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Radon Tee Spreads 'Reduce Radon' Message in Manchester

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 11:21:00 +0000

Radon Tee Spreads The 'Reduce Radon' Message in Manchester

Radon specialists, ProTen Services, have continued the Radon Tee World Trek 2010 with a seminar on the subject given to health and safety professionals in Manchester.

Click here to view this news item in PDF format, complete with images.

ProTen Services were invited to deliver a seminar entitled Radon Gas: Risks, Regulations & Remediation to the Learning and Skills Council Providers Network in Manchester this week. The attendees were professionals who are responsible for the health and safety of staff and students at a range of training establishments in the North West.

The seminar detailed what radon is, how it gets inside buildings, how to test for it and what the health risks associated with exposure are.

Research into occupational cancers carried out by Dr Lesley Rushton of Imperial College London was also highlighted. Dr Rushton's work has established that approximately 370 lung cancer vicitims each year in the UK die due to radon exposure specifically received in the workplace. This figure is significantly higher than the number of workplace fatalaties from all other accidents and incidents put together.

Then came the good news; people do not need to live with this risk, and there are simple measures that can be taken to reduce radon concentrations in buildings. Methods such as positive pressurisation, retrofit sumps and newbuild radon barriers were all covered, and it was emphasised how simple and relatively inexpensive radon remediation is.

Christopher Axman and Derek Fabby, Chairman of the group were pleased to lend their support to the Radon Tee campaign.

The Radon Tee World Trek 2010 is being sponsored by US non-profit organisation, CanSAR (Cancer Survivors Against Radon), who are dedicated to preventing radon-induced lung cancer and saving lives through education and awareness. The campaign aims to bring social awareness to communities through the power of photos, videos and personal stories.

ProTen Services are taking the Tee on a national tour and will be adding photos to the social media campaign at www.facebook.com/radontee.

Radon Tee Appears With London Landmarks to Lobby for Building Reg Changes

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:51:00 +0000

Radon Tee Appears with London Landmarks to Lobby for Building Reg Changes

A T-Shirt travelling the globe to spread the message Reduce Radon & Save Lives has been photographed outside London's Houses of Parliament with specialist contractors, ProTen Services.

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Martin Freeman, Managing Director of ProTen Services, posed with the Radon Tee outside the House of Lords, the House of Commons and Big Ben this week.

Ministers at the Houses of Parliament are responsible for passing legislation in the UK, including the Building Regulations, which stipulate whether new buildings and extensions or conversions must be protected from radon.

Currently, only properties located in certain areas of the country are required under Building Regulations to incorporate radon protective measures into the build.

In May 2008, the Health Protection Agency advised Government that the Building Regulations should be amended to include a requirement for radon protection in all new buildings. Sir William Stewart, Chairman of the Health Protection Agency said at the time, "Relatively straightforward measures taken during building construction can significantly reduce radon levels and we are recommending that building regulations should be amended to ensure these measures are carried out in all new build."

Since this time, a national public consultation led by the British Research Establishment was conducted, with the intention of revisions being made to the building regulations and brought into force in 2010. Disappointingly, in September 2009 Lord Bill McKenzie of Luton, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Communities and Local Government, responsible for Building Regulations, issued a document revealing that this revision would not be considered until 2013.

Mr Freeman has written to Lord McKenzie to urge that this decision be reconsidered. The number of new buildings being built without sufficient radon protection currently exceeds the number of existing buildings being remediated, meaning the number of properties containing high levels of radon is increasing. This will result in a greater number of lung cancer deaths each year.

US non-profit organisation, CanSAR (Cancer Survivors Against Radon) is dedicated to preventing radon-induced lung cancer and saving lives through education and awareness, and is sponsoring the Radon Tee World Trek 2010. The campaign aims to bring social awareness to communities through the power of photos, videos and personal stories.

ProTen Services are taking the Tee on a national tour and will be adding photos to the social media campaign at www.facebook.com/radontee. The Tee will soon be heading north to Manchester.

Radon Tee Travels to London with ProTen Services

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:27:00 +0000

Radon Tee Travels to London with ProTen Services

The Reduce Radon Tee appeared at the Sustainable Development conference held in London this week, to raise awareness of radon gas and encourage action to be taken.

Click here to view this news item in PDF format with images

Radon specialist contractors, ProTen Services, were invited to attend the Sustainable Development conference, where issues such as energy efficiency, brownfield land redevelopment and sustainable procurement practices were discussed.

Whilst at the conference, ProTen Managing Director, Martin Freeman, had the opportunity to discuss the topic of radon with several influential figures.

Simon Talbot, Managing Director of Ground Gas Solutions, who sponsored the event, was pleased to lend his support to the campaign. "Today's conference was about minimising the impact we have on the environment by changing attitudes towards the consumption and disposal of resources. It is equally important that people are aware of the impact environmental factors, such as radon, have on them, and our building practices need to take this into account." Ground Gas Solutions is the UK's leading specialist consultancy experienced in continuous ground-gas data capture, analysis, risk assessment and remedial design, with particular expertise in the field of landfill gases.

Exposure to the naturally occurring radioactive gas, radon accounts for over 2000 lung cancer deaths in the UK every year. It is produced in the ground through the decomposition of uranium in rocks and soil and can enter buildings. If it accumulates to high concentrations, it poses a significant risk to the occupants of the building.

ProTen Services are taking the Tee on a national tour and will be adding photos to the social media campaign at www.facebook.com/radontee. Following another stop in London, the Tee will soon be heading north to Manchester.

ProTen Services Bring Radon Tee to Bath

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:21:00 +0000

ProTen Services bring Radon Tee World Trek to Bath

National radon specialists, ProTen Services, who are supporting the CanSAR Radon Tee World Trek 2010, have added Bath to the list of destinations the Tee has visited.

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The city of Bath has become the latest stop on the Radon Tee World Trek UK tour. Famed for its Georgian architecture, Roman thermal spa and being the one-time home to Jane Austen, Bath is the only city in Britain to be designated as a World Heritage Site.

Residents and businesses are encouraged to test their properties for radon, particularly due to the large number of utilised basements in the city centre.

One such business where radon testing has been carried out is the Jane Austen Centre. David Baldock, Director of the Centre lends his support to the Radon Tee World Trek campaign, saying, "We've had our building tested for radon as we knew that it could pose a risk to our staff. It was a simple and inexpensive process and there's no reason for anyone not to do the same as us. We have confirmed that our building is safe and our members of staff are not exposed to dangerous levels of radon."

Radon Tee was photographed with Mr Baldock, Rebecca Kench of ProTen Services and Martin Salter, who dresses in Regency costume and greets visitors to the Centre. It is reputed that Mr Salter is the most photographed man in England, posing for an estimated 13,000 pictures each year!

ProTen Services are taking the Tee on a national tour and will be adding photos to the social media campaign at www.facebook.com/radontee. The Tee will be visiting London later this week, and hopes to appear alongside some familiar landmarks.

ProTen Bring Radon Tee World Trek to UK

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 10:02:00 +0000

ProTen Services Begin UK Leg of Radon Tee World Trek

National radon specialists, ProTen Services, are supporting the CanSAR Radon Tee World Trek 2010 and have taken the Tee on the road to spread the message: Reduce Radon and Save Lives.

