Methodology for Radon Engineering - Geological Survey for Family Houses: Use in Construction and Geotourism

Abstract

A radon survey is a fundamental preventive step in the construction of new single - family houses. It determines the risk of radon ingress from the geological substrate and guides the selection of protective measures to reduce indoor radon load. Effective radon protection must be ensured already in the pre - construction phase — before foundation works — so the finished building complies with regulatory limits on natural exposure. The choice of a suitable mitigation system — sufficiently effective, technically feasible, and economically proportionate — follows from assessing the site - specific radon risk in accordance with C SN 73 0601 Protection of buildings against radon from the ground. The obligation to determine the Radon Index of the Site (RIP) for all buildings with habitable or occupied rooms is imposed by Act No. 263/2016 Coll. (Atomic Act), reflecting the public interest in protecting inhabitants from unnecessary exposure to natural radiation. The most reliable approach is in - situ measurement, which enables both classification of the plot (low/medium/high RIP) and detailed determination of soil - gas radon concentration (volume activity) together with the composition and permeability of the geological substrate. This article summarizes principles, legal framework, and practical procedures recommended by the State Office for Nuclear Safety (SÚJB) and reviews the methodologies used for measurement and interpretation, with particular attention to conditions typical of individual single - family housing projects.