Radon Rule May Change in Ohio

The Ohio Dept of Health (ODH) is pushing for additional regulations making radon testing almost twice as expensive and radon mitigation could be impacted similarly. All disputed regulations are from Ohio new rules 3701-69-07 Appendix A and 08. A copy of the draft rules are located at http://www.odh.ohio.gov/rules/drafts/d3701-69.aspx

New Radon Testing Rules Will Impact Cincinnati Real Estate Sales

1. When the l the home being tested is over two thousand square feet, an additional test location is required for each additional two thousand square feet. So if a home is over 2001 -4,000 sf, the tester would have to conduct 2 tests.
2. Unoccupied homes shall be tested with the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system set and operating throughout the measurement interval in the normal range, such as seventy-two degrees Fahrenheit plus or minus five degrees Fahrenheit. Most home owners keep their HVAC units on, but foreclosures tend to have them shut off. This would impact those homes the most.
   
3. Conduct a short-term test in each of the lowest structural areas suitable for occupancy in the home. For example, if the home is a split-level building with one or more foundation types, test in the basement, in a room over the crawlspace, and in a slab-on-grade room. In accordance with this protocol, measurement licensees are required to test in each of the foundation types. Theoretically, a bi-level home would require at least 2 radon tests set, if not three depending on the the number of foundation types.
4. Sump pump pits are not to be used as the primary radon mitigation location.  Many Radon systems are installed into the sump pump pits because it is inexpensive and effective. This change will require additional work and potentially increase the average radon system cost.
   
5. Finally the ODH reserves the right to audit mitigation systems, in the interest of being certain of the quality of the mitigation as well as safety of the homeowner.  The additional cost could be shouldered by the taxpayers at large, the installers, or the homeowners as part of the system installation

This is great information for new buyers and current sellers to know. I am unsure if these rules will be retroactive or not but it is something to keep an eye on especially if you already have a radon mitigation system in your home.