Radon in New York State

[ereuven (elan reuven)]

Hey yall,

I was wondering if any of you were inspectors in NYS who do radon. I’m a new inspector who wants to start including it as an addon service and I’m really confused on the requirements.

The state says that I have to be a certified lab to use a continuous monitor but i know for a fact non of the inspectors around me are. My insurance company doesn’t require anything of that sort as well.

Any advice would be appreciated,

Thanks!
-Elan Reuven
Helix Home Inspections

[lkage (Larry Kage, CMI)]

@ereuven

I’m a new inspector who wants to start including it as an addon service and I’m really confused on the requirements.

NYS does not certify or license radon testers.

From:

Certified Radon Testers

And, welcome Elan!

[ereuven (elan reuven)]

Thanks for the welcome!

I emailed them and they replied this…
“The NYS Department of Health’s Environmental Laboratory Approval Program (ELAP) requires certification in order to be able to report environmental measurements to customers.
If you are using charcoal canisters or a similar device, the laboratory that analyzes the test and reports the results needs to be ELAP-certified.
If you are using a continuous radon monitor (CRM) or electrets, ELAP considers you to be the laboratory, and you need to be certified by ELAP in order to report results to customers.”

[lkage (Larry Kage, CMI)]

@ereuven

“The NYS Department of Health’s Environmental Laboratory Approval Program (ELAP) requires certification in order to be able to report environmental measurements to customers.

@ereuven

If you are using charcoal canisters or a similar device

You would be testing NOT reporting. Again, you would be testing NOT reporting.

The laboratories would be reporting. Hence, their need for certification.

[msenty (Michael Senty)]

@ereuven

I emailed them and they replied this…If you are using a continuous radon monitor (CRM) or electrets, ELAP considers you to be the laboratory, and you need to be certified by ELAP in order to report results to customers.

What does it take to become certified? Did you ask?

In a licensed state, it takes quite a bit of training and effort to become licensed to test for radon. Maybe they want to make sure you understand something in order to test for radon using a CRM. Quality Assurance using a CRM includes (among many things) annual calibration, duplicate tests every 10 times for each device, calculating relative percent difference…

Consider renting CRM’s from Radalink. They take care of all your requirements and documentation as part of their rental program. I bet they can get you past your issues.

[lkage (Larry Kage, CMI)]

@msenty

What does it take to become certified?

From Health.NY.GOV link above:

Radon testing firms may be certified by the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (AARST), National Radon Safety Board (NRSB), State of New Jersey (NJ), or State of Pennsylvania ¶

[msenty (Michael Senty)]

@lkage

Radon testing firms may be certified by…

Bingo! Get NRSB certified, or whatever agency you like, and you’re good to go in order to use CRM’s in New York state. Not an unreasonable requirement. OP take note.