Estimation of radon exhalation rate from a brick wall during various stages of construction by measuring exhalation rates from various building materials

Abstract

Radon concentration in a room can be predicted from accurate knowledge of exhalation rates from six surfaces of the room. Walls of a room occupy the maximum surface area of the room. Hence, the contribution of walls to indoor radon concentration is significant. Since the direct measurement of exhalation rate from the walls is difficult, generally, the typical building materials used for wall construction are analyzed for exhalation rates, and from these measurements, exhalation rates from walls are estimated. In the present work, an attempt has been made to estimate the exhalation rate from a wall during various stages of construction by measuring exhalation rates from various building materials and to study the effect of various layers of coatings on exhalation rates. This analysis can help in selecting right materials for construction to mitigate the indoor radon concentrations.