STATE  OF  CONNECTICUT

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH

REGULATORY SERVICES BUREAU

Environmental Health Section

Radon Program

MEMORANDUM

TO:                       Superintendents of Connecticut Public Schools

                             Principals of Connecticut Public School

FROM:                Francesca Provenzano, CT DPH Radon Program

SUBJECT:             Radon Testing in Connecticut Schools

DATE:                 11/6/2008

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Per Connecticut General Statute § 10-220(d) …all schools shall be evaluated for radon levels in air and water prior to January 1, 2008 and every five years thereafter.  As such, all schools are required to conduct radon testing within the next two years to be in compliance with this Indoor Air Quality Statute.  The Connecticut State Department of Public Health (DPH) Radon Program anticipates that there will be large demand for radon measurement services from professionals.  In order to meet this demand, the DPH Radon program provided training to radon measurement professionals certified by the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) or the National Radon Safety Board (NRSB) on United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) school measurement protocols.  The attached sheet contains a list of professionals who are both nationally certified and who also attended the DPH Radon Program training course titled, Radon Testing in Connecticut Schools.Radon testing in schools shall only be considered valid by the DPH Radon Program if the following conditions are met:

·         Testing shall be carried out by qualified radon measurement professionals (see attached list) or school staff trained directly by the DPH Radon Program;

·         Testing shall occur during the winter months (December through March);

·         Testing shall occur during the week when school is in session with the HVAC system running normally;

·         All windows in the school building shall be kept closed for 12 hours prior to the radon testing event, and throughout the testing period for a minimum of 48 hours.

Radon measurement may be carried out by school personnel who are trained in radon measurement protocols, but the DPH Radon Program urges you to consider using third parties to conduct those activities.  If you have any additional questions on radon testing in Connecticut schools, please visit our website at: www.dph.state.ct.us/BRS/Radon/radon_program.htm or call 860/509-7367.