Radon Mitigation Technology Field Exercise Package Includes: Description of Mentoring Program Mentor Selection Criteria Field Exercises Field Exercise Verification Form Course Evaluation This field exercise program is to be completed after listening to audio CDs and completing online quizzes and before the course completion certificate can be issued.
Field Exercises 1. Overview of Process...2 1.1 Purpose...2 1.2 Finding a Mentor...2 1.3 Completing the Field Exercises and Receiving a Course Certificate...3 1.4 Student and Mentor Release...3 1.4.1 Student and Mentor Release Form... 4 1.4.2 Student Acknowledgment Form for the State of Iowa... 6 2. Field Exercises...8 2.1 Radon Entry Points...8 2.2 Radon Entry Forces...9 2.3 Air Flow and Indicator Interpretation...11 2.4 Sub-Slab Diagnostics...12 2.5 Installation of a Sub-Slab Depressurization System...13 2.6 Installation of Second System or Inspection of Other Systems...14 3. Field Exercise Verification Form...15 4. Course Evaluation Form...16 1
1. Overview of Process 1.1 Purpose The purpose of this portion of your course is to provide you with an opportunity to get some real life experience in the art of radon mitigation. It will also give you an opportunity to observe different radon mitigation systems as well as factors that affect radon entry and how these may affect your mitigation systems. In addition to this, you will have an opportunity to get some insight into the business aspects of radon mitigation by working with a Mentor who has experience in this field. This portion of the course is a requirement for course passage. It consists of 16-hours of practical experience with a mentor. This hands-on requirement has been a core requirement for entry level mitigation contractors since 1989 when the EPA initiated its radon proficiency program and has continued to be a requirement of both national certification programs as well as those states that administer their own certification programs. 1.2 Finding a Mentor There are a number of individuals who have expressed a willingness to assist with training new people entering the radon mitigation field. These are individuals who are committed to a professional radon mitigation industry. You may know someone already who would be willing to function as your mentor. The following is the criteria for mentors: Be willing to spend at least 16 hours with you, either individually or as part of a larger group. Note: the 16-hours can be either all at once or over an extended period of time, as long as all of the lessons have been completed. Have at least 12-months experience in the field of radon mitigation and has completed at least 50 residential mitigations. Be currently certified by either the National Environmental Health Association s National Radon Proficiency Program or the National Radon Safety Board and if this is done within a state that has a certification program, they must also be certified by that State for radon mitigation. Furthermore, they must be in good standing with those certification bodies. The person can be a relative, employer or employee; provided they meet the criteria listed above and are approved by CERTI prior to beginning the mentoring session. For the state of Iowa, the mentor must also be approved by the Iowa Radon Program Coordinator / Project Director. Before spending time with your mentor, you must complete the technical portion (audio CDs and finish online quizzes) as evidenced by presenting the Quiz passage certificate to your mentor, prior to beginning this field phase of the course. Note, you will have a much better learning experience with your mentor if you complete the technical portion first. After all, it is about learning rather than getting a piece of paper. To coordinate the selection of your mentor, please contact our office (800-513-8332) two weeks before your mentoring session. 2
1.3 Completing the Field Exercises and Receiving a Course Certificate The following sections describe field activities that will help you better understand the dynamics of radon entry and how to design/install radon mitigation systems. The sections are listed in a suggested order, but it is not imperative that they be conducted in sequence. At the end of this document is a single page form that will need to be completed by both you and your mentor. You will also find a Course Evaluation Form. Both forms need to be completed and faxed into our offices as verification of completion of this required portion of your education. For the state of Iowa, these completed forms will also need to be included with your application to the Iowa Radon Program for review in the licensing procedure. Upon receipt of this form and verification of your having completed the online technical quizzes a course certificate will be sent to you. Note: this course certificate will be needed prior to your sitting for a certification exam as well needed as part of the prerequisite for becoming certified with either of the national certification programs. 1.4 Student and Mentor Release Prior to conducting the Field Exercises, review the release form on the following page. This is to be done in conjunction with the mentor. Both the student and the mentor must sign and fax a copy to CERTI before proceeding with the Field Exercises. For the state of Iowa, you will also need to complete and send in the Student Acknowledgment Form as indicated. Learn as much as you can from the Field Exercises but please be careful! Fax the completed Release Form found on the following page to 719-632-9607 3
