Choosing a Radon Mitigation Company
Choosing a Radon Mitigation Company: 7 Questions Every East Tennessee Homeowner Should Ask
The national ANSI/AARST SGM-SF 2023 standard sets clear requirements for every radon mitigation company. Most homeowners never know to ask. We think you should.
Why This Matters
Not All Radon Mitigation Companies Are the Same
Choosing a radon mitigation company is one of the most important home safety decisions you can make. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and the second leading cause overall. Here in East Tennessee, including Oak Ridge, Knoxville, Maryville, and surrounding EPA Zone 1 counties, homes regularly test above the EPA's 4.0 pCi/L action threshold.
Getting a mitigation system installed is a smart, life-protecting decision. But the quality of that system depends entirely on the company doing the work. The national standard, ANSI/AARST SGM-SF 2023, sets clear minimum requirements for every contractor. Here is what you should ask before you sign anything.
Built to the 2023 National Standard
Every Rn86 Solutions installation is designed and verified in compliance with ANSI/AARST SGM-SF 2023, the current national standard for soil gas mitigation in existing homes.
- ✔ NRPP Certified Team
- ✔ PFE Testing on Every Job
- ✔ Schedule 40 PVC Throughout
- ✔ Audible Alarm Included
- ✔ CRM Post-Mitigation Testing
The Full Guide
The 7 Questions
Each question is backed by a specific section of the ANSI/AARST SGM-SF 2023 standard. We have included both what the standard requires and how Rn86 Solutions answers each one.
ANSI/AARST SGM-SF 2023 · Sections 3.2 and 13.1
Are the people overseeing your system certified by NRPP or NRSB?
The national standard requires that every radon mitigation company include at least one qualified radon mitigation professional who holds a current certification through NRPP or NRSB. That certification requires a minimum of 32 hours of education specific to radon mitigation, plus biennial recertification to stay current.
Certification matters because it means the person designing your system has been tested on soil gas dynamics, pressure field extension, pipe sizing, fan selection, and post-installation verification. When field conditions change mid-installation, a certified professional makes better decisions faster.
How Rn86 Solutions Answers This
Multiple members of our installation team hold active NRPP mitigation certification. Having a certified professional on the ground, not just on paper, leads to better systems and better outcomes. When a field condition requires a design adjustment, we have the right people right there to make the call.
ANSI/AARST SGM-SF 2023 · Sections 3.1, 3.4.2 and 8.5
If your installers are not certified, will a certified professional be on-site the entire time?
The standard permits journey-level installers to perform physical work, but only under the direct responsible charge of a qualified mitigation professional. That professional is required to verify the completed installation before the system is signed off as complete.
A drive-by inspection at the end of the day does not meet the standard's intent. If the certified person is not present while the work is happening, problems can be missed that are much harder to correct after the fact.
How Rn86 Solutions Answers This
A certified Radon Mitigation Professional is on-site from the first drill to the final system check on every installation we do. We never send a crew out without qualified oversight present the entire time. No exceptions.
ANSI/AARST SGM-SF 2023 · Sections 5.3.5 and 9.1.3
Do you perform Pressure Field Extension (PFE) testing before AND after installation?
PFE testing determines whether an ASD system will actually work before a hole is drilled. It measures whether a vacuum extends effectively across the sub-slab area, how much airflow is needed, and whether the suction point location is optimal.
The AARST standard requires pre-installation PFE analysis to guide design, and post-installation testing to confirm performance before the system is released to the homeowner.
Why this matters in East Tennessee: The Appalachian geology in Anderson, Knox, and Blount counties creates highly variable sub-slab conditions. Sometimes permeable gravel fill, sometimes dense clay that resists vacuum extension. PFE testing accounts for this variation. A system designed without it may look installed correctly but fail to protect your family.