Click here to view this news item in PDF format, including images

ProTen Services, official UK Radon Tee coordinators have launched the UK leg of the trek with visits to the Health Protection Agency and British Research Establishment.

On its first outing, the UK Tee accompanied ProTen Managing Director, Martin Freeman, to a consultation meeting at the Health Protection Agency, where potential changes to radon policies were discussed.

The following day, the Tee attended a symposium on estate management for school bursars, held at BRE headquarters, where ProTen Services gave a seminar on radon risks, regulations and remediation techniques.

ProTen Services are planning to take the Tee on a national tour and will be adding photos to the social media campaign at www.facebook.com/radontee. The next stops will be Bath and London.

Searing Attack Launched on new British Standard

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:43:00 +0000

NEWS RELEASE: 11^th December 2009

Searing attack launched on new British Standard: "Death traps will be created"

The newly published revision of BS 8102: 2009, ‘Code of Practice for protection of below ground structures from water from the ground' has been met with stinging criticism amid suggestions that following the advice in the new Standard will allow the creation of dangerous living spaces and workplaces.

Click here to view this news release in PDF format

The new version of the Code includes a requirement to take account of radon, among other things. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas formed in the ground during the decay of uranium. It can enter buildings and if high concentrations are allowed to accumulate, it poses a significant risk to the building's occupants. Over 2000 people in the UK die from lung cancer linked to radon exposure every year. Radon is odourless and colourless, and unless a special test is conducted to detect its presence, occupants will never know if they are at risk. The Government's advisor on radon, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has advised that all basements may be susceptible to high levels of radon, regardless of geographic location.

Martin Freeman, Managing Director of leading radon specialist ProTen Services, said that "while it is to be congratulated that the danger of radon has been recognised in the new Standard, it is unacceptable that the document goes on to give defective guidance that will allow the creation of potential death traps. During the consultation process of the new Standard, the Committee was advised that their intended guidance was defective and was given accurate information. The Committee chose to ignore that advice, and have proceeded to issue their defective guidance. "

Defects in the guidance given include limiting protective action to certain geographic areas and advocating the use of materials and methods that are known to have high levels of failure.

In September 2009, the World Health Organisation published The Radon Handbook: A Public Health Perspective. This document stated that indoor radon levels are not naturally occurring and are a result of the way that properties are constructed and used. WHO have now made it clear that responsibility for dangerous levels of radon in buildings lies with building code officials, designers, contractors and other property professionals. Says Mr Freeman, "Following the defective British Standard will lead designers and installers of below-ground waterproofing systems to create hazardous living and working spaces, leaving them exposed to potential litigation."

The utilisation of basements is an excellent way of maximising the use of a site and enhancing property value, and they can easily be designed with safety in mind. Mr Freeman is urging people to ignore the defective guidance in the Standard regarding the management of radon, but to consult a suitably qualified radon specialist in all instances where basement waterproofing is proposed.

-ENDS-

For further information, please contact:

Martin Freeman or Rebecca Kench

Tel: 01225 447960

rebecca.kench@protenservices.co.uk

Notes to Editors

BS 8102: 2009 Code of Practice for protection of below ground structures against water from the ground, BSI, ISBN 978 0 580 59399 4
WHO Handbook On Indoor Radon: A Public Health Perspective, World Health Organisation, 2009, ISBN 978 82 4 154767 3
"From data collected in workplaces it is clear that basements have a higher radon potential than ground floors, and that high radon concentrations can be found in basements anywhere in the country, regardless of Affected Area Status." Tracey Gooding, HPA, Environmental Radon Newsletter Issue 53, Winter 2007.

Radon Takes Centre Stage at Ground Gas Conference

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:55:00 +0000

Radon takes centre stage at ground gas conference

The 2009 Ground Gas and VOCs conference held in London this week saw speakers from across the industry discuss a range of key topics.

Headlining the conference was Professor William Angell, Chair of a World Health Organisation International Radon Project (IRP) Working Group. Prof. Angell relayed the latest guidance from the WHO on international radon ‘action levels', risk communication and mitigation methods.

ProTen Services' Managing Director, Martin Freeman, spoke after Prof. Angell, and drew comparisons from the structural waterproofing industry. In a seminar entitled, "Learning the Lessons of History: Shaping the Future of Gas Barriers Without Reinventing the Wheel", Mr Freeman recalled how defective design, inappropriate materials and systems and poor guidance were responsible for significant failures in waterproofing during the 1990s. Examples were then shown of how these same shortcomings are resulting in failures in gas barriers being installed today.

Also speaking at the conference were Simon Talbot of Ground-Gas Solutions, a Company providing state-of-the-art gas monitoring equipment, Peter Grant of Land Science Technologies, who developed the spray-applied Geo-Seal membrane and Ann Barker, Lead Contaminated Land Officer at Bradford Metropolitan District Council, who presented a case study on the challenges faced when dealing with the Manywells Landfill site.

The presentations are available to view on the Brownfield Briefing website.

ProTen MD to Speak At Industry Conference

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:27:00 +0000

ProTen MD to give talk at industry conference

Martin Freeman, Managing Director of ProTen Services is to deliver a seminar at the VOCs and Ground Gas Conference 2009 on 18th November 2009.

Mr Freeman's seminar will discuss how lessons can be learnt from the history of below ground waterproofing and used to improve the future of gas barriers, including those for radon gas.

This presentation will follow the Keynote talk from Prof. William Angell of the World Health Organisation, who will be discussing the WHO's International Radon Project.

The Conference is taking place in Central London on 18th November 2009. For details of the programme and booking form, please click here.

Full details can be found at http://www.brownfieldbriefing.com

WHO Places Radon Duty On Professionals

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:42:00 +0000

WHO Places Radon Responsibility Firmly on Professionals

In its recently published Handbook on Indoor Radon, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has categorically stated that the responsibility for risks associated with radon gas is placed in the hands of designers, specifiers, contractors and other property professionals.

Click here to view this news item in PDF format

Since 2005, the World Health Organisation has been running the International Radon Project (IRP), an initiative aimed at reducing the worldwide risk of lung cancer associated with exposure to radon gas. In the UK, some 2000 people die every year from lung cancer linked to radon exposure.

A key product of the IRP has been the creation of the Handbook on Indoor Radon: A Public Health Perspective, published last week.

In addition to updated information on the health implications of radon exposure, testing protocols and risk communication, the Handbook contains a chapter on radon protection methods for new constructions and radon mitigation in existing buildings.

The Handbook stresses that high indoor radon levels are not naturally occurring, rather the "result of the human activities of designing and constructing houses as well as the living habits of house occupants."

Prof. William Angell, Chair of the WHO IRP Prevention and Mitigation Working Group highlights that, "Indoor radon levels are caused by the way homes are designed and built. They are not naturally occurring."

WHO have specifically stated that they "clearly place responsibility for radon risks on architects, builders, real estate professionals and home sellers".

The implications of this declaration are far-reaching, and impose a duty on all those involved in the construction and selling process to ensure adequate steps are taken to construct buildings that are properly protected from radon gas. This includes everyone from the designers and specifiers, contractors on-site and building control officers, right through to the agent selling the property. In the case of leased buildings, the landlord also has a responsibility to ensure his property does not endanger the health of his tenants.

Research carried out in the UK indicates an unacceptably high failure rate in existing radon protection measures. This is likely to be due to a combination of factors, including the use of inappropriate techniques, materials and non-specialist labour.