1.4.1 Student and Mentor Release Form To be completed and sent in PRIOR TO CONDUCTING FIELDWORK by all students. The Center for Environmental Research & Technology, Inc. (CERTI) strives to provide thorough instruction for its students. During some courses, students are given the opportunity to enhance their skills via hands-on learning methods that include the design and/or installation of a radon mitigation system in a residence. This hands-on educational experience is currently a requirement of the Radon Mitigation Technology Course. If an individual is unable to attend this hands-on training or is incapable or unwilling to participate in these field activities in a safe and responsible manner, a certificate of completion cannot be issued. It is to be understood that the student will be conducting this work under the tutelage of a Mentor, who is neither an employee of CERTI, nor is CERTI responsible for the Mentor s conduct. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the student and Mentor are to be responsible for their own safety. It is acknowledged as follows: 1. Student and Mentor may be exposed to dust, hazardous building materials (Mentor shall provide material safety data sheets for materials used for course purposes), and crowded and awkward access to areas of the building that must be inspected and/or mitigated 2. Student must notify and discuss with the Mentor(s), at the beginning of the Field Exercises, if he or she has some condition or circumstance that makes it impossible or impractical for the student to participate in this portion of the course. Additionally, the Student and Mentor assume responsibility for exercising good judgment in performing an activity that may cause personal injury to themselves, or damage to the property. 3. Student and Mentor agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Center for Environmental Research & Technology, Inc. (CERTI), its employees, and subcontractors, as well as owners, lessors, and managers of real property on which some courses may be taught, from any loss, claim, damage, or liability of any kind, arising out of or in connection with a training program, except to the extent that such loss, claim, damage, or liability arises in whole or in part from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of CERTI, its employees, or subcontractors. 4. Student agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Mentor herein, from any loss, claim, damage, or liability of any kind, arising out of or in connection with this Mentor, except to the extent that such loss, claim, damage, or liability arises in whole or in part from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Mentor. By signing below, we acknowledge that we have read the information contained above and have discussed with CERTI, or the Mentor, if necessary, any questions or concerns. We understand that by signing this document, we are agreeing to the conditions set herein. Dated: Student Signature Student Printed Name Dated: Mentor Signature Mentor Printed Name 4
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1.4.2 Student Acknowledgment Form for the State of Iowa To be completed and sent in PRIOR TO CONDUCTING FIELDWORK by Iowa students. Student Name (print): Mentor Name (print): The field exercises will be conducted at the following properties and dates: Address Dates Note that inspection by the Iowa Radon Program may occur on or after the dates indicated above. I attest that the homeowners of these properties have been notified that work to be conducted as a part of these exercises is being done so as part of a training program. (Signature of Student) (Date) Please fax or mail a copy of this form BEFORE conducting the fieldwork to the following: CERTI 1032 N Wahsatch Ave Colorado Springs, CO 80903 Fax: (719) 632-9607 Phone: (800) 513-8332 Iowa Radon Program For use by Iowa Radon Program: The installations indicated above have been inspected and are approved: Printed Name Signature Dated 6
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2. Field Exercises 2.1 Radon Entry Points Objective: Identify points or locations through which radon may enter a home and may need sealing Time Frame: 1 hour Equipment needed: Flashlight Pen or pencil House that has a radon concern Procedure: Walk around the home and identify at least 10 possible radon entry points. List them below. Review this with your mentor after completing it to see if he/she agrees and if you have missed some. Discuss with your mentor which one of these opening will need to be addressed as part of a mitigation design. List Potential Radon Entry Points 8
