Radon Testing Implementation

Creating a testing schedule

The committee developed a testing implementation strategy based on the amount of time an individual spends in the designated space during their years enrolled as a student or employed as faculty/staff at the College.   The following are examples using worst case scenarios to estimate long term exposure:

Student:    A student living in the same dorm room for 14 weeks per semester for 9 semesters, 7 days/week, 16.8 hrs/day at a level of 4 pCi/L would have an exposure of:  59270 pCi/L-Hrs

Faculty or staff member:  A faculty or staff member working in an office for 30 years, 50 wks/year, 6 days/week, 8 hrs/day would be able to obtain the same exposure of 59270 pCi/L-Hrs at a level of only 0.823 pCi/L.

These calculations indicate that the academic/administrative offices are areas with the potential for higher levels of long term exposure.  Therefore, our implementation plan is divided into these three testing phases:  phase 1- office space, phase 2 - bedrooms, and phase 3, public spaces. 

Testing guidelines

After buildings are categorized according to the criteria described above, testing locations within buildings will then be identified. Building occupants will be notified in advance regarding testing procedures.