The WHO Handbook emphasises the need for trained specialists to be used for radon protection and mitigation work.

ProTen Services' surveyors and technicians involved in the field of radon have attended formal training courses, passed examinations and have a wealth of practical on-site experience, and the Company is a founder member of The Radon Council.

Radon: A Ticking Time-Bomb For Employers

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:35:00 +0000

Radon: A Ticking Time-Bomb For Employers

Things in the radon world are certainly hotting up, even if the weather is not! With new research published stating that 370 employees every year are dying from radon exposure received whilst at work, top lawyers have begun questioning whether radon is ‘the new asbestos'.

Click here to view this news item in PDF format

ProTen Services have been involved in the field of radon gas for over 20 years, and over this time have encountered much apathy towards the issue. It appears, however, that the time has finally arrived for the killer gas to receive the attention it deserves and that this may, in part, be driven by the threat of legal action.

Research into occupational cancers carried out by Dr Lesley Rushton at Imperial College, London has recently been published in the Occupational Medicine journal. The findings reveal that each year in the UK, approximately 370 people are dying from lung cancer developed due to exposure to radon whilst in the workplace.

According to official figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), on average 230 people are killed in workplace accidents every year. Whilst this figure illustrates a significant loss of lives, it also represents almost 150 fewer fatalities annually than those caused by radon exposure alone.

In a briefing posted on national law firm Shoosmiths' website, a Partner at the firm advises that radon has the potential to follow in the footsteps of asbestos in terms of litigation brought by former employees.

In an article entitled, ‘Radon: The new asbestos?' Ron Reid, who regularly acts in cases involving health & safety legislation writes, "Asbestos has been seen over recent years to be a significant cause of litigation between organisations and their former employees. Exposure to radon gas has the potential to follow suit." Mr Reid goes on to advise employers to carry out radon tests of their premises and take remedial action where necessary.

This latest sign of impending interest comes just weeks after the Health Protection Agency announced they were advising a shake up of regulations. Public consultation has begun on proposals to lower the domestic ‘action level' from 200 bq/m³ to 100 bq/m³ and apply this new lower level not only to domestic properties, but also to buildings where members of the public spend long periods of time. If implemented, these new regulations would mean that radon levels in buildings such as hospitals, care homes and schools would need to be under 100bq/m³, compared to the present requirement for them to be only under 400bq/m³.

As revisions to both Building Regulations and British Standards on the cards for 2010 will lead to greater radon protection requirements in new developments, extensions and renovations, radon is set to become a talking point in many circles.

With the longest track record in the country for providing radon remediation and protection, ProTen Services' experienced staff are on hand to provide advice and solutions to anyone concerned about radon.

Brownfield Redevelopment Wins Gold In Industry Awards

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:52:00 +0000

Brownfield Redevelopment Wins Gold In Industry Awards

A multi-million pound brownfield redevelopment scheme in which ProTen Services were involved has been announced as the winner of a prestigious award.

Click here to view this article in PDF format, complete with images

Places for People's Wolverton Park scheme, near Milton Keynes, recently won the National Home Improvement Council's (NHIC) ‘Best Brownfield or Recycled Building Project'.

The scheme involved the careful redevelopment of several listed buildings, including the structure that was home to the Royal Train between 1889 and 1991. Now known simply as The Royal, a collection of elegant townhouses have been constructed within the shell of this historic building, and it was here that ProTen Services' expertise was called upon during the redevelopment.

From the outset, it was the designers' intention to retain original features wherever possible, and incorporate these into the appeal of the new properties. On closer inspection, however, it was discovered that many of the imposing timber beams in the construction were suffering from severe decay.

The solution proffered by ProTen Services allowed the majority of the timber to be retained, and repairs were carried out using timber off-cuts reclaimed from elsewhere on the site.

Using special resins, sections of reclaimed timber were bonded onto the remaining sound parts, and the structural integrity was further strengthened by encapsulating reinforcing steel bars inside the beams.

Speaking about the development, ProTen Services' Managing Director, Martin Freeman said, "The timber repairs carried out in the Royal Train Shed ticked all the boxes for the NHIC award. Not only did our methods allow the majority of the historic beams to be retained, but we carried out the restoration and repairs using waste materials recycled from elsewhere on the site. This former industrial building has been converted into something quite different internally, however its external appearance is much the same as in its heyday. Wolverton Park is an excellent example of how a brownfield site can be transformed, and I'm pleased that ProTen Services were able to play such a key part in its success."

A case study of the project can be found at www.protenservices.co.uk/case_studies.

York Minster: 25 Years On From The Fire

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:02:00 +0000

York Minster: 25 Years On From The Fire

25 years after a raging fire destroyed parts of York Minster, ProTen Services look back at their involvement in the restoration process

Click here to view this article in PDF format, complete with images

On 9^th July 1984, a blaze tore through the South Transept at York Minster. It is believed that the fire was started by a bolt of lightning striking an electrical panel in the roof.

The roof was constructed of large tinder dry oak beams, which burned rapidly. 150 fire fighters battled to bring the fire under control for two hours, and at around 4:00am, the roof collapsed. Apart from the roof, severe damage had been caused to the masonry and the famous Rose Window.

The restoration process quickly got underway, using only traditional materials and methods. The total reconstruction took four years and cost £2.25m.

ProTen Services, known then as Protim Services, became involved when the architect specified that the English green oak beams that had been installed to create the new roof trusses must be treated with preservative. Due to the nature of the oak used, specific technical difficulties were presented, meaning that normal preservatives were not suitable for use on the beams.

This was not a problem for Protim, however, as the firm's technical department often worked closely with chemical manufacturers to develop new products. In this instance, a fungicidal paste of a specific consistency was developed, so that it would adhere to the green oak timber.

Throughout the company's 80 year history, innovation and the ability to adapt materials and methods to meet specific clients' needs has been central to the firm's success. David Marshall, Chairman, who has been with the firm for over 30 years commented, "Although I wasn't directly involved with the restoration work at York Minster, I can clearly remember discussions with my colleagues regarding their involvement. They were pleased to be playing a part in the restoration work after the fire, which had been a devastating blow to the local community. The whole company felt proud that we were in a position to develop a solution to the problem that no other firm could offer. We continue to offer this level of service to clients today, and have yet to be presented with a problem we can't find a suitable solution for."

ProTen Services feature in Professional Builder Magazine

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:29:00 +0000

ProTen Services feature in Professional Builder Magazine

It's a gas, gas, gas

As the popularity of basement conversions continues to increase, Rebecca Kench of specialist subcontractor ProTen Services explains why consideration must be given to radon gas

Click here to view this article in PDF format as it appeared in Professional Builder

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that seeps from the ground into buildings through the earth-retaining surfaces. Exposure to high levels of radon is a significant health hazard, and it is estimated by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) that over 2000 people in the UK die every year from lung cancer linked to radon exposure.

In properties without basements, the gas enters the building through the ground floor. A property with a basement, cellar or other partly below-ground area, however, will have several earth-retaining surfaces. Given the increased surface area in contact with the ground through which the gas can permeate, the potential for a property with a basement to contain high levels of the carcinogenic gas is significantly increased.

