Portland Public Schools finished with initial radon testing of all occupied ground floor rooms in 2016 and early 2017. The project cost was over $100,000. Some locations will require re-testing during the 2017/2018 winter heating season due to changes such as construction or HVAC programming. Testing is described in the PPS annual radon plans available on this web page, and is performed in accordance with the Oregon Health Authority protocol titled “Testing for Elevated Radon in Oregon Schools - A Protocol and Plan”. A spreadsheet of results is on this web page. See the links titled “Initial Short Term Radon Test Results” and “What do radon test results mean”?

Portland Public Schools finished with initial radon testing of all occupied ground floor rooms in 2016 and early 2017. The project cost was over $100,000. Some locations will require re-testing during the 2017/2018 winter heating season due to changes such as construction or HVAC programming. Testing is described in the PPS annual radon plans available on this web page, and is performed in accordance with the Oregon Health Authority protocol titled “Testing for Elevated Radon in Oregon Schools - A Protocol and Plan”. A spreadsheet of results is on this web page. See the links titled “Initial Short Term Radon Test Results” and “What do radon test results mean”?

The deadline for Oregon school districts to complete initial radon testing is January 1, 2021. By testing well in advance of the deadline, knowledge is available now that most rooms in PPS schools are below 4 picocuries per liter. Likewise, learning which rooms require long term testing (4-8 picocuries per liter), or radon mitigation systems, is being discovered now and follow-up work is in progress. Portland Public Schools is contracted with PBS Engineering and Environmental for testing and analyzing radon in the schools. Competitive bidding is utilized to contract for the construction of radon mitigation systems.

With the passage of the May 2017 bond, just over 1.1 million dollars will be available to mitigate radon levels in Portland Public Schools. This mitigation work is being bid with a requirement for a 10-year warranty. PPS locations that require a radon mitigation system will require re-testing every five years. The 10-year warranty allows for two cycles of regulatory testing to be completed while within the warranty period.

Summary of completed radon mitigation work:

- Lent: Permanent radon mitigation systems were constructed and are operating in the main building and the music building. Project costs were $48,085. As of 9/1/17 some drywall work was left open to accommodate city inspections. This cosmetic finish work will be completed in the next few weeks. All regularly occupied ground level rooms at Lent will be re-tested every five years in accordance with Oregon Health Authority protocols.

- Meek: A permanent radon mitigation system was constructed and is operating in the cafeteria. Project costs were $12,100. All regularly occupied ground level rooms at Meek will be re-tested every five years in accordance with Oregon Health Authority protocols.

Summary of radon mitigation work in progress:

- Meek: Long-term testing determined Meek will require additional mitigation systems to lower radon levels in rooms 103 and 107. Long-term levels were 4.0 pCi/L and 3.9 pCi/l respectively. Competitive vendors attended a site walk on 8/16/17. Bids are due by 9/1/17 with an anticipated notice to proceed to be issued no later than 9/12/17. All regularly occupied ground level rooms at Meek will be re-tested every five years in accordance with Oregon Health Authority protocols.

- Skyline: A temporary radon mitigation system was installed in room 105A on Monday 2/21/17 and the design was proven to be effective. Construction of a permanent system will be completed by Cascade Radon, Inc. in the next few weeks. All regularly occupied ground level rooms at Skyline will be re-tested every five years in accordance with Oregon Health Authority protocols.

- Ockley Green: A temporary radon mitigation system for the gym and PE office (room 307) was installed on Thursday 2/23/17 in a storage room off the boys’ locker room. Since that time, adjustments and repairs to the heating and cooling system have also been completed. The design has proven effective. Long-term testing also determined Ockley Green will require an additional mitigation system to lower radon levels in the principal’s office. Design and construction of the two permanent mitigation systems will go out for bid by 9/5/17. This will be followed by a bid-walk opportunity for competing contractors and bids due by 9/18/17. All regularly occupied ground level rooms will be re-tested every five years in accordance with Oregon Health Authority protocols.

- Jefferson: Test results have validated that radon mitigation is required in rooms A36 and A75 (room numbers on original blueprints). Multiple radon mitigation vendors attended a walk-through at Jefferson HS on 7/26/17 and the bid was awarded to Cascade Radon, Inc. The company is working with PPS Electrical and Mechanical shops as they work through the building infrastructure to build and test design mitigation systems. The contract requires substantial completion by 11/30/17.

- Peninsula: A temporary radon mitigation system was installed in the boiler room and the design was proven to be effective. Design and construction of the permanent mitigation system will go out for bid by 9/5/17. This will be followed by a bid-walk opportunity for competing contractors and bids due by 9/18/17. All regularly occupied ground level rooms at Peninsula will be re-tested every five years in accordance with Oregon Health Authority protocols.

- Beaumont: Long-term testing determined Beaumont will require a mitigation system to lower radon levels in the gym/26A. Competitive vendors attended a site walk on 8/16/17. Bids are due by 9/1/17 with an anticipated notice to proceed to be issued no later than 9/12/17. All regularly occupied ground level rooms at Beaumont will be re-tested every five years in accordance with Oregon Health Authority protocols.

- Vernon: Long-term testing determined Vernon will require a mitigation system to lower radon levels in the kitchen. Competitive vendors attended a site walk on 8/16/17. Bids are due by 9/1/17 with an anticipated notice to proceed to be issued no later than 9/12/17. All regularly occupied ground level rooms at Vernon will be re-tested every five years in accordance with Oregon Health Authority protocols.

- Additional schools: Long-term testing confirmed radon mitigation systems are required in the following school rooms. Design and construction of the mitigation systems are going to bid through mid-November to accommodate vendor capacity and the winter heating season criteria for final validation.

The PPS 2017/2018 annual radon plan will be published on this web page September 1, 2017. Future radon testing is required in ten-year intervals for locations with low initial results, less than 4 pCi/L, during initial short-term testing. For locations with mitigation systems installed, future testing is required at five-year intervals.

PPS has consulted with the Oregon Health Authority for guidance on immediate public health risks. While long-term exposure to radon presents a health risk, there are no imminent short-term health risks. You can find more information on the OHA website and the radon section of the PPS Healthy and Safe Schools web page

If you have any questions about testing and plans moving forward please direct them to pubinfo@pps.net.

Sincerely,

Joe Crelier

Director, Risk Management