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[CCMC 13698-R] CCMC Canadian code compliance evaluation

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Compliance opinion

It is the opinion of the Canadian Construction Materials Centre that the evaluated product, when used as a component in a sub-slab radon gas mitigation system in accordance with the conditions and limitations stated in this evaluation, complies with the following code:

National Building Code of Canada 2015

ID Code provision Solution type
09-13-04-03-01-0-009.13.4.3.(1) Floors-on-ground shall be provided with ...Acceptable
09-13-04-03-01-0-009.13.4.3.(1) Floors-on-ground shall be provided with ...Alternative
09-25-02-02-01-c-009.25.2.2.(1)(c) Insulation MaterialsAcceptable

The above opinion(s) is/are based on the evaluation by the CCMC of technical evidence provided by the evaluation holder, and is bound by the stated conditions and limitations. For the benefit of the user, a summary of the technical information that forms the basis of this evaluation has been included.

Product information

Product name

Radon Guard™

Product description

The product is a panelized sub-slab depressurization system that allows for soil gas removal, insulation and a capillary break between the ground and the air barrier system. The soil gas is dissipated through interconnected channels in the moulded expanded polystyrene (EPS) thermal insulation collection and exhaust panels. These panels are laid side by side to provide continuous venting and an insulation layer between the air barrier system (ABS) and the ground. The insulation panels used in the Radon Guard™ system are PlastiSpan HD (CCMC 12425-L) Type 2 and PlastiSpan 25 (CCMC 12426-L) Type 3, which meet CAN/ULC-S701, “Standard for Thermal Insulation, Polystyrene, Boards and Pipe Covering.”

The milled panels are a minimum 89 mm (3.5 in.) thick. The legs may be milled or moulded directly in the manufacturing plant. The legs are either square or cylindrical as shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3, respectively. The panels are available in the various sizes.

 
Illustration detailing typical assembly.
Figure 1. Radon Guard™ typical assembly
  1. radon gas
  2. vent collar flange
  3. concrete slab
  4. air barrier system
  5. radon exhaust vent pipe
  6. radon exhaust
  7. radon exhaust vent pipe
  8. vent collar flange
  9. concrete slab
  10. air barrier system
  11. Radon Guard™ panels
  12. undisturbed soil or compacted fill
  13. Section A
 
Underside view of square legs on Radon Guard

Figure 2. Underside view of square legs on Radon Guard™

 
Underside view of cylindrical legs on Radon Guard.

Figure 3. Underside view of cylindrical legs on Radon Guard™

Manufacturing plants

This evaluation is limited to products produced at the following plants:

Product nameManufacturing plants
Crossfield, AB, CASaskatoon, SK, CAWinnipeg, MB, CA
Radon Guard™Product evaluated by the CCMCProduct evaluated by the CCMCProduct evaluated by the CCMC

Product evaluated by the CCMC Indicates that the product from this manufacturing facility has been evaluated by the CCMC

  Conditions and limitations

The CCMC’s compliance opinion is bound by this product being used in accordance with the conditions and limitations set out below.

  • The product must be laid on undisturbed soil (no organics), compacted fill or a sand base.
  • The product is intended only as an underground gas permeable layer.
  • The product must be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation manual, Radon Guard™ Sub-Slab Radon Gas Mitigation, v. 1.2, April 4, 2014.
  • The insulation panels used in the system must be certified to CAN/ULC-S701.
  • The product must be used in conjunction with an ABS conforming to Subsection 9.25.3., Air Barrier Systems, of Division B of NBC 2015.
  • The ABS, concrete slab, and interior floor finish must all be sealed to the radon extraction piping that is provided by others in accordance with Article 9.25.3.3., Division B of NBC 2010 and 2015 (see Figure 1).

  Technical information

This evaluation is based on demonstrated conformance with the following criteria:

Evaluation requirements
Criteria number Criteria name
CCMC-TG-312113.15-15CCMC Technical Guide for Underslab EPS board with channels for radon ventilation

The evaluation holder has submitted technical documentation for the CCMC evaluation. Testing was conducted at laboratories recognized by the CCMC. The corresponding technical evidence for this product is summarized below.