Measures to control radon entry should be taken in all basements as, due to the nature of radon movement, its entry into the basement is foreseeable, even if at the present time a test reveals relatively low concentrations are present. This is the same principal as stipulated in BS 8102: Code of Practice for the Protection of Structures against Water from the Ground, whereby adequate waterproofing must be provided as water entry into a basement is foreseeable, even if the structure is presently dry.

The need for radon protection is detailed in the Building Regulations, and addressed specifically in Approved Document C. These regulations apply to both new buildings, extensions and any basement conversion works. Approved Document C is currently being reviewed, with clearer and updated guidance due to be published in 2010.

Unfortunately, most methods used to control radon gas ingress into properties without basements are unviable, at least in part, for use below-ground, due to the way in which radon is drawn into properties.

Gas who?

Great care must always be taken when appointing a contractor to deal with radon, as without the correct training and knowledge of radon movement it would be easy to inadvertently increase levels of the gas in the property. For example, the installation of an extract fan in the basement will elevate radon levels by drawing more gas from the surrounding ground into the property.

Several membrane systems used for basement waterproofing have been certificated as suitable for providing radon protection. Whilst the material itself may provide a barrier to radon entry, it is vital that a radon specialist be involved in the design and installation of the system, as the way in which it is used will affect its capabilities. Installed in the normal manner for waterproofing, a cavity drain membrane system is unlikely to provide effective radon protection and, in fact, has the potential to make the problem worse.

Cavity drain membranes are vulnerable to defect (a puncture is unlikely to affect its waterproofing qualities, but would let gas pass through), and by providing a barrier to entry in the basement could force radon in the soil to enter the property at ground-floor level, thus increasing the concentration in the rest of the property.

Entry level

ProTen Services have over 20 years' experience in dealing with radon gas, both in existing buildings and newbuilds. With an 80 year history in damp & waterproofing, the firm was ideally placed to develop a system able to achieve waterproofing to BS 8102 standard and also control radon gas entry.

Aquis Double Defence, known as ADD Waterproofing, is a unique and patented system which uses a combination of cavity drainage membranes and air management. The combination of these components alongside the specific calibration of the air management system ensures that radon is unable to enter the basement or any other part of the building.

The system was successfully used in a basement conversion in Oxfordshire, where radon levels of 2600 bq/m³ (more than 10 times the Government's recommended maximum limit) were originally found. The double vaulted basement also flooded during heavy rainfall, and so ADD Waterproofing was an ideal solution for the family, who wished to use the space as a playroom for their children. Once the works were completed, a radon test revealed the level of radon in the basement had fallen to 69 bq/m³, well below the guideline maximum level of 200 bq/m³, and the basement was left waterproof and free from the risk of condensation forming.

For further information on the ADD Waterproofing system, please visit http://www.addwaterproofing.co.uk/. Information on ProTen Services can be found at http://www.protenservices.co.uk/, or please telephone Head Office on 01225 447960.

ProTen MD meets with World Health Organisation Chair

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:15:00 +0000

ProTen MD meets with World Health Organisation Chair

Click here to view this news item in PDF format with images

Martin Freeman, Managing Director of ProTen Services Ltd recently met with the Chair of a World Health Organisation Working Group developing international policies on radon gas.

Professor William J Angell is chairing the WHO Radon Prevention and Mitigation Working Group, and is responsible for developing guidance for policies and programmes in nearly 200 member states.

Prof. Angell, who is also a Professor at the University of Minnesota and President of the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists, flew into London to attend The Radon Council's Annual General Meeting. During the meeting, which was held at the Royal Society for Public Health's headquarters, Prof. Angell joined the Board of The Radon Council.

A new practical guidance document on radon mitigation and protection was also approved by members at the meeting. A Radon Council Working Group chaired by Martin Freeman spent several months compiling the document, which gives designers, specifiers and members of the public updated and accurate guidance on the most effective methods for reducing radon gas levels in properties.

Mr Freeman commented, "Professor Angell is at the forefront of the international initiative to eliminate the thousands of avoidable lung cancer deaths from radon exposure each year, and it was a great privilege to meet with him. We discussed the Council's new guidance document, and some of ProTen's own innovations, and I look forward to maintaining an active working relationship with him."

ProTen Services feature in RoSPA Occupational Safety & Health Journal

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:52:00 +0000

ProTen Services feature in RoSPA's Occupational Safety & Health Journal

Health Matters: Radon

Odourless, colourless, tasteless, naturally occurring radon gas seeps through the ground, becoming trapped in buildings. Continuous exposure to high levels of radon carries significant health risks, as Rebecca Kench reports.

Click here to view the article in PDF format as it appeared in Occupational Safety & Health

Radon is a natural radioactive gas which accounts for around fifty percent of the radiation each person in the UK is exposed to each year. The gas occurs when uranium in soil and rocks decays.

This gas then permeates through the ground into buildings or the open air.

You can't see or taste radon but we all breathe it in through out our lives. Small amounts of radon are present in buildings of all types, ages and locations, both domestic and business premises. In the open air the gas is quickly diluted to low concentrations, however, when it permeates into a building it can become trapped and radon levels can increase to dangerous concentrations.

When concentration of the gas is high, the radioactive decay products from the gas (called radon daughters) can be inhaled and deposited in the lungs where they can continue to emit radiation. Health studies from around the world link exposure to high levels of radon with an increased risk of lung cancer. In fact, exposure to radon is second only to smoking as a cause of lung cancer in the UK.

Smokers exposed to high levels of radon are at an increased risk of developing lung cancer, with some studies suggesting that they are 25 times more likely to develop lung cancer than non-smokers exposed to high levels of radon.

Buildings in certain areas of the UK are more likely to contain high levels of radon, due to the underlying geology and varying amounts of uranium present in the soil. The latest set of radon maps published by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) show that these areas include large parts of the South West, Northern England, the Midlands, the South Coast and the whole of Wales. Areas such as these, where it has been estimated that more than one percent of properties will contain high levels of radon, are classed as radon Affected Areas

But even buildings not in Affected Areas can be susceptible to high levels of radon. The HPA recently advised that any property with a basement, regardless of whether it is located in an Affected Area or not, will have an increased probability of containing high radon concentrations. This is because buildings with basements or underground levels have a larger surface area in contact with the soil through which radon gas can permeate.

Entry

Mostly, radon will passively infiltrate into a building, for example, through cracks in the foundations and gaps around service pipes. Evidence has also been found to demonstrate that radon can pass through certain building materials, even those which provide an adequate barrier to water penetration.

The main factor responsible for radon gas entering a property, however, is advection. This is the movement of the gas from the soil to the lowest point of pressure, which is usually inside the building. This means that the gas is literally being sucked from the ground into the building and the greater this pressure difference is, the faster the rate at which the gas is drawn inside is.

Testing

Radon is odourless, colourless and tasteless, so the only way to know it is there, and to assess the level of it, is to conduct a specific test for it.

Employers with premises that contain basement workspaces or that are situated in Affected Areas have a legal duty to conduct a radon test. Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, employers must assess all risk to their workforce, and risk of high levels of radon being found in a building situated in an Affected Area or with a basement is significant, so a test must be conducted. Testing for radon is the only way to know whether employees' health is at risk from the gas.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) can enforce radon testing in commercial properties and has a team of radiation inspectors who visit workplaces to ensure that a radon risk assessment has been completed. Enforcement duties for some sectors have been delegated to local authority environmental health officers.

