Pennsylvania Code
Title 25 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Part I - Department of Environmental Protection
Subpart D - Environmental Health and Safety
Article V - Radiological Health
Chapter 240 - RADON CERTIFICATION
Subchapter G - QA REQUIREMENTS
Section 240.605 - QA requirements for testing using secondary devices

(i) The correct input parameters and the unit's clock or timer are set properly.

(ii) The pump's flow rates are within the range of the manufacturer's specifications.

(i) CRM data shall be tracked on a form that contains all of the following:

(ii) For a CRM without a check source, the data collection log must also contain all of the following intercomparison measurement information:

(i) Intercomparison measurements shall be made at least every tenth test with another Department-listed passive device that is analyzed by a Department-certified laboratory or with another CRM with a hard copy printout. The intercomparison measurements shall be distributed systematically throughout the entire population of test locations. Original printouts or Department-certified laboratory results, or both, shall be kept for each intercomparison. Each intercomparison measurement must be performed with the devices side by side for the measurement for at least 48 hours.

(ii) When performing intercomparison measurements, the RPD shall be used to track performance. The RPD value shall be tracked using control charts from "Protocols for Radon and Radon Decay Product Measurements in Homes," EPA 402-R-92-003, May 1993, Appendix B, Exhibits B-2 and B-3.

(iii) If the RPD value exceeds the control limit, the CRM may not be used for radon measurements until the problem is identified and corrected. If the RPD value exceeds the warning level, the criteria in the "Protocols for Radon and Radon Decay Product Measurements in Homes," EPA 402-R-92-003, May 1993, Appendix B, Exhibit B-5, shall be followed.

(iv) In addition to the control charts, intercomparison measurements shall be documented on the CRM data collection log.

(i) CWLM data shall be tracked on a form that contains all of the following:

(ii) For CWLMs without a check source, the data collection log must also contain all of the following intercomparison measurement information:

(i) A CWLM without check source capability shall have an informal intercomparison measurement made with another CWLM with a hard copy printout at least every tenth test. This printout shall be retained for each intercomparison. The intercomparison measurements shall be distributed systematically throughout the entire population of test locations. Each intercomparison measurement must be performed with the devices side by side for the measurement for at least 48 hours.

(ii) Each intercomparison shall be documented on the data collection log.

(iii) When performing intercomparison measurements, the RPD shall be used to track performance. The RPD value shall be tracked using control charts from "Protocols for Radon and Radon Decay product measurements in Homes," EPA 402-R-92-003, May 1993, Appendix B, Exhibits B-2 and B-3.

(iv) If the RPD value exceeds the control limit, the CWLM may not be used for radon measurements until the problem is identified and corrected. If the RPD value exceeds the warning level, the criteria in the "Protocols for Radon and Radon Decay Product Measurements in Homes," EPA 402-R-92-003, May 1993, Appendix B, Exhibit B-5, shall be followed.

(i) The electret serial number.

(ii) The initial voltage reading.

(iii) The final voltage reading.

(iv) The exposure dates and times.

(v) The test results.

(vi) The serial number of duplicate electret.

(vii) The RPD value.

(viii) The address of the building tested.

(ix) The test location in the building.

(x) The name of the tester who placed the electret.

(xi) The name of the tester who retrieved the electret.

(i) Spikes shall be conducted at a rate of 3 for each 100 test devices deployed, with a minimum of 3 spikes for each certification year when tests were conducted in the certification year, and with a maximum of 6 spikes each month.

(ii) Spikes shall be submitted to a Department-certified laboratory labeled as QA. The RV of the spiked device may not be revealed to the laboratory prior to analysis.

(iii) Spikes shall be monitored using a means control chart. The means control chart must be established as follows:

(iv) Each RPE value shall be plotted on the means control chart within 1 week of return of the device from the chamber. If the RPE value is outside the 3 sigma control level, all measurements shall cease until the problem is evaluated and corrected. All evaluations shall be documented.

(v) In addition to the means control chart, all spikes shall be documented on a form that contains all of the following:

(i) Duplicates shall be made in at least 10% of the total number of test devices deployed each month, or 50 each month, whichever is smaller.