2.2 Radon Entry Forces Objective: Determine the effect that appliances and building openings can have on soil gas entry. Time Frame: 1 hour Equipment needed: Smoke bottle Flashlight Micromanometer with small tube connected to the negative side of the micromanometer Putty to seal around micromanometer Procedure: Locate an entry point in a slab of a home. This could be a floor to wall joint or a 3/8 inch hole drilled through the slab Use your smoke bottle and lightly puff smoke near the opening to determine which way the smoke is moving. Turn different appliances on and off to see the effect Write your findings below with the following convention: Arrow Meaning Smoke is rising into building from subgrade. Radon can enter Smoke is going down into hole. Radon is not entering Repeat the same measurements using the micromanometer to be able to quantify the effect of the different appliances. With the negative side of your manometer connected to the opening, use the following convention. Sign Meaning + Sub-grade is at positive pressure relative to the interior of the building. It can also mean that building is under negative pressure relative to subgrade. Radon can enter - Sub-grade is at negative pressure with respect to interior of building. It could also be the building is positive in pressure relative to the sub-grade. Radon is not entering from soil 9
Item Condition Smoke Direction or Kitchen Exhaust hood On Off Micromanometer Reading Bathroom Exhaust Fan Exterior Doors Forced Air Furnace On Off Open Closed Blower On Blower Off Try this on different slab openings or with other building systems you might identify in the building. 10
2.3 Air Flow and Indicator Interpretation Objectives: Become familiar with air flow and pressure measurement devices Learn how to interpret performance indicators Learn how different fittings affect performance Time Frame: 2 hours Equipment needed: Radon fan PVC pipe and fittings Air flow measurement device Micromanometer and pitot tube (see appendix for charts), or Hot wire anemometer Inclined or u-tube manometer Other fittings like a rain cap Two Dampers Amprobe or other means for measuring current draw of fan Procedure: Set up your pipe and fan in a configuration as shown in diagram. Have the pipe lengths at least 6 feet on both suction and discharge. Open and close dampers on either end and observe how this changes air flow, suction vacuum and current draw. Add additional fittings to see how measurements change. Damper Handheld Amprobe Or Ammeter Damper HIGH LOW Incline Manometer Answer the questions below, by drawing in arrows that indicate either an increase ( ) or decrease ( ) in air flow, current and suction. 0 Hi 0.263 3 2 1 Low What is the effect of the following actions? Air flow Suction vacuum Restricting suction (tight soils) Restricting discharge (clogged screen or ice) Adding two 90 degree elbows to discharge Adding two 90 degree elbows to suction Adding a rain cap to discharge Other: Power Draw What are the effects on current and suction if discharge is completely blocked? What are the effects on current and suction if suction is completely blocked? 11
2.4 Sub-Slab Diagnostics Objectives: Learn how to simulate a sub-slab depressurization system using a vacuum cleaner Time Frame: 2 hours Equipment needed: A slab-on grade or basement slab home that is going to be mitigated with a sub-slab depressurization system Shop vacuum 5 horsepower. Hose for inlet and enough for outlet to exhaust soil gases outdoors. Air flow measurement device Micromanometer and pitot tube (see appendix for charts), or Hot wire anemometer Plumbers putty Hammer-drill and bits Rubber mallet Stinger This is a three inch pipe to which you attach a cone shaped shop vac wand to one end and the other end is attached to your vacuum cleaner hose. This allows you to measure air flows much more accurately. This is a handy device that can be broken down and taken to job sites. See diagram to right. Drill hole to allow insertion of pitot tube Procedure: Do this in a home you and your mentor are going to mitigate Review Pressure Field Extension procedure in the Appendix of the course manual. Make a diagram of your slab and note test hole locations. Select a preferred suction point location. Measure sub slab vacuums at least three test holes on the slab with the vacuum cleaner both on and off Measure air flow of vacuum cleaner while in hole as well as in free air. Record measurements on diagram. Identify any obstructions like grade beams using a rubber mallet. If necessary drill another vacuum test hole if full communication is not obtained with initial hole Discuss findings and make design recommendations as far as suction point location as well as system layout. Save these measurements to allow you to compare these to measurements you will make at the same locations after the system is installed. 2 feet Vacuum cleaner wand Reducers appropriate to fit your hose. Duct tape can be used to seal Hi 3 inch PVC 0.263 Low Reducers appropriate to fit your wand. Duct tape can be used to seal To suction side of shop vac End to be inserted into vacuum hole 12
