HUD multifamily radon testing requirements

Radon testing is now a requirement for new HUD multifamily construction and refinancing of any HUD/FHA loan. There are dozens of very specific requirements to get a radon testing report approved by a HUD lender, and it is imperative to select the right company to perform multifamily radon testing and create the required reports. This page covers some of the key testing requirements in effect as of 2023.

In 2013, HUD required radon testing for multifamily properties in zones 1 and 2 of the EPA radon map. The updated 2021 and 2023 HUD multifamily testing requirements now require testing for all 3 radon zones. States like Texas or Arizona that are in zone 3 that were previously not tested now require radon testing. This is a challenge because many of these states do not have sufficient local testing companies to conduct the needed testing. That is where Utah Radon Services can help! We service 36 states and send our own certified employees to the testing location to make sure the test is performed correctly and to HUD’s high testing standards. By using our own employees on site to perform the test (instead of contractors commonly used by other testing companies), we can ensure accuracy, professionalism, and the highest quality testing and reporting.

• All HUD multifamily loans require radon testing in all 50 states. This includes new construction and the purchase or refinancing of existing multifamily housing, such as moderate-income, elderly, managed-care, and nursing home housing.
• HUD requires radon testing or mitigation to be performed by a radon professional. Both testing and mitigation of a large building can be extremely complex and should only be performed by a trained and knowledgeable professional.
• 100% of the ground floor units, offices, common areas, or other occupiable spaces must be tested. 10% of each of the upper floors must be tested, too.
• Specific quality control procedures (QAQC) must be followed, such as chain of custody declaration, 10% duplicate tests, 5% blanks, and 3% spiked tests.
• A building must be tested even if a system is already installed to ensure that it is working correctly and continues to reduce radon concentrations to acceptable levels. Post-mitigation/clearance testing is required to ensure the new radon systems are effective at lowering the radon to below 4.0 pCi/L.
• The final radon report must include specific information such as building description, weather during testing, anomalies during the test, etc.

Don’t leave your multifamily radon testing to the local home inspector or radon mitigator. Unless they are experienced in radon testing, you are not likely to get the reports you need. We have seen many HUD radon testing projects have to be completely retested by a different company due to problems with the first round from an unreliable provider.

If you have any questions regarding multifamily radon testing or would like to talk to us about testing an upcoming project, please feel free to contact us at 866-476-2773.