United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Research and Development
Air and Energy Engineering
Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
EPA/600/S8-91/212 Dec. 1991
Project Summary
Standard Measurement
Protocols, Florida Radon
Research Program
Ashley D. Williamson and Joe M. Finkel
In support of the Florida Radon Re-
search Program (FRRP), a manual was
compiled containing standard protocols
for key measurements where data qual-
ity is vital to the program. This manual is
divided Into two sections. The first sec-
tion, soil measurements, contains field
sampling protocols for soil gas perme-
ability and radon concentration, in-situ
soil density, soil classification, and pen-
etrometer analysis. Laboratory proce-
dures Include soil moisture, radium and
radon emanation, particle-size analysis,
specific gravity, the proctor method for
moisture/density relationships, a labo-
ratory gas permeability test, a radon dif-
fusion coefficient measurement, and two
radon flux measurements. The second
section, building measurements, in-
cludes diagnostic procedures for sub-
slab radon, sub-slab communications,
and differential pressure measurements
followed by building leakage measure-
ments.
This Project Summary was developed
by EPA's Air and Energy Engineering
Research Laboratory, Research Triangle
Park, NC, to announce key findings of
the research project that Is fully docu-
mented In a separate report of the same
title (see Project Report ordering Infor-
mation at back).
Introduction
As mandated by the 1988 Florida Legis-
lature, the Florida Department of Commu-
nity Affairs (DCA) is required to develop
construction standards for radon resistant
buildings and for mitigation of radon in exist-
ing buildings. In orderto lay technical ground-
work for these standards, the DCA has
established the Florida Radon Research
Program (FRRP), an extensive program of
research and development ranging from
fundamental studies to demonstrations and
field validations.
To ensure the quality of data generated
by multiple research groups in the FRRP,
key measurements have been identified
and standardized. The standard measure-
ment protocols forthese key measurements
were compiled into a manual that is in-
tended to be distributed to all research
groups participating in the FRRP. Every
attempt was made to use validated and
generally accepted methods for each mea-
surement with a minimum of modification.
Thus, methods that have been documented
by the American Society for Testing and
Materials (ASTM) were used whenever
applicable. Likewise, several radon-related
protocols developed or standardized by the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) have been incorporated into this
manual.
Standard Measurement
Protocols Included in the
Manual
1.0 Soil Measurement
1.1 Permeability/Soil Radon/Soil/
Fill Sample Collection
Field Procedures for Soil Gas Permeabil-
ity and Radon Measurement, and Corre-
sponding In-Situ Soil Density Sampling: A
protocol for field measurement of soil gas
permeabilities and collection of soil gas
radon samples, corresponding field-density
soil samples, and additional soil grab
samples for particle size, soil moisture, and
radiological analyses.
Printed on Recycled Paper
-------
1.2 In-Situ Soil Density
ln-SHu Soil Density Sampling Procedure
(Rogers & Associates): Instructions for col-
lecting samples for in-srtu soil density mea-
surements at locations which correspond to
In-situ gas permeability measurements us-
ing the RP-2 permeometer.
ASTMD2937-83StandardTestMethodfor
Density of Soil in Place by the Drive-Cylin-
der Method; A method forthe determination
of in-place density of soil by the drive-
cylinder method.
1.3 Soil Classification
Soil Texture, Coarse Fragments, Stoniness
and Rockiness, Appendix I: Terms Used to
Descrfoo Soils, In: Soil Taxonomy, U.S.
Dopartmentoi'Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
December 1975: Guidance material for
definitions of soil textural classes on the
basis of size distributions and for field clas-
sification in terms of visual-manual proce-
dures.
ASTM D2487-85 Standard Test Method for
Classification of Soils for Engineering Pur-
poses: A method for classifying mineral and
organo-mineral soils for engineering pur-
poses based on laboratory determination of
particle-size characteristics, liquid limit, and
plasticity index.
