Radon monitoring in public buildings: Compliance with the ITACA D.1.5 criterion in Bolzano

¹ Consulente provincia autonoma di Bolzano – Bolzano, BZ
² Università degli Studi G. d’Annunzio Chieti-Pescara, Dipartimento di Ingegneria e Geologia, – Pescara, PE
³ Libero professionista – Varese, VA
⁴ Istituto per l'innovazione e trasparenza degli appalti e la compatibilità ambientale ITACA

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

Radon represents a significant health risk to indoor air quality in buildings located in radon-prone areas. The ITACA Protocol (criterion D.1.5) establishes strategies to control radon migration from soil, setting the maximum level at 200 Bq/m³ as an annual average value. Monitoring is essential to verify compliance with criteria and ensure healthy indoor environments in public buildings. This study presents radon concentration monitoring in public buildings in Bolzano, an area with radon risk predisposition. The objective is to quantify radon levels in ground-floor and basement spaces, evaluate ITACA compliance, and identify the effectiveness of implemented migration control strategies (passive or active depressurization). The methodology includes continuous annual measurements conducted in lower floor areas with higher occupancy factors, according to ITACA guidelines. Preliminary results demonstrate radon concentration variations across monitored buildings and the effectiveness of adopted mitigation systems. The analysis verifies compliance with ITACA standards (200 Bq/m³) and evaluates migration control strategy performance under alpine climatic conditions. The conclusions provide guidance for achieving optimal ITACA levels, emphasizing the importance of continuous monitoring and integrated strategies.