To assess the level of radon in an existing building, a specialist detector must be placed in the property before being sent to a lab oratory for analysis. Radon detectors are small and discreet, and the whole process including laboratory analysis is inexpensive. As radon levels fluctuate according to seasonal variances (e.g. levels are higher in winter, a reason for this is the added amount of ventilation in a building (through open windows) in the warmer months) a three month testing period is required to take such inconsistencies into account.

There are set maximum levels that radon concentration should not exceed inside buildings. These Action Levels are the point at which it is advised (or required, in the case of workplaces) that action is taken to lower the concentration. In domestic properties, the level is set at 200bq/m³(this may be lowered to 100bq/m³) and in commercial properties the Action Level is 400bq/m³. (Note: The average back ground radon concentration in the open air is 4bq/m³ and the average radon level inside buildings is 20bq/m³.)

For most employers, radon levels on their premises will be below 400bq/m³ so no further action will need to be taken after testing has been carried out. However, the risk assessment for radon should still be regularly reviewed.

HSE suggests the following guidelines for deciding when to carry out a review:

● where radon levels were found to be significantly less than 400bq/m³ at the initial measurement, the period of re-measurement might be of the order of once every 10 years

● where radon levels were just below 400bq/m³ at the initial measurement, the suggested period for re-measurement will be less than 10 years

If a workplace premises is found to contain levels of radon in excess of the Action Level of 400bq/m³, control methods must be put in place to reduce the concentration, otherwise the employer will be in breach of the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999 (IRR99). These regulations apply to workplaces where radioactive substances and electrical equipment emit ting ionising radiation are used. IRR99 (see: www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1999/

19993232.htm) also apply to work in which people are exposed to high levels of radon gas and therefore its decay products.

The regulations require employers to keep exposure to radon below 400bq/m³ by introducing, if necessary, control measures. As the air pressure inside a building is the main factor affecting the entry of radon gas, techniques which alter this pressure differential are the most successful ways of remediating buildings with high radon levels. Two such techniques are the use of specialist positive pressure units and retro-fitting a radon sump beneath the building. PPE should only be used to prevent exposure to radon as a last resort.

● Positive pressure units are commonly used to deal with condensation. They draw air into the building at a greater rate than it naturally escapes, raising the pressure inside the building and therefore forcing moist air out through a building's weak points. When calibrated for radon remediation, these units can raise the pressure inside the building to a level just higher than the pressure in the ground. This creates a ‘pressure buffer' across the floor (and other earth-retaining surfaces) of the building to halt the process of advection. Positive pressure units have been subject to significant technological advances over recent years and have been successfully used to remediate buildings with radon levels in excess of 10,000bq/m³. They are inexpensive to run (about the same cost as a light bulb), quiet and do not create a draught.

● A radon sump is a void created beneath a building by excavating a small amount of material from the ground. Radon gas in the soil is then drawn to this area because the sump makes the area the lowest point of pressure. An extract pipe can be attached to the void to dispel the gas from the sump to a safe location (usually above eave level) and prevent it from permeating the building.

It should be recognised that radon mitigation is a specialist service, where an under standing of the science behind radon movement is required. Choosing the wrong solution to reduce radon levels can in fact exacerbate the problem. For example, some techniques, such as the use of extraction fans to increase ventilation can cause greater volumes of the gas to be drawn into the building.

Even with many years' experience in dealing with radon mitigation, a specialist contractor may not always solve the problem at the first attempt - no two buildings are identical, neither is the geology beneath any two plots of land. Where very high levels of radon have been found in a building, it may take several attempts and various combinations of techniques to sufficiently lower the concentration of the gas.

After any radon remediation work has been carried out, it is imperative that another radon test is done to determine whether it has been effective. Given the nature of radon entry into buildings, radon should be viewed as something that needs to be continually managed.

Case Studies

● Following a visit from an HSE inspector, a college carried out radon tests and found high levels of radon throughout the building. In many classrooms, radon levels over 800bq/m³ were found, and in three offices which backed onto an earth-retaining wall, levels between 6,000 and 10,500bq/m³ were found.

Work to reduce radon levels needed to be carried out quickly to avoid the college being forced to close, and so a specialist firm was contracted to remediate the building. Three large positive pressure units were installed in the roof void, along with a network of pipes and vents into individual rooms. Rooms that were inaccessible from the roof void had individual ‘through the wall' positive pressure units installed, which are small and discreet.

Unused voids beneath the building were discovered, which are now being used as a sump system, with inline fans directing the gas collected here out of the building through pipes.

The level of radon throughout the majority of the classrooms and offices has now fallen below 400bq/m³. However, in one particular area of the building where 6,600bq/m³ was initially found, the level has dropped only to around 2,000bq/m³. Further sump systems will be installed in this area, and the radon level will be continually monitored until levels have been reduced sufficiently.

This case highlights the importance of using a specialist contractor with the skills and expertise necessary to manage a radon problem, not simply install a system and leave site, hoping for the best.

● A luxury hotel company carried out radon tests throughout its buildings, and found high concentrations in certain areas. In particular, the large commercial kitchen, which was located on a lower ground floor level and had earth retaining walls, was found to contain over 6,000bq/m³.

12 members of kitchen staff regularly worked 10 hour shifts in this part of the building, meaning that for every shift worked, each member of staff received the equivalent radiation dose of undergoing approximately 10 chest X-rays.

A specialist contractor installed several large positive pressure units at various locations in the building, along with a network of pipes and vents into individual rooms. Rooms that could not be connected to the large positive pressure units had individual units installed.

Radon tests were carried out shortly after the works had been completed, and showed that the control measures installed had successfully lowered the radon level to less than 150bq/m³ throughout the whole building.

Rebecca Kench works for ProTen Services Ltd: email rebecca.kench@protenservices.co.uk

ProTen Services feature in Building Regulations Yearbook 2009

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 12:14:00 +0000

ProTen Services feature in Building Regulations Yearbook 2009

Don't forget your basement!

Rebecca Kench of ProTen Services discusses the importance of ensuring basement conversions conform with Building Regulations so that consideration is given to radon gas

Click here to view this article in PDF format as it appeared in the Building Regulations Yearbook 2009

RADON IS a naturally occurring radioactive gas which claims more than 2,000 lives to lung cancer in the UK each year.

Part C of the Building Regulations states that protection should be provided against radon, and further guidance on where protection is needed and the level of protection required is given in Approved Document C. The necessity to comply with Building Regulations is often overlooked by individuals converting cellars or basements into habitable accommodation. The most obvious danger of this is the potential lack of a suitable fire escape, however an equally worrying consequence is that consideration is unlikely to have been given to radon gas.

In its Environmental Radon Newsletter (Issue 53) the Health Protection Agency (HPA) stated "It is clear...that high radon concentrations can be found in basements anywhere in the country, regardless of Affected Area status".

Section 2.39 of Approved Document C states that buildings ... "built in areas where there may be elevated radon emissions, may need to incorporate precautions against radon." As the HPA has publicly declared that all basements are at risk from high concentrations of the gas, it should therefore be assumed that a basement conversion may need to incorporate protection against its ingress.

Extreme care must always be taken when appointing a contractor to do so, as without the correct training and knowledge of radon movement it would be easy to inadvertently increase levels of the gas in the property. For example, the installation of an extract fan in the basement will elevate radon levels by drawing more gas from the surrounding ground into the property.

