RMS Quality & Compliance Flashcards

A homeowner wants to finish their basement and asks an RMS if they can bury the radon mitigation pipe in the wall. What is the correct guidance?

Answer: No, pipes must remain accessible for inspection and maintenance

EPA standards and ASTM E2121 require radon system pipes to remain accessible so that future inspection and maintenance can be performed.

Which condition would require an RMS to use a combination of sub-slab depressurization and block wall depressurization in a basement installation?

Answer: When hollow block foundation walls are a primary radon entry pathway in addition to the slab

Hollow block walls can harbor radon and must be depressurized separately when identified as a significant entry pathway alongside the slab.

An RMS is working in a state with no radon-specific licensing law. Which standards should still govern their work?

Answer: EPA model standards and ASTM E2121 along with their national certification body requirements

In states without specific radon laws, EPA model standards and ASTM E2121 plus certification body requirements still apply as the professional standard of care.

What is the significance of a negative pressure reading of -3 Pascals at a monitoring port compared to one of -12 Pascals in a sub-slab depressurization system?

Answer: -3 Pa may indicate inadequate suction extension at that monitoring point

Lower negative pressure (e.g., -3 Pa) at a remote point may indicate the suction is not extending adequately to that area, suggesting a need for additional suction points.

Which scenario would most likely trigger a mandatory re-inspection under NRPP quality assurance protocols?

Answer: A post-mitigation test result above 4 pCi/L after system optimization

A post-mitigation level above the EPA action level after optimization attempts indicates the system is not achieving compliance and requires re-evaluation.

When must an RMS disclose to a client that they have a financial interest in a specific radon test device brand they are recommending?

Answer: Always, as a conflict of interest disclosure is required before the recommendation

Ethical standards and most certification codes require disclosure of financial conflicts of interest before making recommendations that could benefit the contractor.

A long-term radon test (90 days) and a short-term test (48 hours) are conducted simultaneously post-mitigation. The short-term result is 1.8 pCi/L and the long-term result is 4.3 pCi/L. Which result should be used for compliance determination?

Answer: The long-term test because it better represents actual exposure over time

Long-term tests provide a more representative measure of chronic radon exposure and are preferred for compliance determination when both are available.