealed with aluminum tape. The detectors are positioned at either end of the site where the property or construction will stand. The monitoring period is one to seven days. Once the monitoring is complete, the detectors are removed from their protective bags. Before the detectors are returned for analysis, they need to be adjusted and switched off by turning the lid from the ON to the OFF position.
When drilling the holes to place the PVC pipes in, it’s important to use an earth drill with a diameter that is as close to the diameter of the PVC pipe as possible. This increases the accuracy of the monitoring because the soil air can get closer to the detector and the potential air exchange is minimized.
The detectors need to be positioned where they will not be affected by groundwater or rainwater. The soil must also be free of frost so that the soil air can circulate freely.
The price for monitoring radon in soil includes
- Detectors in airtight bags
- Tyvek protective bags
- Analysis and monitoring report from our accredited laboratory
- Login information so that you can quickly access the analytical results via our website
- Phone support if you need assistance
Please request a quote for orders of more than 10 detectors.
The most important consideration when monitoring radon is to use a laboratory as Radonova that takes part in international comparative tests for this type of radon monitoring. This way you can be confident that the monitoring is of the highest quality.