Another potentially dangerous course of action is the installation of a membrane system. Several membranes used for basement waterproofing have been certificated as suitable for providing radon protection, however using these in isolation to protect a property from radon intrusion would be unwise.

Not only are they vulnerable to defect (a puncture is unlikely to affect its waterproofing qualities, but would let gas pass through), but by providing a barrier to entry in the basement could force radon in the soil to enter the property at ground-floor level, thus increasing the concentration in the rest of the property.

A combination of physical barriers and air management is the most appropriate and effective method of ensuring that the risk of high radon concentration is eliminated not only in the basement but also in the rest of the property.

For further information on ProTen Services, the developers of the ADD Waterproofing combined waterproofing and radon control system, please visit http://www.protenservices.co.uk/ or http://www.addwaterproofing.co.uk/ or telephone 01225 447960.

ProTen Services feature in New Zealand Engineers' Magazine

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 09:50:00 +0000

ProTen Services feature in The Structural Engineer magazine

Maintaining our heritage

Michael Hall, Senior Surveyor, ProTen Services Ltd, explains how timber resin repair systems can be used to retain much of the original timber, and provide an aesthetically pleasing result

Click here to view the article in PDF format as it appeared in Sesoc Journal

When damaged or decaying timbers are found in a heritage building, the prospect of having to replace the historic beams can be devastating for the owners.

It is difficult to pinpoint what gives a period property character, but one thing is certain: upset just one aspect and it is likely to affect the whole feel of the building. Insensitive repairs to historic timbers can be particularly noticeable, and not only spoil the visual effect of the architecture but can devalue the property.

From an environmental perspective, timber is an extremely valuable resource, and it is recognised as important to conserve as much of the original material as possible. It is often only a small but structurally critical section of timber that has become rotten, infested or fractured, and so wherever possible, methods should be used that simply replace or repair the defective section and allow the majority of the timber to be retained.

The use of specially designed resins allows this to be achieved; not only can the repairs be carried out in an aesthetically pleasing manner, which in many cases are invisible to the untrained eye, but the structural capacity can also be maintained (and in the majority of cases significantly improved) whilst, of course, wastage of timber is kept to a minimum. The epoxy resins used have been developed over almost three decades, and are now suitable to act as both a replacement material to substitute the lost timber and as an adhesive to bond on re-claimed timber of a similar age and appearance.

Resin repair systems can be used to remediate a wide range of timber defects, including decayed truss or beam ends, structural cracks - either natural or induced, and the de-bonding of laminated beams. They can also be used in conjunction with imbedded steel or carbon fibre reinforcement to upgrade the loading capacity of beams. In the majority of repairs, the basic components used can be broadly categorised as the parent timber, the replacement timber, reinforcing or connecting materials and of course the epoxy resins. The role of the resin may be solely as an adhesive, or as a structural filler and adhesive, i.e. in the form of a three part ‘grout' comprising of a base liquid, a hardener and a graded filler. A coupling agent or primer may be required to promote adhesion, and shuttering is sometimes necessary for retention purposes.

Epoxy resin grouts are used for both bulk filling purposes (i.e. for re-forming timber sections), or as an adhesive for securing reinforcement bars in the parent or introduced timber. They have a relatively low viscosity, and as such are self-levelling and free-flowing ‘searching' substances, making them ideal for use in filling voids and providing a sufficient bond to the timber.

The cured properties of the three part grouts include a compressive strength of >50N/mm2, a tensile strength of 17N/mm2, a flexural strength of 32N/mm2 and a specific gravity of 1.6. The initial cure occurs at 24 hours (dependent on the ambient temperature) and full cure at 3-7 days, again dependant on temperature. The minimum application temperature is normally 5^oC, but winter formulations are available for adverse conditions.

Their structural capability can therefore be seen to be more than comparable with timber and they maintain a consistent density throughout the cross-section.

Thixotropic resin adhesives are highly viscous prior to curing, and are commonly used for bonding reinforcing rods or ties within pre-drilled holes in the parent timber. Where the repair area is inaccessible or vertically orientated, this type of resin can also be used in the void-filling role. Again, typical cured properties include a compressive strength >50 N/mm2, a tensile strength of 18 N/mm2, Youngs modulus: 5,000 N/mm2.

Repair of trusses

Where there is significant decay to a beam or truss bearing end, a new timber section can be bonded onto the original parent timber. Known as a Timber Resin Splice (TRS), this method is the simplest way of creating a structural bond between the new bearing end and the existing beam or truss. It is used to avoid the considerable disruption and cost that would be experienced if the original timber were to be removed in its entirety, which would invariably involve significant disruption of existing floors, ceilings and partitions etc.

The process involves the cutting off of the decayed timber so that only structurally sound timber is retained. The new section of timber is then cut to size, usually formed from reclaimed timber of a similar age and species, and slots or holes are formed to receive the reinforcing bars in both the existing and new timber. The length and configuration of the reinforcement required is calculated for each individual repair to both optimise the quantity of material used whilst achieving the structural capacity required, but the bars will normally extend to a minimum of 500mm into each timber. Before the selected resins are poured in or injected it is essential that the slots or holes are cleaned to remove any shavings or dust to ensure proper adhesion. The bars are then placed in the slots, separated with spacers, and the resin poured or injected to encase the reinforcement.

The repair can be configured to suit limitations in access, i.e. slots can be formed in the top, side or underside of the beam or truss. This can be of particular importance if the beam is supporting a feature that is to be retained, such as a lime mortar floor.

A period of time is required following the repair to allow the resin to cure and to achieve its structural integrity, which is usually within seven days. During the curing period the resin will soak into the surrounding timber to achieve the desired bond, and will also search out and fill adjacent cracks/voids to the extent that monitoring is required in the period immediately following the pouring of the resin to check for and to plug any leaks.

The repair can be designed to look like a traditional scarf joint, and where required special moulding mortars can be used to mimic graining and even woodworm or Deathwatch beetle flight holes. Particular resins can also be stained to match the original timber, so that with a bit of care and the use of the most suitable resin even the property owners have difficulty identifying the repaired sections.

Repair of laminated beams

The use of laminated beams became increasingly common throughout the 20^th Century as a cost-effective method of forming large section or curved beams. However, years of water ingress and general deterioration with age has in many cases led to the breakdown of the adhesive used in the construction of such beams. Where beams are displaying de-lamination, the laminates can be re-bonded by the injection of a two part low viscosity resin adhesive between the laminates. Should further stability be required, stainless steel or fibre rods can be inserted, through the vertical axis of the beam and held in place with the same or similar resin.

Repair of fissures

In many cases, small cracks and imperfections in beams add to the cosmetic appearance, and are desirable. If, however, the crack (either natural or induced) has structural implications, it becomes necessary to carry out remedial works. This can be achieved either purely by injecting a low viscosity two part epoxy resin into the crack, or by providing supplementary measures involving the provision of steel or fibre ties at regular intervals across the crack, the ties being set in a similar resin.

Upgrading of timbers

One of the most effective uses of timber resin repair in heritage buildings becomes evident when a change of its use is proposed. Recent years have seen many heritage properties be converted into luxury hotels, conference centres or venues for lavish private functions. The structural capacity of the existing beams is often not sufficient to bear the extra loading; however, with this technique the beams can be upgraded with minimal visual impact.