ASTM D 2488-84 Standard Practice for
Description and Identification of Soils (Vi-
sual-Manual Procedure}:. A method for de-
scribing soil for engineering purposes and
for identifying soils based on the classifica-
tion system described in ASTM D 2487.
1.4 Penetrometer Analysis
Protocol for Soil Density Profiling Using a
Barkley& Dexter Model HP-102 Penetrom-
eter. A protocol for the use of a hand cone
penetrometer to profile soil density gradi-
ents of undisturbed native soils, prepared
soil fills (pre-slab), and post-construction
sub-slab soils (both fill and native). Specifi-
cally, operating and maintenance instruc-
tions for the Barkley & Dexter Model HP-
102 Soil Penetrometer are given.
ASTMD1586-84 Standard Method for Pen-
etratbn Test and Split-Barrel Sampling of
Soils: A method for driving a split-barrel
sampler to obtain a representative soil
sample and a measure of the resistance of
the soil to penetration of the sampler.
1.5 Soil Moisture
ASTMD2216-80Standard' Method forLabo-
ratory Determination of Water (Moisture)
Content of Soil, Rock, and Soil-Aggregate
Mixtures: k method forthe laboratory deter-
mination of moisture content of soil, rock,
and soil-aggregate mixtures by weight.
1.6 Soil Radium Content/Radon
Emanation
Measurement of Radium-226, Radon Ema-
nation Coefficient, and Moisture Contenton
Large faQuart) Core and Surface Samples:
A combined protocol forthe measurement
and calculation of radium content, emana-
. tion coefficient, and moisture content of soil
samples. Counting is done with a high reso-
lution gamma spectroscopy system.
1.7 Soil Particle-Size Analysis
ASTMD 422-63 (Reapproved 1972) Stan-
dard Method for Particle-Size Analysis of
Soils: A method forthe quantitative determi-._
nation of the distribution of particle sizes in
soils.
1.8 Specific Gravity of Soils
ASTM D 854-83 Standard Test Method for
Specific Gravity of Soils: A method for the
determination of the specific gravity of soils
by means of a pycnometer.
1.9 Standard Proctor
ASTMD 698-78 Standard Test Methods for
Moisture-Density Relations of Soils and Soil-
Aggregate Mixtures Using 5.5-lb (2.49-kg)
Rammer and 12-in. (305-mm) Drop: A
method forthe determination of the relation-
ship between the moisture content and den-
sity of soils and soil-aggregate mixtures
when compacted in a mold of a given size
with a 5.5-lb rammer dropped from a height
of 12 in.
1.10 Laboratory Permeability
Procedure for Laboratory Measurements of
Air Permeability of Sub-Slab Land Fill (Uni-
versity of Florida): A procedure to measure
air permeability of a soil sample by applying
a known vacuum to the sample and mea--
suring air flow.
1.11 Radon Diffusion Coefficient
Comparison of Radon Diffusion Coefficients
Measured by Transient-Diffusion and
Steady-State Laboratory Methods (Rogers
& Associates): A method for determining
radon gas diffusion coefficients based on
measurement of the non-equilibrium ortran-
sient movement of radon through a sample
material, ratherthan on the more traditional
steady-state transport of radon through the
sample.
1.12 Radon Flux
Radon Flux Measurement by Charcoal
Cartridge (University of Florida): A method
for radon flux measurements made by a
charcoal absorbertechnique. The collected
radon is measured by gamma counting of
the cartridge, and the radon flux is calcu-
lated from the measured radon.
Radon Flux Measurements (Florida State
University): This method is similar in prin-
ciple to the University of Florida version,
except that 25-g diffusion barrier canisters
of the University of Pittsburgh design are
deployed.
2.0 Building Measurement
2.1 Sub-Slab Radon
Alpha Scintillation Cell Sub-Slab Grab
Samples (EPA/AEERL): A method for ob-
taining sub-slabgrab samples and measur-
ing counting data from scintillation.ceH
samples with a portable phbtomultip'lfer tube"
scintillation counter.
