Radon and buildings: 1 spillage of combustion products.

An effective way of reducing the level of radon in dwellings is to extract air from beneath the ground floor. This is usually achieved by mechanical ventilation or by the use of a radon sump. However, in some circumstances, these remedial measures may lower the air pressure inside the dwelling. In a small number of cases, this causes combustion gases from open-flued combustion appliances, such as open fires, to spill into the living spaces. Spillage of this type is potentially hazardous, and should always be avoided. This leaflet recommends ways to reduce the likelihood of spillage, and suggests solutions if spillage does occur. It will be of interest to anyone involved in reducing indoor radon levels.