The process in effect requires the formation of a slot along the length of the beam to approximately three quarters of the depth of the timber into which the required number of reinforcing bars are placed and encased in resin. The combination of the reinforcing bars and resin can increase the load bearing capacity of an original timber beam by two or three fold with little aesthetic alteration. This method is not only less disruptive, but also more cost effective than the use of bulky external flitch plates or wholesale floor replacement.

To determine the exact repair specification needed to meet the proposed required loadings, structural calculations are of course required, and on completion loads are induced to monitor any deflection.

These techniques provide a much-needed solution to the quandary of damaged historic timbers - their stability can be restored without harming their original character and beauty. Further benefits of these methods compared to alternatives, such as the use of steel plates, is the minimal disruption that is caused to the building and the maximum retention of valuable timber.

ProTen Services Ltd. have been involved in timber preservation for 80 years, and have witnessed the evolution of various resins since the 1980s. Whilst early resin systems were met with scepticism from some heritage bodies, today's resins and TRS systems have many beneficial properties, including: high versatility, long shelf-life, low fire risk, low odour, wide useable temperature range, low cure shrinkage, excellent adhesion and toughness.

Experimental data that is extensible to historic timber and emerging data from old epoxy repairs has abated the concerns once raised regarding the durability of resin repairs, and the method is now widely accepted as a viable means of timber preservation.

ProTen Services Ltd have experience in carrying out timber resin repairs in a variety of locations and situations, including the Royal Train Shed at Wolverton and numerous historic and heritage buildings throughout the UK. In each case, whether it be a repair or an upgrade of a timber beam, the Company is proud to have saved some of the country's heritage, and maybe to have convinced a few sceptics along the way.

Further information or technical advice: ProTen Services are a national property preservation and environmental services company in the United Kingdom. With their Head Office situated in the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Bath, ProTen Services have 80 years experience in the field of timber preservation. Please see www.protenservices.co.uk for full details of the Company's range of services.

Radon Experts ProTen Services look back at 20 years of remediation

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 10:14:00 +0000

ProTen Services Look Back at 20 Years of Radon Gas Remediation

ProTen Services have been involved in the field of practical radon remediation for over 20 years; longer than any other commercial company in the UK.

ProTen's experience in the field is well-documented in the firm's company newsletters, Protimes. The topic is regularly discussed in the quarterly newsletter, including early reports that the firm's Exeter branch was receiving a steady stream of enquiries. A selection of these articles can be found by clicking here.

Protim (as the firm was then known) cemented their position as the leading contractors in the field in 1991, when then Managing Director, Richard Malpass, gave a seminar on the subject to 200 Environmental Health Officers at their annual conference. The same year, Richard also addressed delegates at a top level conference in Westminster organised by the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB), calling upon the Government to take urgent action to ensure that people in homes affected by radon are protected.

Protim Services were pioneers of radon sump systems in the UK, which create sub-floor depressurisation and allow the gas from the soil to be collected in an area beneath the property and vented off to a safe location before it can enter the building.

In 1992, Protimes reported that independent tests had been carried out to prove the effectiveness of Protim Services' radon remediation systems, and that these results included reductions in radon levels from 1400 bq/m³ to 78 bq/m³ and 1200 bq/m³ to 45 bq/m³. These results impressed reporters from ‘Which' magazine, who were compiling a report on radon at the time.

By 1994, Protim Services' reputation for providing effective radon remediation solutions had gone not only national, but international. Sump systems had been installed throughout Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire when the Irish Government approached Protim for help.

There were deep concerns regarding high levels of radon in twenty schools on the West Coast of Ireland, and having failed in their own attempts to reduce the problem, Protim were called in. Individually designed systems were installed in each of the schools, which ranged from single classroom country schools to large three-storey buildings in towns.

Protim were also commissioned to carry out work in the former East Germany. This included the manufacturing plant of the famed Trabant motor car near Dresden and several homes in Saxonia.

A particularly impressive system was installed for a family in the town of Schneeburg, whose property had been found to contain 40,000 bq/m³. Three radon sumps were installed beneath the property, and later tests revealed the radon concentration had fallen to below 100 bq/m³. The German authorities were so staggered that they commissioned two independent radiation testing laboratories to verify the results, which naturally they were able to do.

In more recent years, ProTen Services have continued to excel in the field of radon gas management.

As well as designing and installing remediation systems for buildings with high levels of radon, ProTen are also qualified to install radon protection during the construction of new buildings.

In 2008, ProTen Services were chosen by Californian-based Land Science Technologies to be the sole UK applicator of their unique gas barrier system, Geo-Seal. Suitable for providing protection against radon, in addition to contaminant gases such as methane and carbon dioxide, Geo-Seal is a triple-layer barrier that includes a spray-applied core layer. The spray application allows for a seamless barrier to be laid, where there are no joints through which any ground gasses can leak.

When it was declared by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) that basements and cellars are at particular risk from radon gas, ProTen's vast experience in both radon mitigation and basement waterproofing enabled the firm to develop a combined system to protect the property and its occupants from this dual threat.

The patented Aquis Double Defence (ADD Waterproofing) system combines waterproofing and radon management techniques to ensure that any basement can be protected from the ingress of moisture and radon, without the risk of elevating radon levels elsewhere in the property.

ProTen Services are committed to maintaining high standards across the industry, and current Managing Director, Martin Freeman, has been a key member of The Radon Council since its inception in 1990. The Radon Council is the industry regulatory body, in which ProTen Services play an active part promoting the Council and its standards.

During the past 18 months, ProTen have been increasing awareness of radon through a series of technical seminars to professionals. Over 350 architects, engineers, surveyors, local authority personnel and members of trade bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Building and British Institute of Facilities' Managers have attended the seminar entitled "Radon Gas: Risks, Regulations and Remediation".

No other company in the UK comes close to matching the experience and wealth of knowledge that ProTen Services' specialist surveyors and technicians have in the field of radon gas.

For advice regarding radon tests, radon mitigation or radon barriers, contact the radon Pro's; ProTen Services.

ProTen Services offer advice on flooding to South Somerset community

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:51:00 +0000

ProTen Services offer advice on flooding to South Somerset community

Click here to view the feature in the Western Gazette newspaper

Having developed and recently launched Wetaway, a remediation system for flooded buildings, ProTen Services attended a Flood Awareness day in Crewkerne, South Somerset.

The event in February was organised by the Local Authority's Civil Contingencies Unit, and was publicised on local BBC radio.

Residents in Crewkerne and the surrounding villages were hit by severe flooding in May 2008, and many are still waiting to return to their properties. The Local Authority arranged the Flood Awareness event to give residents and local business owners the opportunity to meet contractors and manufacturers involved in flood remediation and defence systems.

Rebecca Kench of ProTen Services attended the event, and discussed The Wetaway System with those who attended.

Rebecca said, "Many of the people I met had spent several months living in alternative accommodation whilst they waited for a drying certificate to be issued for their property. When I explained that we had developed a system that would allow flood victims to return to their properties within weeks, they were very enthusiastic."

The Wetaway System has been designed to eliminate the need for a drying certificate. By isolating the moisture in the walls from the internal accommodation (through the use of waterproof membranes) and installing a specialist air management unit to control humidity levels and ensure the moisture dries towards the outside of the building, The Wetaway System can create a quickly return a property to a habitable state following flood damage.