Material requirements

The thermal insulation must meet and be certified to CAN/ULC-S701, “Standard for Thermal Insulation, Polystyrene, Boards and Pipe Covering.” The insulation panels used in the Radon Guard™ system are PlastiSpan HD Type 2 (CCMC 12425-L) and PlastiSpan 25 Type 3 (CCMC 12426-L).

Performance requirements

Radon infiltration test

Radon gas (Rn) was introduced to the dosing compartment located under the backfilling sand layer and test samples (either a Radon Guard™ product or a 100 mm (4 in.) gravel layer). The receiving compartment was located above the varnished wood floor. Rn concentrations were continuously monitored in both the dosing and receiving compartments of the Radon Infiltration through Building Envelope Test System (RIBETS). The seven-day average of Rn concentrations was recorded after the system reached equilibrium (see Table below).

Table 1. Results of testing the comparison of radon infiltration through Radon Guard™ and prescriptive gravel
Property Rn concentration in dosing compartment (kBq/m3) Rn concentration in receiving compartment (Bq/m3) Result
Floor assembly with Radon Guard™ 4.58 48.79 Radon Guard™ is comparable to gravel in terms of radon infiltration under the test conditions.
Floor assembly with gravel 4.27 35.59

Pressure communication test

A radon exhaust fan removed air from under the test samples (either a Radon Guard™ product or a 100 mm (4 in.) gravel layer). The average flow rates through the radon exhaust fan, and the average pressure readings from under the floor panels and the test samples, in the backfilling sand layers, and in both the dosing and receiving compartments were recorded continuously over a two-hour period. Time averaging results are summarized in the Table below.

Table 2. Results of testing the comparison of pressure communication through Radon Guard™ and gravel
Property Flow rate through exhaust fan (cfm) Pressure under floor panel (Pa) Pressure under Radon Guard™ (Pa) Pressure in sand layer (Pa) Pressure in dosing compartment (Pa) Result
Floor assembly with Radon Guard™ 38.4 −1.1 −1.7 −2.1 −28.6 Radon Guard™ is comparable to gravel in terms of sub-slab pressure communication under the test conditions. This result demonstrates that the product is able to serve as a sub-slab gas permeable layer as comparable to prescriptive gravel.
Floor assembly with gravel 38.7 −0.9 −1.4 −2.0 −29.2

Administrative information

Use of Canadian Construction Materials Centre (CCMC) assessments

This assessment must be read in the context of the entire CCMC Registry of Product Assessments, any applicable building code or by-law requirements, and/or any other regulatory requirements (for example, the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, etc.).

It is the responsibility of the user to confirm that the assessment they are using is current and has not been withdrawn or superseded by a later version on the CCMC Registry of Product Assessments.

Disclaimer

The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) has evaluated only the characteristics of the specific product described herein. The information and opinions in this evaluation are directed to those who have the appropriate degree of experience to use and apply its contents (such as authorities having jurisdiction, design professionals and specifiers). This evaluation is valid when the product is used as part of permitted construction, respecting all conditions and limitations stated in the evaluation, and in accordance with applicable building codes and by-laws.

This evaluation is provided without representation, warranty or guarantee of any kind, expressed or implied, and the NRC provides no endorsement for any evaluated product. The NRC accepts no responsibility whatsoever arising in any way from any and all use of or reliance on the information contained herein or the use of any evaluated product. The NRC is not undertaking to render professional or other services on behalf of any person or entity nor to perform any duty owed by any person or entity to another person or entity.

Language

Une version française de ce document est disponible.
In the case of any discrepancy between the English and French version of this document, the English version shall prevail.

Copyright

© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the National Research Council of Canada, 2024

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the CCMC.

