Radon is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas that occurs in nature, seeping up from the earth. It can seep into buildings through cracks in slab floors and porous cinderblock and/or enter around loose-fitting drainage pipes or through sump pumps. Pressure differentials between the building and the soil surrounding the foundation can draw soil gases into the building.
According to Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 332.166-167, Oregon schools must develop a plan to accurately measure school buildings for elevated radon levels. Under the statute, school districts were required to submit a Radon Plan to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) by September 1, 2016, and actual testing of schools must be done on or before January 1, 2021. Schools must be tested once in every 10 years regardless of initial testing results or whether mitigation was done.
Testing methods included placing the radon test kit in all frequently occupied rooms in contact with the soil or located above a basement or a crawlspace. Testing occurred in all frequently occupied spaces simultaneously per school site. Examples include offices, classrooms, conference rooms, gyms, auditoriums, cafeterias, and break rooms. Testing must occur between October and March in any given school year. Cascade conducted initial testing from March 23, 2020, through March 27, 2020.
The testing results are listed below. Government entities recommend radon levels at or below 4.0 pCi/L (picoCuries per liter). If testing numbers were above this number a follow-up test would be required.
All Cascade test results are below the action level of 4.0 pCi/L .
Radon Testing Results
Radon Testing Plan