Advanced Radon Technologies, Inc. - Vapor Intrusion

Advanced Radon Technologies has extensive expectance in large commercial structures. ART has designed and installed complex systems in a variety of industrial sites for both direct contamination from industrial practices or from adjacent contamination form nearby industrial sites. With the high cost of air testing of the vapors the negative pressure field extension is often used to show prof of concept. With ART's standard procedures for sub-slab diagnostics accurately simulating and measuring the negative field prior to the instillation of the vapor system. Below are a sample of some of ART's commercial structures we have installed Vapor Intrusion systems in.

The vast majority of smaller commercial buildings Advanced Radon Technologies has installed Vapor Intrusion systems in have been Dry Cleaners or former Dry cleaners sites. ART has also installed systems in many smaller buildings/strip malls do to other contamination such has auto repair and gasoline stations. Below are a few samples of this type of structure.

With ART's standard procedures for sub-slab diagnostics accurately measuring the suction and air flow rates, and simulating the final system, making the selection of the proper commercial fan a precise endeavor and not guess work. Commercial fans must be selected on their fan curves and some basic mechanical engineering is required or serious problems my arise. There are many factors that must be taken into account when selecting the proper fan. Are the vapors corrosive or combustible or even exploitive? Is the discharge regulated? Is carbon going to be required? There are many factors that must be taken into account before a fan can be ordered or even where it is to be installed. Here is a basic expiation of the types of fans available.

Regenerative Blowers are used when very low air flow and very high suction are required.

Radial Blade Blowers are used in Higher air volumes are encountered but still have significant suction rates are still required.

Backwards inclined or Vane Axial fans offer much higher air volumes and intermediate suction rates.

Residential radon fans can be used when much lower air volumes and suction rates are much lower. The advantage to radon fans are cost (installation and running) and life expectancy.

Regenerative blowers are often the first choice by most installers of commercial Vapor Intrusion systems. For ART they are the last resort. Radial Blade Blowers are ART's first choice in most situations as they are more energy efficient then Regenerative Blowers and cost less and have a much better life expectancy(3 to 5 times as long). Regenerative Blowers are the most expensive of the Fan/Blower types and they have the shortest (by far) Life expectancy. They have very small fan curves and the selection for the correct model can be very changeling. This is where ART has If the air volumes are off my 5% you could install the incorrect unit and cut the already short life expectancy by 50%!

Below are some of the interesting Vapor Intrusion fans that have been installed by ART over the years.

There are many interesting facts about the pictures on this page are that the Vapor Intrusion system is routed in a Cold Air Return of the Mechanical system and have to be covered in Steel to meet the flame spread rating. Plastic PVC or ABS can not be installed in any part of the Mechanical system. There are many issues that can arise when installing this type of complex system in larger commercial structures that would not be seen in a residential structure. Ultra high suction can cause many issues. Water intrusion into the system or even dust particles that can get sucked up and can add premature ware on the fans particularly to Regenerative blowers.

Below are some of the interesting Vapor Intrusion system components that have been installed by ART over the years.