(ii) The RPD shall be calculated for all duplicate results with an average of greater than or equal to 2.0 pCi/L. Two control charts shall be constructed to monitor duplicate precision:

(iii) Each RPD value shall be plotted on the control chart within 1 week of performing the duplicate measurement.

(iv) The RPD shall be tracked using control charts from "Protocols for Radon and Radon Decay Product Measurements in Homes," EPA 402-R-92-003, May 1993, Appendix B, Exhibits B-2 and B-3.

(v) For duplicates when the average is greater than or equal to 4.0 pCi/L, all of the following apply:

(vi) For duplicates when the average is greater than or equal to 2.0 pCi/L and less than 4.0 pCi/L, all of the following apply:

(vii) If the plotted RPD result falls outside of the control limit, the measurements shall cease until the problem is identified and corrected.

(viii) If the plotted RPD result falls outside of the warning level, "Protocols for Radon and Radon Decay Product Measurements in Homes," EPA 402-R-92-003, May 1993, Appendix B, Exhibit B-5, shall be used to determine the action to be taken.

(ix) Documentation of duplicates must include all of the following:

(i) The device serial number.

(ii) The serial number of duplicate devices.

(iii) The serial number of spiked devices.

(iv) The exposure dates and times.

(v) The test results.

(vi) The RPE value or RPD value.

(vii) The address of the building tested.

(viii) The test location in the building.

(ix) The name of the tester who placed the device.

(x) The name of the tester who retrieved the device.

(xi) The name of the laboratory to which device was sent.

(i) Spikes shall be conducted at a rate of 3 for each 100 test devices deployed, with a minimum of 3 spikes for each certification year when tests were conducted in the certification year, and with a maximum of 6 spikes each month.

(ii) Spikes shall be submitted to a Department-certified laboratory labeled as QA. The RV of the spiked device may not be revealed to the laboratory prior to analysis.

(iii) Spikes shall be monitored using a means control chart. The means control chart must be established as follows:

(iv) Each RPE value shall be plotted on the means control chart within 1 week of receiving the result from the laboratory. If the RPE value is outside the 3 sigma control level, all measurements shall cease until the problem is evaluated and corrected. All evaluations shall be documented.

(v) In addition to the means control chart, all spikes shall be documented on a form that contains all of the following:

(i) Duplicates shall be made in at least 10% of the total number of test devices deployed each month, or 50 each month, whichever is smaller.

(ii) The RPD shall be calculated for all duplicate results with an average of greater than or equal to 2.0 pCi/L. Two control charts shall be constructed to monitor duplicate precision:

(iii) Each RPD value shall be plotted on the control chart within 1 week of performing the duplicate measurement.

(iv) The RPD shall be tracked using control charts from "Protocols for Radon and Radon Decay Product Measurements in Homes," EPA 402-R-92-003, May 1993, Appendix B, Exhibits B-2 and B-3.

(v) For duplicates when the average is greater than or equal to 4.0 pCi/L, all of the following apply:

(vi) For duplicates when the average is greater than or equal to 2.0 pCi/L and less than 4.0 pCi/L, all of the following apply:

(vii) If the plotted RPD result falls outside of the control limit, the measurements shall cease until the problem is identified and corrected.

(viii) If the plotted RPD result falls outside of the warning level, "Protocols for Radon and Radon Decay Product Measurements in Homes," EPA 402-R-92-003, May 1993, Appendix B, shall be used to determine the action to be taken.

(ix) Documentation of duplicates must include all of the following:

(i) Field blank results shall be monitored and recorded. Field blanks shall be performed at a rate of 5% of the devices that are deployed each month, or 25 each month, whichever is smaller, or a minimum of 1 per certification year, unless tests are not performed. These devices shall be set aside, kept in a low-radon environment and labeled as QA when submitted to the laboratory.

(ii) If a field blank has a concentration greater than the lowest level of detection (LLD) as established by the laboratory, all of the following shall occur:

(iii) Documentation of field blanks must include all of the following: