Become a Radon Professional
The
E-PERM® system
is a truly outstanding radon measurement tool for achieving the
best accuracy and reliability. By owning your own equipment, you
save money compared with the cost of outside laboratory services.
It is the ideal radon gas monitor for radon testing companies, environmental
consultants, building inspectors and government laboratories because
of its ease-of-use, high accuracy and low cost. Testing companies
that have used other methods find that electrets are the all-round
best and most cost-effective radon monitors for both screening tests
and long-term confirmatory tests. You will benefit by being able
to make your own inexpensive on-site measurements. It replaces charcoal
screening detectors for short-term measurements and replaces alpha-track
detectors for long-term measurements at a much lower cost per measurement.
You will become one of the many E-PERM professionals throughout
the world that are satisfied users of the electret ion-chamber method.
It's
All That You Need
With the Radon Starter Kit from Biomation,
you have all of the testing equipment needed to handle a business
level of about five homes per week. The kit is very affordable.
It includes an E-PERM training course on DVD. A set of reference
electrets is included with the kit to verify correct operation of
the readout unit. Additional radon detectors and electrets can be
added as your volume of radon work grows.
It's
Easy to Use
It
only takes a few seconds to measure the electret voltage using a
small portable voltmeter, the Model SPER-1E Surface Potential Electret
Reader. The final exposure voltage subtracted from the initial exposure
voltage is divided by a calibration factor and the number of days
of exposure to give the average radon concentration value, expressed
in Bq/m3. The radon
level can alternately be expressed in picocuries per liter (pCi/L)
where 1 pCi/L=37 Bq/m3.
You can use a convenient PALM hand-held computer to calculate the
radon level on-site, or you can enter the readings into the WINSPER
software on your office computer to print a customer letter and
report. A spreadsheet template is included if you want to produce
the results using Excel.
Permanently
Calibrated
The
system is designed so that correct operation can be easily verified
to ensure reliable and accurate results. Checking the readout unit
weekly with the reference electrets is important. Two reference
electrets are provided to guard against possible reference electret
malfunction. Radon measurement proficiency can be demonstrated by
participating in a radon spiking test. Annual recalibration of the
SPER-1E Reader is recommended. Because the radon sensitivity of
the E-PERM system is dependent primarily on the manufactured dimensions
of the electret ion-chamber, more frequent calibration is not necessary.
The
E-PERM System will contribute to your professional image. The E-PERM
monitors that are left in the home have a high quality, professional
appearance, as does the readout unit and the computer output report.
The client is likely to place a high level of credibility in your
firm and is likely to recommend your firm to other home owners.
Because results are immediately available, you can finalize the
testing on the spot without a further phone consultation or visit.
If the radon level is low, you can provide peace of mind and assure
the home owner that no further tests are needed. If intermediate
or high radon levels are found, the options and costs of follow-up
work can be discussed frankly and professionally. The E-PERM system
is sold only to reputable, responsible firms that will provide professional
radon services with a high level of quality and integrity.
Reliable
and Effective
A
home with a high radon level is a health hazard to its occupants.
Purchasers will want written assurance the home they are buying
has been tested and has an acceptably low radon level. The seller
will need a radon test when preparing the house for sale. The test
duration is not critical because the electret integrates all variations
in the radon concentration and provides an accurate average reading
over the exposure time. The longer the reading, the more representative
of the true average the measurement will be, although an exposure
beyond seven days does not increase significantly the quality of
a short-term radon test. A shorter test of three days is often preferred
for faster results with only a slight increase in variability.
Where
fast response is essential, such as for a real estate transaction,
a two-day test will normally determine whether or not the house
meets the Health Canada radon guideline of 200 Bq/m3.
You should follow the short-term test with a 3-month
long-term test.
For
a short-term test, only two brief visits to the house are usually
needed: the first is to place two or three E-PERM monitors in the
house; the second visit is arranged with the client for a convenient
time, usually three to seven days later, to retrieve the monitors
and to pick up the cheque. A written computer report or a letter
can then be generated and mailed to the client. Whenever possible,
a long-term E-PERM test of three to twelve months is recommended.
Click
here for printable pdf version
E-PERM®
is a registered trademark of Rad Elec, Inc.
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