How Rn86 Solutions Answers This
PFE testing is the first thing we do on every job, before we make a single cut. It tells us exactly what conditions exist under your slab and lets us design a system around your home's actual geology. We then verify performance again after installation with documented pressure readings, so you have proof, not just a promise, that your system is working.
ANSI/AARST SGM-SF 2023 · Sections 6.2.5 and 6.3
What size pipe do you use, and how is that size determined?
Pipe sizing is not one-size-fits-all. The standard requires that ASD piping be sized based on the actual airflow your slab needs. The baseline minimum is 3-inch Schedule 40. If PFE data shows the system needs more than 80 cfm of airflow, 4-inch Schedule 40 is required.
All piping must be rigid, non-perforated PVC or ABS Schedule 40 with solvent-welded airtight joints. A company using undersized or wrong-material pipe is not meeting the standard, and your system will underperform.
How Rn86 Solutions Answers This
We use 3-inch and 4-inch Schedule 40 PVC throughout, for both suction and exhaust. The size we select for your job is determined by your PFE airflow data, not by what happens to be on the truck. Every joint is solvent-welded and airtight.
ANSI/AARST SGM-SF 2023 · Sections 8.2.1 and 8.2.2
Does your system include an audible alarm, and is it included in the base price?
The standard mandates two layers of monitoring on every fan-based system. First, a continuous visual monitor showing whether the system is in its normal operating range. Second, an active notification monitor that alerts occupants if the fan fails, through an audible alarm, visual light, or electronic notification.
Think of it like a smoke detector for your radon system. If your fan stops working tonight, radon levels will begin to rise. Without an audible alarm, you may not know for weeks or months.
How Rn86 Solutions Answers This
An audible alarm is included in every Rn86 quote as standard equipment. It is never an add-on and never an upcharge. The standard requires it, and we agree with the standard. Your system should protect you even when no one is looking at it.
ANSI/AARST SGM-SF 2023 · Sections 9.2, 9.2.1 and 9.2.2
Do you conduct post-mitigation radon testing, and is it done per AARST protocols?
The standard requires a short-term post-mitigation radon test no sooner than 24 hours after the system becomes operational and within 30 days of installation. All devices must be NRPP or NRSB approved.
The standard also explicitly states that contractors should recommend independent third-party testing to avoid any conflict of interest. No radon mitigation company should be the only one grading their own work.
How Rn86 Solutions Answers This
Post-mitigation testing is a standard part of every Rn86 installation, not an optional upgrade. We conduct it per AARST protocols and actively encourage clients to also commission independent third-party testing. If our results and an independent test match, you have complete, documented confidence in your system.
ANSI/AARST SGM-SF 2023 · Section 9.2.2 and ANSI/AARST MAH
Is your post-mitigation test done with a calibrated, NRPP-approved Continuous Radon Monitor?
The standard requires all post-mitigation test devices to be listed and approved by a nationally recognized program, with all testing following the ANSI/AARST MAH measurement protocol.
A Continuous Radon Monitor (CRM) logs radon levels hourly, capturing data day and night, with HVAC running and at rest. A charcoal canister gives one averaged snapshot that can be skewed by humidity, drafts, or tampering. CRMs also include tamper-detection features that make results defensible to real estate agents and future buyers.
Charcoal vs. CRM: Charcoal canisters must be mailed to a lab for analysis, adding days to the process. CRMs provide hourly data in real time and are significantly harder to manipulate. For post-mitigation verification, the CRM is the professional standard.
How Rn86 Solutions Answers This
Every post-mitigation test we conduct uses an NRPP-approved, professionally calibrated Continuous Radon Monitor. We do not use charcoal canisters for post-mitigation verification. The data we give you, logged hour by hour over 48 or more hours, tells the full story of how your system is performing.
Choosing a Radon Mitigation Company That Answers Yes to All Seven?
Rn86 Solutions serves Oak Ridge, Knoxville, Maryville, and all of East Tennessee. Every installation is NRPP-certified, AARST-compliant, and backed by post-mitigation testing you can trust.