IEA Radon_Reporter_April 2025

30 | APRIL 2025 CODE CHANGE PROPOSALS The International Code Council (ICC) will consider changes to the International Residential Code (IRC) between April 2025 and April 2026. Numerous state and local jurisdictions have adopted IRC Appendix F, which was renamed Appendix AF in 2021, and renamed Appendix BE in the 2024 code. Since 2009, advocates for lung health and healthy homes have sought to amend the Radon Appendix. This year, four proposals to improve the appendix have been submitted. The proposals will be heard by the ICC Residential Code Committee at an ICC conference in Orlando April 27 – May 6. This committee consists of four code officials, four representatives of the National Association of Home Builders, a representative of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, a representative of the American Institute of Architects, and two general interest. If needed, advocates will submit public comments in July to amend/defend the four proposals, and these proposals will be heard by the same committee at an ICC conference in Cleveland in October. Ultimately, ICC members who are code officials will decide if the proposals go into the 2027 IRC through a final hearing in April 2026 and online voting. FOUR PROPOSED CODE CHANGES AND REASON STATEMENTS 1. Removal of EPA Map of Radon Zones and Zone 1 County List Revise as follows: IRC BE101.1 General. This appendix contains requirements for new construction in jurisdictions where radon- resistant construction is required . Inclusion of this appendix by jurisdictions shall be determined through the use of locally available data or determination of Zone 1 designation in Figure AF101.1 and Table AF101.1. Delete without substitution: FIGURE BE101.1, TABLE BE101.1 a. The EPA recommends that this county listing be supplemented with other available state and local data to further understand the radon potential of a Zone 1 area. Reason Statement: The EPA map and Zone 1 county list are based in part on a 1993 survey that measured radon in 5694 homes, less than two per each of the 3141counties in the US. As more recent data have been compiled by states and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is evident that more counties have homes that exceed the EPA action level. Radon Zone 1 counties are defined as having a predicted year-round average indoor radon screening level in the lowest livable area of a structure greater than or equal to four picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L). Relying on an average radon level does not address the full range of risk within a given county. Levels greater than 4 have been found in 85% of US counties tested. Restricting localities as to when or how they may include the appendix(“shall be determined through”) can cause this appendix to conflict with local authority. While opponents may suggest otherwise, deleting the county information does not impose a requirement for adoption in Zones 2 and 3.Appendix BE will remain an optional appendix that is only in effect where the jurisdiction has adopted it. The purpose of the EPA radon zone map, since its inception, has been to show potential of risk not ACTUAL risk. While it is still a useful tool, the map unintentionally creates a false sense of security for those in Zone 2 and Zone 3 that risk in those areas is non- existent. The fact remains that radon is found in all zones and to truly protect against radon you need to test regardless of zone. Cost Impact: The change proposal is editorial in nature or a clarification and has no cost impact on the cost of construction. Removing a reference will have no impact on cost. Appendix BE is an optional requirement that can be Improving the Odds That the IRC Radon AppendixWill Protect Occupants From Radon