Laboratory measurements of the transport of radon gas through concrete samples

Experiments were conducted to measure the transportability of radon gas through common concrete samples which were characterized by their mix proportions, dimensions, porosity, air permeability, and radon gas diffusion coefficient. Several innovative test systems and methods were designed, fabricated, and calibrated to accurately measure these radon gas transport characteristics for concrete and to overcome many of the shortcomings of previously published experimental works. From the experimental results, it was found that diffusion is the dominant transport mechanism by which radon gas moves through an intact concrete slab. It was also shown that indoor radon entry rates can be greatly affected by the type of concrete mix employed. The results of this study can be utilized to improve the present technology of radon-resistant construction techniques for new residential construction.