Health Protection Agency Board gives advice on radon measures for new homes

21 May 2008

The Board of the Health Protection Agency, having considered a paper from its Radiation Protection Division, has recommended that UK Building Regulations and Standards should be changed to ensure that all new property incorporates the basic materials and measures necessary to reduce internal radon levels. This will apply also to new extensions and to any other changes to property where the Building Regulations and Standards apply.

Sir William Stewart, Chairman of the Health Protection Agency, said: “People often don’t realise that their most significant exposure to radiation may be in their own home from naturally occurring radon gas. Modern buildings tend to have low ventilation levels for valid energy conservation reasons, but this can have the drawback of encouraging the build-up of radon gas concentrations. Relatively straightforward measures taken during building construction can significantly reduce radon levels and we are recommending that building regulations should be amended to ensure these measures are carried out in all new build.”

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that seeps from the ground into all buildings to some extent.  Levels of radon inside buildings depend on a number of factors, including the local geology, the type of foundation, the positioning of service pipe work and internal ventilation levels. Relatively simple measures can be taken when building new homes and other properties that will significantly reduce radon gas levels. For example, the installation of gas proof membranes in the foundations is a measure that could be taken without undue extra cost at the building stage.

Smoking is by far the greatest risk factor for lung cancer, causing more than 30,000 cases each year. However, radon is the second most common cause of lung cancer in the UK, with estimates of up to 2,000 cases per year, and there is evidence that smoking increases the risk from radon. An important way to reduce the number of lung cancers due to radon is to reduce average radon levels in the home. It has been shown that basic protective measures in new homes can halve average radon concentrations.

Press enquiries; please contact the press office at Chilton, email chilton.pressoffice@hpa.org.uk or telephone 01235 822744 or 822745.

Notes to editors

Detailed advice from the Agency’s Board is being given to the Department of Health (DH) on this topic. This follows a formal request from DH to the Health Protection Agency following recommendations made to it from the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE).

DH has the responsibility for advising the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) about radon and DCLG are, in turn, responsible for the Building Regulations in England and Wales.

Last reviewed: 24 December 2008