AARST_Radon_Reporter_Q32025_Single

8 | SEPTEMBER 2025 POLICY Radon is again on the agenda during the International Code Council’s 2025-2026 code development process to consider changes to the International Residential Code. ALA, CRCPD, EPA, IEA, and NCHH joined forces in January to submit four proposed changes to IRC Appendix F (renamed to Appendix AF in 2021 and then to Appendix BE in 2024). ICC’s IRC-B Committee Approves Allowing ANSI-AARST Standard; Will Consider Other Changes in October Laura Armul, Dawn Oggier, Kim Steves and Jane Malone attended the Committee Action Hearing in Orlando, where the 11-member IRC-B committee considered radon-related proposals (and another 300 proposals on other subjects). Below is a list of the changes, results from the first Committee Action Hearing May 1, and public comments submitted as needed in July to achieve approval at the second Committee Action Hearing in Cleveland October 22-23. 1. To remove the EPA radon zone map and Zone 1 county list from the appendix, because restricting localities as to when or how they may require compliance with the appendix conflicts with local authority; appendices address what to require, not where to require it. The committee agreed with this change, but members’ attempts to modify the language were inconclusive and the proposal was disapproved with intent to approve at the next hearing. Two public comments propose approval: (1) as submitted and (2) as modified to reflect the May 1 committee discussion. 2. To allow compliance with ANSI/AARST RRNC Rough-in of Radon Control Components in New Construction of 1 & 2 Family Dwellings and Townhouses as an alternative to the appendix’s radon control protocol. The committee approved this proposal because the standard provides an option for radon control, recognizing that the standard’s requirements exceed current appendix requirements. Since no comments objecting to this approval were submitted to ICC for consideration at the October Committee Action hearing, it is likely that this option will be in the 2028 code book. 3. To require the installation of a minimum of 5’ perforated pipe on each side of the tee fitting below the slab or vapor barrier. The committee was supportive of the concept, but disapproved the proposal under the theory that an inexact half cut of a 10’ pipe would cause a code violation for the shorter length piece. The public comment proposes requiring installation of a minimum of 4.5’ perforated pipe on each side of the tee fitting. 4. To require reservation of adequate space in the attic for future installation of a radon fan (“The pipe shall be centered in an unobstructed cylindrical space having a height of not less than 36 inches (91 cm) and a diameter of not less than 21 inches (53 cm)”) and therefore eliminate the abandonment of existing vent pipes at the time of system activation. Although one committee member objected to adding anything relevant to a future need, the dominant reason for disapproval was requiring that the pipe be centered in the cylindrical space. The public comment proposes the pipe be located in the cylindrical space. Since another entity – ICC’s Building Code Action Committee – successfully proposed changes to the appendix’s electrical requirements during the first Committee Action Hearing, a comment has also been submitted to add that the circuit shall supply an outlet located within 6 feet [1.8 m] of the anticipated fan location. The next step in the ICC code development process is the second round of Committee Action Hearings October 22-30 in Cleveland OH. Decisions from these hearings will be subject to another round of comments for consideration by the full ICC voting membership during both an in-person hearing April 19-28, 2026, in Hartford CT and online voting through mid-May 2026.