What is radon?
Radon is a radioactive noble gas. It is odorless, tasteless and colorless and is formed from uranium during radioactive decay. Since uranium occurs everywhere as a trace element (rock, soil, building materials), radon is also formed everywhere. As a noble gas, radon can easily escape from the material in which it is formed and thus enter the air we breathe. The radioactive decay products of radon (polonium, bismuth, lead) stick to the bronchial tubes and can damage the upper cell layers of the alveoli and thus cause lung cancer. In Austria, about ten percent of lung cancer cases are caused by radon.
Inhabited buildings act - especially in the cold season - like suction bells, i.e. a low negative pressure is created in the building by the so-called stack effect, which sucks ground air and thus radon into the house. In closed rooms, this can lead to an accumulation of radon in the air we breathe.
Free radon measurement for private households
The actual radon concentration in a building can only be determined by measurement. As part of its radon protection activities, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management (BMLUK) offers a free radon measurement with two radon detectors in your private home. The BMLUK provides a contingent of radon detectors twice a year for these measurements.
Current information can be found here
How can I protect myself from radon?
- Inform: Inform yourself about the dangers and risks of radon. You can find more information here and on the Radon Information Page of the Ministry of Climate Protection. You can use the interactive radon map to find out about the mandatory and recommended radon protection measures in your community.
- Measure: Only a measurement gives certainty about the radon level in a building. The measurement detectors are sent by mail - carrying out the measurement is simple and inexpensive. If you are interested in a radon measurement, you can get more information here.
- If needed: Act! If elevated radon concentrations have been detected, remedial action can often be taken with relatively simple measures.
- Precaution: If you are planning new construction or renovation of existing buildings, simple radon protection measures should also be planned. Preventive radon protection is cheaper, more effective and simpler than subsequent radon remediation measures.
Structural radon protection
Below you will find information on protective measures for structural radon protection in new buildings, general refurbishments and existing buildings.
Simple radon protection measures for new buildings
In Austria, mandatory radon protection for new buildings is regulated by building legislation.
Simple and inexpensive precautionary measures are the best protection against high radon concentrations in new buildings. They are much simpler, more effective and cheaper in the long term than retrofitting a building with radon remediation. As a general rule, the tighter the building envelope is sealed against the ground, the lower the radon risk. New buildings must be planned and constructed in such a way that the annual average radon concentration in the occupied rooms is below the reference value of 300 Bq/m³.
To ensure this, in radon precaution areas, for example, the continuous foundation slab must be at least 20 cm thick in combination with convection-tight pipe and cable penetrations
ÖNORM S 5280-2 "Radon - Technical precautionary measures for buildings" describes the necessary radon protection measures depending on the type of building (basement or no basement, slope), the location of the building and the planned design of the components in contact with the ground.
In certain areas, further preventive radon protection measures may be advisable. Especially in cases where a convection-tight design of the building components cannot be guaranteed. According to ÖNORM S 5280-2, one such radon protection measure can be the installation of a radon drainage system with passive air removal via the roof. The additional costs in new builds for the perforated pipes required for this, which are laid under the foundation in the ballast box (rolling), usually amount to less than € 1,000 for the material costs. In addition, there are costs for the realisation by a construction company. These amount to around € 500 to € 1,000 for the additional labour involved. A control measurement is recommended after completion of the building.
Additional information:
- Details on the implementation of radon drainage and the other options mentioned above can be found in the brochure of the Province of Upper Austria in the downloads at the bottom of the page.
- The province of Upper Austria subsidises radon prevention measures for new buildings under certain conditions. You can find more information here.
- Soil gas tests on the building site are not recommended, as they are time-consuming, expensive and inconclusive.
Detailed information on precautionary measures for new buildings can be found here.
Radon remediation for existing buildings
If the measurement shows that the reference value of 300 Bq/m³ has been exceeded, this can be remedied by tried and tested remediation measures on the building. The measures range from sealing building components such as the floor slab to extracting the soil air below the floor slab.
The costs for refurbishment measures depend heavily on the measure required. While simple measures - which can often be carried out independently - only cost a few € 100, costs of up to € 15,000 can be incurred even in complex situations.
The following experts in structural radon protection are available to assist you with the planning and implementation of radon remediation measures.
You can find detailed information on remediation measures here.
Consideration of radon protection during a general refurbishment or thermal refurbishment
General refurbishments offer a good opportunity to reduce radon concentrations cost-effectively. It is therefore essential to have a radon measurement carried out before the general refurbishment. In the event of increased radon concentrations, plan radon protection measures.
Various studies have shown that sealing the building envelope as part of the thermal refurbishment of a building can increase radon concentrations. In order to avoid an increase in radon levels after thermal refurbishment, you should find out in advance about the possibilities of taking the radon situation into account and, if necessary, take additional measures.
You can find detailed information on the influence of energy-related (thermal) refurbishment here.
Specialists for structural radon protection in Austria
As radon protection is primarily a building issue, the health risk from radon indoors can be greatly reduced if radon protection measures are planned and implemented professionally in new builds and renovations.
For this reason, the Austrian Radon Centre offers courses on radon protection in buildings. The aim is to create a network of trained building experts to support building owners in the planning and implementation of radon protection measures (e.g. radon remediation).
The list of trained experts for structural radon protection in Austria can be found here.
Radon protection at the workplace
Very high radon concentrations may occur at certain workplaces. Limitation of radon exposure and protection of employees is regulated by the Radiation Protection Act (see below) and the Radon Protection Ordinance (see below) and applies to the following establishments:
- Water supply facilities
- Mines and other underground work areas
- tourist mines and show caves
- Radon spas
- Establishments with workplaces in ground floors and basements in radon protection areas
In Austria, these establishments are obliged to commission an authorized radon monitoring body to measure the radon concentration. If the reference value of 300 Bq/m³ is exceeded, the result must be reported to the competent provincial authority and optimization measures to reduce the radon concentration must be implemented. If, despite the measures taken, it is not possible to reduce the radon concentration to below the reference value at all affected workplaces, a dose assessment for the employees must be carried out by an authorized radon monitoring service.
In our function as an authorized monitoring body, we carry out radon measurements as well as dose assessments and determinations. Further information and details can be obtained here.
Radon Competence Centre Austria
Our Radon Competence Centre Austria was established in 2006 to coordinate all activities related to radon in Austria. The core tasks of the radon competence are to participate in the implementation of the national radon action plan, to provide advice and information to the public and to authorities and companies, and to carry out special projects on current issues. In addition, the competence centre has the best-equipped laboratory in Austria for measuring radon in air, water and soil.
If you have any questions, our experts at the Radon Fachstelle will be happy to provide you with information by e-mail or telephone every Wednesday from 11:00 - 14:00.
Radon Network Austria
The Radon Network Austria offers stakeholders, authorities, companies and interested citizens the opportunity to network with each other, raise questions and concerns and discuss ideas for radon protection in small groups.
The Radon Network Austria was founded by the Radon Centre on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management and pursues the following goals:
- To connect stakeholders, authorities, companies and all interested citizens with each other
- To provide an unbureaucratic communication and cooperation platform for radon issues
- To report on current developments in the field of radon protection
- To know the questions and concerns of stakeholders, authorities, companies, etc. and to respond to them in a targeted manner
- To collect and provide a wide range of information on the topic of "radon in buildings"
- To offer a contact point for advice on all aspects of radon
Contact
- radonfachstelle@ages.at
- +43 50 555 41800
-
Wieningerstraße 8
4020 Linz
Radon-Infoline:
Jeden Mittwoch, 11:00 - 14:00 Uhr
Last updated: 21.07.2025
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