12/3/2012
Columbia, Maryland (December 3, 2012) – During a national meeting of code officials in Portland in October, a majority of the participants voted in favor of a proposal to require radon resistant construction in schools and apartment buildings. But the vote fell short of the two-thirds majority needed to make the measure a code requirement in high risk areas.
Only The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the National Multi-Housing Council, and one code official testified against the new protections from radon.
“I expected more from the NAHB,” said Claire Barnett, executive director of the Healthy Schools Network. “The families they sell to and the parents we talk to surely care deeply about children’s exposures to radon at home and at school.”
The American Lung Association of the Mountain Pacific, Cancer Survivors Against Radon (CanSAR), and the American Association of Radiation Scientists and Technologists voiced support for the proposal. Marlene McEwen of CanSAR said, "Having lost my husband to radon induced lung cancer eight years ago, it is very important that we all work together to educate the public about this deadly gas. Reducing radon in homes, public buildings and schools is crucial to save lives. I am encouraged by the number of people who voted to make building code changes." Read more>