5.1 MAH-2023 Professional Report Requirements

5.1 MAH-2023 Professional Report Requirements

An official radon measurement report generated by a Radon Measurement Professional (RMP) serves as a legally binding technical document and communication tool. Under the ANSI/AARST MAH-2023 standard (Protocol for Conducting Measurements of Radon and Radon Decay Products in Homes), reports must adhere to precise structural and content requirements to guarantee transparency, traceability, and defensibility—especially during real estate transactions or regulatory audits.

Core Purpose and Scope of MAH-2023 Reports

The primary objective of an MAH-2023 professional report is to deliver a clear, accurate, and reproducible summary of the indoor radon testing event. It bridges complex technical diagnostics with consumer-facing risk communication. Whether performing an initial short-term screening, a long-term assessment, or post-mitigation clearance testing, the RMP is legally and professionally obligated to issue a written report containing all mandatory protocol elements within a reasonable timeframe (typically within 48 to 72 hours of test completion).

Mandatory Client and Property Identification

Every measurement report must begin with unambiguous identification parameters. Generic descriptions such as "Smith Residence" or "Basement Test" are strictly non-compliant.

1. Client Information: Full legal name, primary contact phone number, and mailing address of the individual or entity contracting the test (e.g., homebuyer, seller, property owner, or real estate agent).
2. Property Tested: The complete physical street address of the structure tested, including street number, street name, unit/suite number (if applicable), city, state, and ZIP code. If the property lacks a postal address (such as new construction), parcel identification numbers and GPS coordinates should be recorded.
3. Testing Professional Information: Full name of the certified Radon Measurement Professional, RMP certification number (e.g., NRPP ID), business name, physical business address, phone number, and official email. If an uncertified field technician deployed the devices under RMP supervision, the field technician's name and supervisor's credentials must both be listed.

Precise Test Location and Building Description

The location of measurement devices profoundly influences result interpretation. Reports must explicitly detail where measurements occurred within the building shell.

• Foundation Type: Specification of all foundation types present in the building (e.g., full basement, slab-on-grade, vented crawlspace, unvented crawlspace, or earth-floored cellar).
• Exact Test Location: Room identification (e.g., "Northwest corner of unfinished basement," "Bedroom 2 on lowest lived-in level"), floor level (e.g., basement, 1st floor), and height above the floor (minimum 20 inches / 50 cm).
• Building Occupancy & Use: Clarification of whether the test area represents the lowest occupied level or the lowest level suitable for occupancy, as mandated by MAH-2023 testing criteria.

Device and Laboratory Specifications

To ensure measurement integrity and metrological traceability, the report must detail the hardware and analytical facilities utilized.

• Device Parameters: Device type (e.g., Continuous Radon Monitor [CRM], Electret Ion Chamber [EIC], Activated Charcoal Adsorber [AC], Alpha Track Detector [ATD]), manufacturer name, model designation, and unique serial number(s) for all primary, duplicate, and control detectors deployed.
• Calibration Status: The date of the most recent laboratory cross-test or manufacturer calibration for CRMs and EIC readers, confirming that calibration was valid during the test window.
• Analytical Laboratory: For passive devices requiring external analysis, the report must state the primary laboratory name, laboratory state license/NRPP accreditation number, and batch/lot numbers.

Deployment and Retrieval Timestamps

Radon concentration calculation depends directly on exact time integration. Reports must document:

• Deployment Timestamp: Exact calendar date and clock time (hours and minutes) when the test was initiated.
• Retrieval Timestamp: Exact calendar date and clock time (hours and minutes) when the test was concluded.
• Total Test Duration: Total exposure hours documented to the nearest tenth of an hour (e.g., 48.3 hours). For short-term tests, exposure must meet the minimum 48-hour requirement (or up to 90 days).

Test Results and Data Presentation

Radon concentrations must be reported in standard U.S. units of picocuries per liter (pCi/L), rounded to one decimal place (e.g., 3.8 pCi/L).

• Individual Readings: If duplicate detectors were deployed (as required for quality control in real estate testing), individual readings for both detector A and detector B must be stated alongside their mathematical average.
• CRM Hourly Data: For continuous monitors, reports should present hourly concentration logs, temperature, relative humidity, and pressure barometric trends (or state that detailed logs are available upon request) to identify temporal spikes or tampering.

Protocol Compliance and Closed-Building Disclosures

Short-term tests mandate strict adherence to Closed-Building Conditions (windows and exterior doors kept closed starting 12 hours prior to deployment for 48-hour tests, and throughout the exposure period).

• Compliance Statement: A explicit statement affirming whether closed-building conditions were maintained based on visual inspection, client agreement, or CRM tamper sensors.
• Deviation Notes: Detailed documentation of any known protocol deviations (e.g., severe weather events, open windows, HVAC system operating in fresh-air intake mode, or power outages).

EPA Mandatory Risk Language and Disclosures

MAH-2023 requires that reports incorporate official EPA health risk messaging verbatim or near-verbatim:

"Radon is a known human Class A carcinogen and the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Surgeon General recommend taking action to reduce indoor radon levels in homes with radon concentrations at or above 4.0 pCi/L."

Mandatory vs. Recommended Report Components