Rebecca continued, "The Wetaway Resistance door barrier was also admired by many attendees, due to its robust yet lightweight qualities."

Reporters from the local press attended and a photograph of the event appeared in the Western Gazette. (Rebecca Kench, centre back row, with the Wetaway Resistance door barrier)

ProTen Services feature in Building Engineer magazine

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 13:29:00 +0000

ProTen Services feature in Building Engineer magazine

Going Underground: Why radon gas is a particular problem in basements

Click here to view this article in PDF format as it appeared in Building Engineer

Radon, the naturally occurring radioactive gas, seeps from the ground into buildings through the earth-retaining surfaces. In properties without basements the gas enters the building through the ground floor. A property with a basement, cellar or other partly below ground area, however, will have several earth-retaining surfaces. Given the increased surface area in contact with the ground through which the gas can permeate, the potential for a property with a basement to contain high levels of the carcinogenic gas is significantly increased.

The Health Protection Agency recognises that this is the case, stating in its Environmental Radon Newsletter that "it is clear that basements have a higher radon potential than ground floors, and that high radon concentrations can be found in basements anywhere in the country, regardless of Affected Area status".

It is, therefore, necessary for any property, domestic or commercial, that has a basement to be treated in the same manner as a property located in a known radon Affected Area. Measures to control radon entry should be taken in all basements as, due to the nature of radon movement, its entry into the basement is foreseeable, even if at the present time a test reveals relatively low concentrations are present.

Only a small percentage of the radon within a property will have passively infiltrated from the ground and through the building material. The primary mechanism by which radon enters a building is advection; the ‘sucking' of the gas from the soil to the point of lowest pressure. In the majority of cases, the pressure within a building is lower than the pressure outside or in the surrounding property. Adjusting this pressure differential is one of the most successful methods of controlling radon entry; however, doing so in a property with a basement is not as straightforward as in a property without, given the number of earth-retaining surfaces.

One of the most common solutions to controlling radon entry into properties without basements is to create a sump beneath the property. This void becomes the lowest point of pressure, and so the radon gas in the surrounding earth is drawn to this point, where it can then be vented out to a known safe location. It is virtually impossible to create a radon sump when the property has a basement, however, as the basement itself acts as a giant sump due to the number of earth-retaining surfaces.

Another traditional option for controlling radon entry is to install a physical barrier across the earth-retaining surfaces. If this were to be done in a basement situation, the membrane used would not only need to be certificated as radon retardant, but also as able to withstand hydrostatic pressure.

Any basement or cellar that is to be used for living or working accommodation should be appropriately waterproofed in accordance with the British Standard. The recommended method for belowground waterproofing in BS 8102: Code of Practice for the Protection of Structures against Water from the Ground is a drained cavity drainage membrane (CDM) system. This document is also currently under review, and the revision due to be published in the coming year will include reference to radon.

Several manufacturers' CDM materials have been certificated as radon retardant; however, most have not gained certification for the jointing material, meaning that the system could not be said to fully protect against the ingress of radon. One manufacturer has had its entire CDM system certificated for radon control; however, it would be unwise and potentially dangerous to use this in isolation for the purpose of radon control for two reasons.

The first problem that would arise from solely using a membrane in the basement of a property would be that any radon in the ground could simply find an alternative passage through the ground and ultimately still end up inside the property. This would potentially result in an increase in the radon level in the ground floor accommodation, where it is likely that the occupiers would be spending more time than in the basement.

The second drawback to using a CDM alone to prevent radon ingress into a basement is its vulnerability to defect. Unless at the very foot of the wall, a puncture in the CDM would not affect its waterproofing performance. Moisture coming through the exterior building fabric depressurises in the membrane's cavity (air gap) before trickling down to floor level, so even if the membrane is punctured, this would not result in a leak spurting out through the membrane. A puncture in the membrane would, however, affect its ability to control the ingress of radon gas, yet it would go unnoticed as radon cannot be seen, smelt or tasted.

It has been noted that some of the advice given in official guidance documents relating to radon control in basements is inaccurate and misleading. It is suggested by some that waterproofing techniques such as liquid bitumen, cementitious coatings and plastic-based coatings may be suitable for radon protection. It is widely accepted in the waterproofing industry that such techniques do not reliably prevent water penetration, due to their inability to withstand thermal movement, severe hydrostatic pressure, traffic vibration and so forth. It is, therefore, clear that a system that does not provide a barrier against liquid will certainly not provide a barrier to gas.

Given the serious consequences of exposure to high levels of radon, it must be recognised that the importance of providing radon protection in a basement is greater than for waterproofing. A system should, therefore, be chosen primarily on its radon-protection merits, but should also adhere to BS 8102. It is vital to draw a distinction between materials that are waterproof and those that are gas-proof, as instances have been observed whereby a basement is completely dry yet contains radon in excess of 6,000 bq/m3. Account must also be taken of the effect works in the basement will have on the rest of the property.

The only current method of successfully protecting a basement from radon (without elevating levels in other areas of the property) and achieving waterproofing to the required standard is patented under the name Aquis Double Defence (ADD) Waterproofing. Developed by ProTen Services, who have over 20 years' experience in dealing with both radon and structural waterproofing, ADD Waterproofing is a unique system proven to perform. A CDM is used internally to line all earth-retaining surfaces within the basement. This provides waterproofing to BS 8102 standard and is the primary defence against radon ingress. The edges of the membrane are all completely sealed to prevent radon entry into the basement.

A positive pressure unit is installed in the basement to serve two functions. Firstly, it raises the pressure of the whole building, so that the radon in the ground is not simply displaced to the ground floor accommodation. A pressure gradient is formed across all internal surfaces meaning that, should the membrane be punctured, the pressure ‘buffer' will prevent gas from seeping through. Secondly, the positive pressure prevents condensation from forming in the basement, which would otherwise occur due to the membrane being sealed at all peripheries.

The final element of ADD Waterproofing is to use the air gap behind the CDM as a collection point for radon from the surrounding soil. An exhaust pipe with an inline fan then extracts the gas from behind the membrane and releases this into the air outside at a safe location away from the accommodation.

It is the combination of these techniques that enables a property with a basement to be protected from radon. Aquis Double Defence ensures that a basement area is safe to occupy, whilst other waterproofing techniques may encourage occupants to spend more time in a basement area and be exposed to high levels of the gas and also elevate radon levels in other areas of the property.

Extreme care must be taken when selecting a contractor to implement measures designed to control radon in below-ground areas. The Radon Council is the industry's independent regulatory body and holds a list of approved contractors. Whilst it is important to use a trained and competent contractor when dealing with radon in any circumstance, this becomes even more critical when a basement is involved.

Some structural waterproofing contractors have begun to make moves into this industry; however, radon is a complex issue and any persons employed to address the issue must be specifically trained to do so. Controlling radon in basements requires an acute understanding of the science involved in its movement into properties and any contractor used for such projects must be expected to demonstrate this understanding in his proposals.

Upon completion of any works designed to control radon entry into a property, a test must be conducted. A test should be carried out both in the basement and in a ground floor room to confirm that the radon level throughout the property is below the Action Level.

For further information, or to arrange a CPD seminar on the subject, please contact rebecca.kench@protenservices.co.uk or telephone 01225 447960