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  • About
    • Now Happening
    • Advocacy
    • Careers
    • Current Builds
      • Apostles Build
      • Fund for Humanity Builds
      • George Hammond Build
      • Interfaith Build for Unity
      • Maverik Build
      • Paul Johnson Memorial Build
      • Veterans Build
    • FAQ
    • Faith in Action
    • News & Media
    • Our Board of Directors
    • Our Global Impact
    • Our Staff Team
    • Reports and Financials
  • ReStore
    • ReStore Donations
  • Volunteer
    • FAQ
    • Volunteer – Individuals & Groups
    • Corporate Opportunities
    • Committees & Special Projects
    • Volunteer Appreciation Event
      • George Hammond Award
    • Women Build
  • Housing Help
    • Homeownership Program
    • Home Repair Program
    • Pikes Peak Habitat Support for Veterans
    • Pikes Peak Habitat Homeowners
  • Contact
    • Join Our Mailing List
  • Blog
  • Donate ♥
    • Donate Online
    • Planned Giving
    • Donate Land
    • Donate Your Vehicle
    • Donate Materials to the ReStore
    • Earn 25% State Income Tax Credit
    • Other Ways to Give
April 30, 2024 In Uncategorized

ICYMI: Radon Mitigation Systems Add to Safety of Pikes Peak Habitat Homes

This article originally appeared in the Spring 2024 print newsletter. 

Man standing in front of alert system
Alex St. Clair, Pikes Peak Habitat construction supervisor, oversees the installation of radon systems in our new homes.

What is radon, and how does it impact Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity’s home construction?

Radon is a known carcinogen that can cause lung cancer. No amount is safe, and the longer someone spends in a high-radon environment, the greater the risk to them. Most people are exposed to radon in their homes, because that’s where they spend the majority of their time.

Pipe in a trench inside the foundation of a home
Pictured in these photos is the installation process for our radon mitigation systems. First we place a pipe called a plenum in a trench inside the foundation of a home.

“Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that comes from the radioactive decay of uranium in the ground,” explains Alex St. Clair, Pikes Peak Habitat construction supervisor. “It is found everywhere in different amounts, and depending on the nature of the soil below a home and the way the home was built, it can be drawn up into the house.”

The amount of radon in one residence can be high, while the house next door might have a low reading. The only way to know if radon is present is to test.

“Because half of all Colorado homes are above the EPA action level of 4pCi/L (picocuries per liter) and because we are homebuilder that truly cares about our families and knows how to build radon-resistant new construction, we have made the decision to build houses without radon,” says St. Clair.

Women standing in trench
Volunteers embed the plenum in a coating of rock.

He holds certification as a Radon Mitigation Specialist and is also a certified Radon Measurement Professional, both of which are required by the Department of Regulatory Affairs for anyone overseeing the construction of radon mitigation systems in single-family houses.

“The homeowners are going to be living in these houses, [some of them] raising kids. The kids are
going to be living in these houses for decades, the hope is—that’s how we’re thinking about it,” says Eric Wells, Pikes Peak Habitat construction superintendent. “So if people are inhaling that radon, especially kids with the smaller lungs, it has an adverse effect.”

Sealed membrane in the foundation of a home
After being embedded in rock, the plenum trench is sealed.

Pikes Peak Habitat installs a system called sub-membrane depressurization. This system creates suction under a sealed membrane on the crawlspace floor, catching radon from the soil, then uses an attic fan to eject that radon before it can enter the home. We also add active monitoring alarms that alert homeowners of any issues with the system, so they can call for service in a timely manner.

Because of these systems, radon numbers in Pikes Peak Habitat homes have tested at or below ambient outdoor radon levels. “The EPA wants us to stay below four picocuries per liter,” explains Wells. “Our houses are averaging 0.3, 0.4, 0.2.”

Hand holding caulking tube
The membrane is glued to the stem-wall with polyurethane caulking and sealed at all seams to make it as airtight as possible.

St. Clair emphasizes that radon mitigation is just one aspect of Pikes Peak Habitat’s overall focus on building homes that aren’t just affordable to purchase—but will remain affordable and safe for the families who live in them for years to come.

He believes this concern for the homeowners sets Pikes Peak Habitat apart from other builders.

Men caulking membrane
Volunteers use caulking to seal the membrane to the foundation.

“That is a quality house,” he says, “because we’re invested in our people for a lifetime.”

“I’m really proud of Alex,” says Wells. Earning the certifications “was a lot of work, and I think from the conversations we had, it pushed him a little outside his comfort zone—and he still did it!”

St. Clair laughs. “I had to learn the physics of radioactive decay, and that part is stuff I’m not used to doing!”

“The knowledge that he has brought to the site and our building methods has been invaluable,” concludes Wells.

People standing on membrane in home foundation
Radon is drawn from the soil into the plenum and expelled from the home through a fan in the attic. 
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Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit recognized by the IRS. Our tax ID number is 35-1640064 and your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.
Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity Business Office:

719.475.7800

office@pikespeakhabitat.org

2802 N. Prospect St. Colorado Springs, CO 80907

Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity ReStores:

719.667.0840

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6250 Tutt Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80923

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