Radon protection
Effective protection against radon
Quadro-Secura® and Curaflex® sealing systems are the first choice for sealing soles in contact with the ground and basement walls when carrying out supply and disposal lines. Even when it comes to sealing buildings against radon. This was confirmed on the basis of current tests on a large number of DOYMA sealing systems. Where does radon come from? The noble gas radon is a natural decay product that is created in uranium-bearing rock in the soil. Since it is colorless and odorless, it cannot be perceived by humans. Measurements show particularly high radon values in some regions; this is worrying and unfortunately not an isolated case. So-called “radon maps” record the radon concentrations in detail for the different regions of Germany.
Radon is a naturally occurring noble gas that can enter the house through leaks (e.g. small cracks). In buildings, high, harmful radon concentrations can occur in buildings. What is the danger of radon? Radon can penetrate through openings in basement walls and base plates (e.g. leaky pipe penetration) and then later accumulate in the living space. Permanent contamination of the air we breathe with more than 100 Bq / m3 (becquerel per cubic meter) is suspected to be harmful to health, according to the World Health Authority (WHO). Study results show a proportional relationship between increasing radon concentration and risk of lung cancer. The risk increases by around ten percent for every increase in radon concentration by 100 Bq / m3. After smoking, this is the leading cause of lung cancer. (1) Legislators regulate radon protection for the first time in 2017.
Protection against radon has so far been primarily at the sole discretion of the homeowner. Since June 17, 2017, the new Radiation Protection Act has covered radon levels for the first time. The new legal ordinances are to specify the legal provisions by the end of 2018. The Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) inter alia set a reference value for evaluating the radon concentration in living rooms. In its catalog of measures for the law, the BfS recommends: "New buildings should be planned in such a way that radon concentrations of more than 100 becquerels per cubic meter are avoided on average in the common rooms". (1)
It was the first time that a legal basis for binding rules to protect citizens was created. The focus is in particular on public buildings that are particularly worth protecting, such as kindergartens or schools. Basically, it is therefore recommended for every building owner to rely on radon-tight sealing systems. If in doubt, a precise soil analysis of the radon concentration should be carried out before a construction project. Then the right measures can be taken in good time.
Certified safety for the complete building part
Logical consequence: All parts of the building envelope that touch the ground must be permanently sealed against radon. This applies in particular to supply and disposal lines - in new buildings, but also when renovating existing ones. A material test is usually carried out to demonstrate radon tightness. The current RadonTests go much further: DOYMA has had the most important sealing systems proactively tested by an independent testing institute (IAF in Radeberg). This means that they have been tested in the assembled state. Result: All systems have been certified as "radon-proof"!
DOYMA sealing systems therefore offer reliable and effective protection against radon and prevent pressurized water from entering the building.
1) Source: Website of the Federal Ministry for Radiation Protection (BfS); “Health effects of radon in homes”