Indoor Radon Management Project

Welcome to the UCC Indoor Radon Measurement Project web page.

This university-wide initiative will measure indoor radon concentration levels in all designated basement and ground-floor rooms across UCC and subsidiary company buildings. It is a proactive health and safety programme designed to ensure UCC meets its legal obligations under:

• The Radiological Protection Act 1991 (Ionising Radiation) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 30/2019)
• The EPA’s 2019 Protocol for the Measurement of Radon in Homes and Workplaces

The project’s objectives are to:

• Measure indoor radon concentrations in line with EPA Measurement Protocols
• Compare results with national reference levels (300 Bq/m³ for workplaces; 200 Bq/m³ for residential areas)
• Identify any areas where concentrations exceed these levels
• Trigger appropriate follow-up action and remedial works where necessary, to maintain a safe indoor environment.

This initiative reflects UCC’s commitment to maintaining healthy, safe, and compliant buildings across the university and its subsidiaries. We sincerely appreciate the cooperation of students, staff, and visitors in supporting this and other key health and safety initiatives.

The following are some frequently asked questions.

What is the Radon Measurement Project?

The UCC Radon Measurement Project is a university-wide initiative to measure indoor radon gas concentrations in designated occupied ground floor and basement-level rooms across UCC buildings, in compliance with the EPA's Radon Measurement Protocol. It is being implemented as part of UCC’s commitment to the health and safety of students, staff, and visitors.

What are the Objectives of the Radon Measurement Project?

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can accumulate in buildings, particularly in ground floor and basement rooms. Prolonged exposure to high levels of radon can increase the risk of lung cancer. The UCC Radon Measurement Project is being undertaken as a proactive health and safety initiative to protect staff, students, and visitors.

The primary objectives of the project are:

• To assess radon concentrations in occupied basement and ground-floor rooms across UCC’s buildings and facilities, including both workplace areas and residential accommodation.
• To carry out measurements in accordance with the EPA’s 2019 Protocol for the Measurement of Radon in Homes and Workplaces, ensuring consistency with national best practice.
• To compare the measured radon levels against the EPA national reference levels:
  • 300 Bq/m³ for workplaces
  • 200 Bq/m³ for residential settings
• To identify any rooms where radon levels exceed these reference values, enabling UCC to take appropriate remedial actions to reduce exposure and ensure a safe indoor environment.
• To support compliance with the:
  • Radiological Protection Act 1991 (Ionising Radiation) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 30/2019),
  • UCC’s internal health and safety obligations.

This project reflects UCC’s commitment to providing a safe and healthy campus environment, and to meeting both national legislative requirements and university-specific safety standards.

Where will measurements be taken?

In line with the EPA’s Protocol for the Measurement of Radon in Homes and Workplaces (2019), radon concentration measurements will be conducted:

• In all basement and ground floor rooms across designated UCC buildings, including both UCC and UCC Subsidiary Company buildings.
• Only in rooms that are regularly occupied for more than 100 hours per year by staff, students, or other occupants.
• Room types include:
  • Teaching rooms and lecture spaces
  • Research and teaching laboratories
  • Offices and administrative areas
  • Student residential accommodation
  • Support and service spaces (e.g., receptions, storerooms, etc.)

When will this take place?

The project will run from May 2025 to Mar 2026, with key phases as follows:

• Tender Period: May 2025 – Aug 2025.
• Placement of Detectors: Sept 2025 – Oct 2025
• Measurement Exposure Period: 13 Weeks (Oct 2025 – Jan 2026)
• Detector Collection and Lab Analysis: Jan 2026 – Mar 2026

(Dates indicative only; Exact dates will vary depending on building access.)

How will measurements be carried out?

• A small radon detector (no power source, no emissions) will be mounted on a Radon Measurement Notification Card.
• The card and detector will be discreetly placed on internal walls, in selected rooms, using double-sided, removable tape, at a height and location prescribed in the EPA radon measurement protocol.
• Each detector will remain in place for a minimum of 13 weeks, undisturbed, to gather accurate radon levels.

Please do not tamper with, cover, or remove detectors – they are part of an important health and safety assessment.

Who is carrying out this work?

• The project is managed by the Enterprise Risk Management Function (ERM) at UCC.
• A specialist radon measurement contractor, Eurofins Environment Testing Ireland Limited, will carry out the placement and collection of detectors, in coordination with:
  • Buildings & Estates (B&E) - (to provide building floor plans)
  • UCC Subsidiary Company Facilities Management (FM) function- (to provide building floor plans)
  • B&E General Services (to accompany specialist contractor, provide access & local knowledge)
  • UCC Subsidiary Company FM function (to accompany specialist contractor, provide access & local knowledge)
  • ERM Health & Safety Advisors (Project Management)
  • University stakeholders and building occupants (ongoing cooperation)
• Please note that any remedial works and subsequent retesting arising from this ‘Radon Measurement Project’ are outside the scope of this project. This will require a follow up project and will be undertaken by the Buildings & Estates Office (B&E) or the UCC Subsidiary Company FM function, as appropriate.

What happens if measurements exceed the limits?

• The upper acceptable limit for workspaces is 300 Bq/m³ and for residential areas is 200 Bq/m³.
• When these limits are exceeded, mitigation measures, in accordance with the EPA's Radon Measurement Protocol', must be implemented within twelve months.

Remedial work and retests fall under the remit of the Buildings & Estates Office (B&E) or the UCC Subsidiary Company FM function, as appropriate and are outside the scope of this project.

Resources & Updates

• Project Programme
• The ‘EPA's Radon Measurement Protocol'
• The Project Progress Dashboard [Live updates]
• Contact: Kevin O’Regan, Health & Safety Advisor (ERM, Buildings, Estates & Inspection Lead), if you have any questions or concerns about this project, please reach out to the Enterprise Risk Management Team via our ERM Helpdesk http://portal.ucc.ie.

Help us keep everyone safe!

Thank you for your ongoing cooperation. By allowing uninterrupted measurement and reporting any issues, you’re supporting a safer and healthier environment for all.