Radon in Schools

Radon Testing Plan

According to Minnesota Statute 123B.571, school districts that receive health and safety revenue to conduct radon testing must conduct the testing according to the state's ‘Radon Testing Plan'.

• Radon testing and mitigation must be conducted by licensed individuals (according to MN Statute 144.4961 Minnesota Radon Licensing Act).
• Testing and mitigation must comply with the Minnesota Radon Licensing Act (MN Statute 144.4961) and the MN Administrative Rules (4620.7000-7950), which includes the ANSI/AARST standard ‘Protocols for Conducting Measurements of Radon and Radon Decay Products in Multifamily, School, Commercial and Mixed-Use Buildings’ (MA-MFLB-2023) and successor ANSI/AARST standards.
• Testing is conducted between November 1 and March 31.
• Conduct tests with short-term tests.
• Conduct testing on school days or with HVAC operating under occupied conditions.
• Test all occupied and intended to be occupied rooms in contact with the ground, 10% of upper floor rooms, and other rooms specified in the ANSI/AARST standard.
• Conduct follow-up testing in rooms that have radon > 4 pCi/L and other rooms specified in the ANSI/AARST standard.
• Mitigate occupied and intended to be occupied rooms that have radon > 4 pCi/L.
• Re-test the building after mitigation to verify radon reduction.
• Report all radon test results to MDH on the ‘School Radon Testing Form’ at the conclusion of the testing project (after follow-up testing, mitigation and post-mitigation testing have been completed).
• Report radon test results at a school board meeting.

Reporting and guidance

• Guidance for Radon Testing in Minnesota Schools (PDF)
• School Radon Testing Reporting Form (PDF)

Minnesota Tracking Program reports

• Testing Trends for Radon in Indoor Air in Public Schools