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[CCMC 14024-R] CCMC Canadian code compliance evaluation

From: National Research Council Canada

In most jurisdictions this document is sufficient evidence for approval by Canadian authorities.

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Code compliance opinion

It is the opinion of the Canadian Construction Materials Centre that the evaluated product, when used as part of 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
09-13-04-02-00-0-009.13.4.2.(1) All wall, roof and floor assemblies sepa ...Alternative

Ontario Building Code

Ruling No. 17-02-339 (14024-R) authorizing the use of this product in Ontario, subject to the terms and conditions contained in the Ruling, was made by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing on 2017-03-22 pursuant to s.29 of the Building Code Act, 1992 (see Ruling for terms and conditions). This Ruling is subject to periodic revisions and updates.


The above opinion is 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

RadonBlock™

Product description

The product is a seven-layer, co-extruded barrier sheet made from polyethylene and ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) resins that provides resistance to gas and moisture transmission. The product is an under-slab barrier designed to restrict naturally occurring gases such as radon and/or methane from migrating through the ground and concrete slab (see Figure 1).

The product is a 0.51 mm (20 mils) thick sheet and available in 3 m (10 ft.) × 45.7 m (150 in.) rolls. All rolls are folded on heavy-duty cores for ease of handling and installation. The product is available in other custom sizes with factory-welded seams based on minimum volume requirements.

 
Illustration describing typical assembly of the product.
Figure 1. RadonBlock 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. RadonBlock
  11. gravel
  12. undisturbed soil or compacted fill
  13. Section A

Manufacturing plant

This evaluation is valid only for products produced at the following plant:

Product nameManufacturing plant
Sioux Falls, SD, US
RadonBlock™Product 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.

  • Joints in the product must be lapped not less than 300 mm (12 in.) and must be sealed with butyl tape.
  • The product must be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s “RadonBlock™ Installation Guidelines,” dated July 15, 2015.
  • The product must be used in conjunction with the requirements specified in Subsection 9.13.4., Soil Gas Control, of Division B of the NBC 2015.
  • A floor-on-ground must be sealed around its perimeter to the inner surfaces of adjacent walls using flexible sealant.
  • All penetrations of a floor-on-ground that are required to drain water from the floor surface must be sealed in a manner that prevents the upward flow of air without preventing the downward flow of liquid water.

  Technical information

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

Evaluation requirements
Criteria number Criteria name
CCMC-TG-312113.16-15CCMC Technical Guide for Polyethylene Sheet Barriers for Soil Gas Ingress Protection

 

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

Material requirements
Table 1. Results of testing of material properties of the product
Property Requirement Result
Tensile strength (MPa): machine direction Min. 12 25
transverse direction Min. 8 22
Elongation (%): machine direction 225 711
transverse direction 350 658
Water vapour permeance (ng/(Pa·s·m2)) Max. 15 0.61
Impact strength (g) Min. 300 2 600
Outdoor weathering resistance Retain minimum 50% of tensile elongation strength after exposure to accelerated weathering Pass
Performance requirements

Radon (Rn) infiltration test

During the infiltration test, Rn was continuously introduced into the dosing compartment of the RIBETS (National Research Council (NRC) Rn test facility) for three weeks. The air temperature, relative humidity, air pressure, and Rn concentration were monitored continuously in both the dosing and the receiving compartments during this test period. The variations of Rn concentrations in both the dosing and receiving compartments are summarized in the following table.

Table 2. Results of testing for comparison of radon infiltration through Radon Guard and prescriptive gravel
Assembly Rn concentration in dosing compartment (Bq/m3) Rn concentration in receiving compartment (Bq/m3) Result
Floor assembly with 6 mil poly 5 192 342 The test assembly with the RadonBlock and butyl joint tape demonstrated lower permeability to Rn compared to the floor assemblies with the 6 mil poly or the 20 mil poly membranes with conventional sheathing joint tape
Floor assembly with 20 mil poly 2 260 384
Floor assembly with RadonBlock 3 362 124

Sub-slab depressurization communication

During sub-slab depressurization communication tests, the in-line Rn exhaust fan was switched on, and it was withdrawing air through sub-slab Rn rough-in PVC pipe from underneath the test membrane samples. The airflow rates through the exhaust stacks and Rn exhaust fan, the pressure in the dosing compartment, the pressure underneath concrete slab, and the pressure underneath the membrane were monitored and recorded at 15-second intervals for 4 hours duration. The average results over the experiment period are presented in following table.

Table 3. Comparison of sub-slab depressurization communication for membrane tests
Assembly Flow rate through exhaust fan (L/s) Pressure under concrete slab (Pa) Pressure under membrane (Pa) Pressure in dosing compartment (Pa) Pressure in receiving compartment (Pa) Result
Floor assembly with 6 mil poly 26.6 −1.8 −3.1 −30.0 −0.9 RadonBlock 6 mil poly and 20 mil poly membranes produced comparable results during the sub-slab pressure communication tests
Floor assembly with 20 mil poly 25.2 −3.0 −3.0 −29.4 −4.4
Floor assembly with RadonBlock 28.9 −0.6 −3.1 −29.8 −2.3

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, 2023

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.

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