MVHR & Radon

[Bemak]

As posted elsewhere, I've embarked on the refurb of an old 2-storey farmhouse. As part of the refurb I'm going to install a MVHR system to ensure that moisture and condensation is adequately dealt with. I'm also installing a new insulated floor slab with a radon barrier and sump. I was going to run the vent from the sump out under the slab and bring it up in a nearby flowerbed to conceal it. The idea is that I would just put a cowl on it and let it vent naturally. However, in a lot of instances locally, the radon vent is brought up to the perimeter footpath and just capped - then, if necessary, the cap can be removed and a duct with a fan can be installed to vent the sump. My issue with that approach is that I don't want the potential to have a vent running up the side of the house when we've been so careful to conceal all the services to date. 

 

However, as we are going to be installing a MVHR unit anyway, I assume it's highly likely that we'll never need to vent the radon sump in the future considering the house will be so well ventilated? The reason I ask is I may just revert back to the standard solution of capping it on the footpath as opposed to bringing it up in a flowerbed as currently planned. 

[Marko]

I doubt this house had any radon barriers, but MVHR dropped Radon levels: https://www.heatspaceandlight.com/mvhr-lowers-radon-levels-cotswolds-cottage/

[Bemak]

thanks for the link!

 

[Mike]

And another link: https://passivehouseplus.co.uk/magazine/insight/radon-in-passive-houses , where MVHR is the key factor, not being a PassivHaus