2.5 Installation of a Sub-Slab Depressurization System Objectives: Gain experience in installing a sub-slab depressurization system Compare diagnostic measurements to measurements with system on See the effect of caulking and sealing slab openings has on sub-slab vacuums and system air flow Gain experience in estimating system installation costs. Time Frame: 6 hours Procedure: Install system under the guidance of your Mentor Follow all safety practices As you proceed discuss different tools being used with your mentor After installation but before caulking and sealing slab openings, measure sub-slab vacuums at same test holes you did your diagnostics on in the previous exercise. Also measure air flow of system. Caulk and seal slab openings As you caulk and seal watch changes in performance indicator. After caulking and sealing slab, re-measure sub-slab vacuums and system air flow. Did it change? Compare post-mitigation vacuum measurements and system air flows to your diagnostic measurements. Evening assignment: Estimate cost of job you just installed. Consider the following issues: Will you guarantee results less than 4 pci/l? How much will it cost and have you covered overhead costs, like insurance etc. How long will you warrant the system for? How will it be retested and by whom? How are you going to handle long-term testing? Will warranty be transferable to new homeowners? Was there another approach that could have been used? If so, what and how much? What would your next approach be if the system you installed did not work? Discuss bid and guarantee with your Mentor on the next day. Make arrangements with your Mentor for him/her to tell you what the post-mitigation measurements for this installation were after it is tested. 13
2.6 Installation of Second System or Inspection of Other Systems Objectives: Gain experience with different systems This can be either a sump or drain tile depressurization system or a sub-membrane system in a crawl space. The choice of system is up to the Mentor as to what can be arranged and is common in the area. In lieu of an actual installation, it could also be a visual inspection of previously installed systems (minimum 3) where you can discuss installation details and perform postmitigation diagnostics. Time Frame: 6 hours Option 1: Installation of a Drain tile or Sump depressurization System Procedure: Install system under the guidance of your Mentor Follow all safety practices As you proceed discuss approaches with your Mentor Look for daylight ends of drains (soakaways) Measure sub-slab vacuums and system air flows at conclusion of job. Make arrangements with your Mentor for him/her to tell you what the post-mitigation measurements for this installation were after it is tested. Option 2: Installation of a Sub-Membrane depressurization System Install system under the guidance of your Mentor Follow all safety practices As you proceed discuss approaches with your Mentor Measure vacuum under plastic after system installed Measure system air flows Make arrangements with your Mentor for him/her to tell you what the post-mitigation measurements for this installation were after it is tested. Option 3: Inspect three existing mitigation systems Systems should include sub-membrane depressurization and if possible, systems that treat multiple foundations. Measure sub-slab or sub-membrane vacuums and system air flows Discuss approaches taken with your Mentor Review pre and post mitigation results of homes. 14
3. Field Exercise Verification Form Student Name (print): Mentor Name (print): Exercise Radon Entry Points (2.1) Radon Entry Forces (2.2) Air Flow and Indicator Interpretation (2.3) Sub-Slab Diagnostics (2.4) Installation of a Sub-Slab Depressurization System (2.5) Installation of Second System or Inspection of Other Systems (2.6) Circle the Option followed: Drain Tile Depressurization Sump depressurization Sub-Membrane depressurization Inspection of three existing systems, list:,, Total Hours (must be 16 or more): Hours Spent* Student Initials Indicating Completion Mentor Initials Indicating Completion By signing below I attest that I have completed the above listed exercises: / (Signature of Student) (Date) By Signing below I attest that the above student has successfully completed all the field exercises. / (Signature of Mentor) (Date) Upon completion, fax or mail a copy to CERTI 1032 N Wahsatch Ave Colorado Springs, CO 80903 Fax: (719) 632-9607 Phone: (800) 513-8332 Note a course completion certificate will be sent to you after this form has been received as well as your having passed the online quizzes. For Iowa students, a complete copy of this Field Exercises section will need to be included with your application for licensing. 15
4. Course Evaluation Form Radon Mitigation Technology Distance Based In completing this evaluation circling the numbers below has the following significance: 1. Poorly presented 2. Needs work 3. Average 4. Good 5. Excellent Please make comments in each of the boxes regarding improvements or what you liked best. Poor Excellent Radon Mitigation Concepts 1 2 3 4 5 Piping and Fan Sizing and Design 1 2 3 4 5 Sub-Slab Depressurization 1 2 3 4 5 Sub-membrane Depressurization (crawl spaces) 1 2 3 4 5 Drainage Based Mitigation Systems 1 2 3 4 5 Radon Control Systems in New Home Construction 1 2 3 4 5 Worker Health 1 2 3 4 5 Radon Reduction Through Dilution 1 2 3 4 5 Radon Mitigation Standards 1 2 3 4 5 Radon in Water 1 2 3 4 5 Audio CDs as a learning tool 1 2 3 4 5 Value of Course Book and Appendix 1 2 3 4 5 Value of Online test Questions 1 2 3 4 5 Value of guest interviews 1 2 3 4 5 PLEASE CONTINUE ON NEXT PAGE 16
Value of Videos 1 2 3 4 5 Value of Mentoring Field Exercises 1 2 3 4 5 Skills of mentor 1 2 3 4 5 Course Registration Procedures 1 2 3 4 5 Overall Course Evaluation 1 2 3 4 5 Would you recommend this course to other individuals, both inside and outside your company structure? Yes No Other Comments: 17