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RadonBarrier Radon Abatement System | Owens Corning Insulation

Introducing The Owens Corning FOAMULAR® RadonBARRIER™ 
Radon Abatement System

The FOAMULAR® RadonBARRIER™ Radon Abatement System:

  • The only XPS system solution evaluated by CCMC1
  • Has 36X greater radon resistance2

providing extra protection for the family; turn unfinished basements into comfortable, healthy and safe living spaces3. 

Kid playing in basement

The RadonBARRIER™ system provides: 

Air quality improvement

Air quality improvement

Improved indoor air quality for the home

A more comfortable basement

A more comfortable basement

A more comfortable basement with the proven performance of Owens Corning insulation products

Added sense of comfort

Sense of comfort

An added sense of comfort knowing the family is more secure in a healthier, safer and energy efficient environment

A durable solution

A durable solution

A durable solution for long-term performance, evaluated by CCMC - (CCMC Report 14349-R)1

What is radon?
The silent killer.

Radon is a colourless, odourless, radioactive gas that occurs naturally in the environment. It comes from the natural breakdown of uranium found in sediment (soil), rocks, and water. When radon is released from the ground into the outdoor air, it is diluted and is not a concern. However, in enclosed spaces like homes, it can sometimes accumulate to high levels, which can create a health risk. The air pressure inside a dwelling is usually lower than in the soil surrounding the foundation. This difference in pressure draws air and other gases, including radon, from the soil. Radon can enter homes through cracks in foundations, construction joints, gaps around pipes, sump pumps and drains, etc.

The current Canadian guideline for radon in indoor air for dwellings is 200 becquerels per cubic metre (200 Bq/m3). This was recently reduced from 800 Bq/m3. One becquerel is described as one radioactive disintegration per second.

Canadian Radon Landscape

  • 1 in 5 homes showed radon level exceeding Health Canada guidelines of 200 becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m3)4
  • Radon kills 3,000 Canadians and 21,000 Americans per year5
  • 7% of Canadian homes have high radon levels6
  • Canadian Building Code recommending encapsulating radon
  • There are no areas of the country that are ‘radon free'7

Radon exposure is linked to approximately 16% of lung cancer deaths in Canada and is the second leading cause of lung cancer for smokers.

This has prompted concern that radon levels in some Canadian homes and buildings may be a health risk. It is estimated that about 10% of all lung cancers worldwide are related to radon.

Bar graph showing the different areas of Canada and the impacts of radon

How Radon Enters the home

RADON CAN ENTER VIA CRACKS IN THE FOUNDATION WALLS AND/OR FLOOR SLABS. IT CAN ALSO ENTER THROUGH OTHER OPENINGS, INCLUDING: 

  • Exposed soil or rock in crawlspaces
  • Cracks or flaws in foundation walls
  • Around utility penetrations and support posts
  • Hollow objects such as support posts
  • Cracks or flaws in floor slab
  • Floor/wall joints
  • Floor drains and sumps

Indoor radon levels are the result of a number of interconnected factors including the property’s bedrock type, soil type, soil moisture level, seasonal freezing and thawing activity and the home’s design, construction and use.


How Radon enters the home

How the FOAMULAR® RadonBARRIER™ Radon Abatement System keeps radon gas from entering the home

  • FOAMULAR® XPS and sealing components provide an effective radon barrier by significantly reducing radon gas from entering the living space by diffusion through the components 
  • The FOAMULAR® RadonBARRIER™ Radon Abatement System with sealed joints is a certified air barrier system effectively reducing radon gas from entering the living space through air leakage 
Smoke Test Video
Diagram of foundation

RADONBARRIER™ SYSTEM BENEFITS:

  • A durable solution for long-term performance, evaluated by CCMC - (CCMC Report 14349-R)
  • Improved indoor air quality for your home
  • A more comfortable basement with the proven performance of Owens Corning insulation products
  • Limited lifetime warranty for thermal resistance
  • An added sense of comfort knowing your family is more secure in a healthier, safer and energy efficient environment
  • A space ideal for working from home or spending more time with the family

RadonBARRIER™ Documents

Homeowners guide cover showing a family sitting together with text about protecting against radon gas.

Homeowner Brochure

Download PDF PDF | 2.27 MB


Worker applying sealant along the floor while installing pink FOAMULAR insulation panels.

Installation Guide

Download PDF PDF | 6.25 MB


FOAMULAR® NGX® C-200 & CodeBord® Data Sheet

FOAMULAR® NGX® C-200 & CodeBord® Data Sheet

Download PDF PDF | 587.44 KB


JointSealR® Foam Board Joint Tape Data Sheet

JointSealR® Foam Board Joint Tape Data Sheet

Download PDF PDF | 94.05 KB


ProPink ComfortSeal Gun Foam Sealant

proPink ComfortSeal™ Gun Foam Sealant

Download PDF PDF | 510.85 KB


1 Only Radon Abatement System solution with XPS evaluated by CCMC - Report 14349-R.

2 NRCAN Radon Abatement Test Report No. A1-020145, October 20, 2021. Owens Corning Foamular® CodeBord® with taped or sealed joints is 36x greater than 6 mil. polyethylene as a radon barrier material.

3 Compared to a space with Radon exposure.

4 Toronto Star May 2, 2021 re University of Calgary research. 

5 Haynes, William M., ed. (2011). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (92nd ed.). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. p. 4.122. ISBN 1439855110.

6 Health Canada Study 2009 – 2011, 14,000 homes.
 
7 Health Canada Study 2009 – 2011, 14,000 homes.