IEA Radon_Reporter_April 2025

THE RADON REPORTER | 31 CODE CHANGE PROPOSALS adopted by a jurisdiction. 2. Vent Pipe - Attach Horizontal Perforated Pipe to Tee Fitting Revise as follows: BE103.6.1 Vent pipe. A minimum 3-inch-diameter (76 mm) ABS, PVC or equivalent gastight pipe shall be embedded vertically into the subslab aggregate or other permeable material before the slab is cast. A “T” fitting or equivalent method shall be used to ensure that the pipe opening remains within the subslab permeable material , and not less than 5 feet (127 cm) of perforated pipe or geotextile matting shall be connected to each of the horizontal openings of the tee fitting. … Above ground pipe material shall comply with Section P3002.1. BE103.5.3 Vent pipe. A plumbing tee or other approved connection shall be inserted horizontally beneath the sheeting and connected to a 3- or 4-inch-diameter (76 or 102 mm) fitting with a vertical vent pipe installed through the sheeting , and not less than 5 feet (127 cm) of perforated pipe or geotextile matting shall be connected to each of the horizontal openings of the tee fitting. ...Above ground pipe material shall comply with Section P3002.1. Reason Statement: This proposal provides a soil gas collector and keeps open the horizontal openings in the tee fitting for both sub-slab and sub- membrane (crawl space) installations. The tee fitting is a suction point through which radon gas is pulled from below the building into the vertical vent pipe. If no pipe is present to protect the side openings in the tee fitting from filling with concrete (when the slab is cast) or aggregate, the above ground pipe cannot vent radon from below the structure to the outside. This proposal also clarifies that the material requirement shall be consistent with IRC Chapter 30. Attaching five-foot long perforated piping to tee fittings is required by the USEPA recommended standards for both sub- slab and sub-membrane systems. PROBLEM: TEE FITTING OBSTRUCTED BY AGGREGATE SOLUTION: TEE FITTING WITH HORIZONTAL PIPE