Radon Control Program

Public and High Priority Buildings

The Rhode Island Rules and Regulations for Radon Control (R23-61RC) require radon testing in all public and high priority buildings. Public buildings are defined as any building owned, managed, leased, furnished or occupied by a state or municipal agency or commission. High priority buildings are defined as any public, private and/or parochial school (grades pre-K-12) and/or child care facility. The requirements for Radon testing in public and high priority buildings include:

• Initial short-term Radon testing in all habitable rooms ground level and below, excepting rest rooms, showers and closets.
• Testing must be performed from October through March, excluding weekends and holidays, under closed building conditions.
• Placement of measurement devices between 2 and 6 feet above the floor, a minimum of 1 ½ feet from any wall, away from room corners, windows, drafts, direct sunlight and any device that emits heat and/or moisture.
• Measurement devices shall not be tampered with during testing.
• A minimum of one test device is required per 2,000 square feet of habitable floor space, and duplicate measurements must be taken in 10% of measurement device locations.
• 3 year re-testing is required in 10% of the areas initially tested.
• Additional testing is required in all areas where results equal or exceed the EPA action level of 4.0 pCi/L.
• All tests must be performed by a RI Certified Radon Measurement Consultant.
• Results of all Radon testing must be submitted to the RI Department of Health’s Radon Control Program.
• Radon mitigation must be conducted for all areas that have average annual radon levels equal to or greater than 4.0 pCi/L, as determined by follow-up testing.

The RI Department of Health’s Radon Control Program is available to assist you in interpreting radon test results and explaining the above regulatory requirements. Any variance from the regulations must be requested in writing and approved by the Radon Control Program. Please contact us 401 222-2438.