During short-term testing, how important is it to adhere to closed-building conditions?

Adhering to closed-building conditions during short-term radon testing is essential for obtaining accurate results. Closed-building conditions refer to maintaining windows and doors closed, minimizing ventilation, and avoiding significant entry of outside air during the testing period. This is critical because radon levels can fluctuate significantly due to changes in airflow, temperature, and pressure within a building.

When these conditions are not followed, outside air can dilute the radon concentration inside the home, leading to underestimations of the radon levels present. This can result in misleading test results and may prevent the appropriate actions from being taken to mitigate radon exposure. Therefore, strictly adhering to these conditions ensures a reliable measurement of radon levels, providing a true reflection of the potential health risks posed by radon gas in the environment being tested.