2.2 Sub-Slab Communication Test
Sub-Slab Communication Test A method
for the quantitative characterization of the
potential for air flow and pressure field ex-
tensions along all house shell surfaces in
contact with soil by inducing sub-slab de-
pressurization using a vacuum cleaner.
2.3 Differential Pressure
Measurements
Differential Pressure Measurement Proto-
col: A method for measuring pressure differ-
ences which occur within a house and across
the house envelope, including the floor/
slab, as a result of ambient effects and the
effects of mechanical equipment.
2.4 Building Leakage
2.4.1 Blower Door
This section'contains the primary ASTM
reference for fan pressurization, followed
by a one page suggested addendum.
ASTM E 779-87 Standard Test Method for
Determining Air- Leakage Rate by Fan Pres-
surization: A method for measuring air-leak-
age rates through a building envelope un-
der controlled pressurization and depres-
surization.
Test Method for Determining MAC Duct
System Leakage: A method for measuring
the air-leakage rates through a heating and
air-conditioning (HAG) duct system under
controlled depressurization. The method
consists of mechanical depressurization of
a building and its HAG duct system and
measurements of the resulting airflow rates
at five indoor-outdoor static pressure differ-
ences.
-------
2.4.2 Tracer Dilution
This section contains the primary ASTM
reference for tracer dilution, followed by a
modified procedure to measure changes in
infiltration rate induced by mechanical air
handling systems.
ASTM E 741-83 Standard Test Method for
Determining Air-Leakage Rate by Tracer
Dilution:A method for determining airchange
rate in buildings under natural meteorologi-
cal conditions by tracer gas dilution.
Tracer Gas Infiltration Test Method: A
method for determining the airchange rates
in a house by tracer gas dilution.
2.4.3 Site Detection
ASTM E 1186-87 Standard Practices for
Air-Leakage Site Detection in Building En-
velopes: Practices for locating air leakage in
building envelopes. The practices are for
qualitative measurements and notfordeter-
mining quantitative leakage rates. The tech-
niques include combined building depres-
surization and infrared scanning, building
pressurization and smoke tracers, building
depressurization and air-flow measure-
ments devices, generated sound and sound
detection to locate air-leakage sites, and
detection of tracer gas concentration after
adding tracer gas upstream of the leakage
site.
2.5 Indoor Radon
Indoor Radon and Radon Decay Product
Measurement Protocols, EPA-520/1-89-
009, NTISPB89-224273, U.S. Environmen-
tal Protection. Agency, Washington, D.C.:
This document contains indoor radon mea-
surement protocols by several commonly
used techniques. The methods most suit-
able for use in FRRP projects are Protocols
2.1 (Continuous Radon Monitor), 2.2 (Al-
pha-Track Detector), 2.3 (Electret Ion Cham-
ber), 2.4 (Charcoal Canisters), and 2.8 (Grab
Sampling). Other radon and decay product
methods are also included which are less
likely to be applicable to the project. The
protocols describe sampler deployment,
operation, calculations, and quality assur-
ance. An introductory section covers screen-
ing measurements and deployment strat-
egy. Due to the length of this document, it is
incorporated by reference.
&U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1992 - £48-080/40115
-------
A Williamson andJ. Finkelare with Southern Research Institute, Birmingham, AL
35255-5305.
David C. Sanchez is the EPA Project Officer (see below).
The complete report, entitled "Standard Measurement Protocols, Florida Radon
Research Program" (Order No. PB92-115294; Cost: $26.00, subject to change)
will be available only from:
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Telephone: 703-487-4650
The EPA Project Officer can be contacted at:
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
ResearchTriangle Park, NC 27711
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Center for Environmental
Research Information
Cincinnati, OH 45268
BULK RATE
POSTAGE & FEES PAID
EPA
PERMIT No. G-35
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300
EPA/600/S8-91/212
------- |