CCMC recognition

The Canadian Construction Materials Centre (CCMC) assesses compliance with Canadian building, energy and safety codes. We are the only construction code compliance service supported and operated by the Government of Canada. Trusted by over 6,000 regulators across Canada.

Most Canadian authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) consider CCMC product assessments acceptable as evidence for product approval.

CCMC assessments are recognized by construction authorities across Canada:

The CCMC provides code compliance assessments to Canadian code requirements, consulting nationwide with construction regulators to elicit regional variations in code requirements as well as provincial and local interpretations. Users are advised to review the technical information presented in CCMC assessments when making approval decisions. Learn more about how the CCMC provides a unique service for Canada.

For more information, contact the CCMC by phone at (613) 993-6189 or by email at ccmc@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

NOTICE

The information presented on this webpage (in HTML format) is the most up-to-date information available from the CCMC about this assessment.

By downloading this PDF you acknowledge that:

  • this PDF is intended for record-keeping purposes only,
  • it represents the information as it was available at the time of downloading, and
  • it may not reflect the latest available information at some future date.
References to this CCMC assessment (in product literature, on websites, etc.) must be made by linking to the evaluation webpage. This PDF must not be used as a means of distributing this assessment to an audience.

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Code compliance as an acceptable solution

Code Compliance via Acceptable Solutions

If a building design (e.g. material, component, assembly or system) can be shown to meet all provisions of the applicable acceptable solutions in Division B (e.g. it complies with the applicable provisions of a referenced standard), it is deemed to have satisfied the objectives and functional statements linked to those provisions and thus to have complied with that part of the Code.

National Building Code of Canada, Sentence A-1.2.1.1.(1)(a)

The CCMC has determined that compliance with this provision of the Code has been demonstrated as an Acceptable Solution. The evaluation report provides a summary of the basis of CCMC's compliance opinion.

CCMC's code compliance opinions

All CCMC evaluation reports are opinions of code compliance established in accordance with the National Building Code of Canada, Subsection 1.2.1. "Compliance with this Code," which requires compliance to be achieved by:

  • complying with the applicable acceptable solutions in Division B, or
  • using an alternative solution that will achieve at least the minimum level of performance required by Division B in the areas defined by the objective and functional statements attributed to the applicable acceptable solutions.

The CCMC assesses compliance with Canadian building, energy and safety codes, and is trusted by over 6,000 regulators across Canada.

Code compliance as an alternative solution

Code Compliance via Alternative Solutions

Where a design differs from the acceptable solutions in Division B, then it should be treated as an "alternative solution." A proponent of an alternative solution must demonstrate that the alternative solution addresses the same issues as the applicable acceptable solutions in Division B and their attributed objectives and functional statements. However, because the objectives and functional statements are entirely qualitative, demonstrating compliance with them in isolation is not possible. Therefore, Clause 1.2.1.1.(1)(b) identifies the principle that Division B establishes the quantitative performance targets that alternative solutions must meet. In many cases, these targets are not defined very precisely by the acceptable solutions [...] Nevertheless, Clause 1.2.1.1.(1)(b) makes it clear that an effort must be made to demonstrate that an alternative solution will perform as well as a design that would satisfy the applicable acceptable solutions in Division B—not “well enough” but “as well as.”

National Building Code of Canada, Sentence A-1.2.1.1.(1)(b)

The CCMC has determined that compliance with this provision of the Code has been demonstrated as an Alternative Solution. The evaluation report provides a summary of the basis of CCMC's compliance opinion.

CCMC's code compliance opinions

All CCMC evaluation reports are opinions of code compliance established in accordance with the National Building Code of Canada, Subsection 1.2.1. "Compliance with this Code," which requires compliance to be achieved by:

  • complying with the applicable acceptable solutions in Division B, or
  • using an alternative solution that will achieve at least the minimum level of performance required by Division B in the areas defined by the objective and functional statements attributed to the applicable acceptable solutions.

The CCMC assesses compliance with Canadian building, energy and safety codes, and is trusted by over 6,000 regulators across Canada.

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From: National Research Council Canada

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