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The Government has recognised the significance of exposures in houses to the natural radioactive gas radon and has over the past decade initiated various campaigns in conjunction with NRPB, BRE and local authorities to mitigate its effects. This article explains the principal features of the programme to reduce radon exposures in existing housing, which is based on encouraging occupiers to measure radon levels in their homes and publicising the availability of cheap and effective remedies. The important role is noted of professional groups such as surveyors in the housing market and detailed descriptions provided of the main methods of reducing radon levels and their suitability for particular buildings. The importance of raising radon awareness amongst professionals is noted and sources of further information are provided including technical reports on remedial measures.

Northamptonshire is classified as a radon affected area, with greater than 1 per cent of houses being above the UK action level of 200Bq/m^–3. New houses, in areas where >10 per cent are above the action level, have to have primary protection of a radon‐proof membrane and secondary measures such as a non‐activated radon sump. New houses, in areas where 3‐10 per cent are above the action level only need the secondary measures. This research calls into question the effectiveness of this strategy. The use of radon potential maps, rather than radon in building maps, would have demonstrated that radon “hot spots”, where a very high percentage of houses are over the action level, can occur on a range of geology. One estate, at Higham Ferrers, had 35 per cent over the action level, even though it had been classified as only requiring secondary measures. The reluctance of occupiers in the UK to instigate monitoring and remediation means that very few will have their house tested for radon and activate the sump, by fitting a fan, if that is required. This paper provides arguments that support the view that it would be more effective to have primary and secondary measures introduced in all new houses in radon affected areas.

The present paper explains the details of a study that was carried out in Egypt. The study involved the participation of 159 construction professionals representing traditional sectors of the construction industry, i.e. clients, consultants, and contractors, in addition to university professors. The Delphi technique was employed to obtain a consensus conclusion on the factors required to improve construction quality in Egypt, together with their relative importance. The respondents generated 16 factors and the relative importance of each factor was determined. For example, the first factor in order of priority was the improvement of the design and planning in the pre‐construction stage, with a relative importance of 16.67%; the third factor was the improvement of the financial level and standard of living of employees, with 9.20%; and the sixteenth and last factor was the encouragement of innovation for simpler and more accurate work methods, with 2.14%. The analysis of the results showed that only five factors represented more than 50% of the total weight of all the factors. Improvement in the aspects of work specified in these factors should make it possible to improve construction quality progressively in Egypt.

This paper describes work undertaken by Building Research Establishment Limited (BRE) for the Building Regulations Division of the UK Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, as part of a study into radon protective measures used in new dwellings. The aim of the study was to establish whether the radon protective measures that are routinely installed in the UK provide long term protection against radon and do not result in any long term building defects. A sample of 73 houses monitored for radon shortly after construction were contacted ten years later to see whether radon levels remain low and check for signs of any construction defects. The results of the study have confirmed that the protective measures continue to provide adequate radon protection, without causing any adverse side effects. This offers confidence that the measures will continue to provide protection over the lifetime of the buildings.

Concern of the deterioration of indoor environmental quality as a result of energy efficient building design strategies is growing. Apprehensions of the effect of airtight, super insulated envelopes, the reduction of infiltration, and the reliance on mechanical systems to provide adequate ventilation (air supply) is promoting emerging new research in this field. The purpose of this paper is to present the results of an indoor air quality (IAQ) and thermal comfort investigation in UK energy efficient homes, through a case study investigation.

The case study dwellings consisted of a row of six new-build homes which utilize mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) systems, are built to an average airtightness of 2m3/m2/hr at 50 Pascal’s, and constructed without a central heating system. Physical IAQ measurements and occupant interviews were conducted during the summer and winter months over a 24-hour period, to gain information on occupant activities, perception of the interior environment, building-related health and building use.

The results suggest inadequate IAQ and perceived thermal comfort, insufficient use of purge ventilation, presence of fungal growth, significant variances in heating patterns, occurrence of sick building syndrome symptoms and issues with the MVHR system.

The findings will provide relevant data on the applicability of airtight, mechanically ventilated homes in a UK climate, with particular reference to IAQ.

IAQ data of this nature is essentially lacking, particularly in the UK context. The findings will aid the development of effective sustainable design strategies that are appropriate to localized climatic conditions and sensitive to the health of building occupants.

Radon is the second largest cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking and is estimated to be responsible for between about 3 and 5 per cent of UK lung cancer deaths. This risk is larger than many about which people frequently show concern and will often act to reduce. Radon can also accumulate in workplaces to levels at which action is required by UK legislation. It is important, therefore, to understand the factors that contribute to these doses, how they can be reduced and to develop effective programmes to reduce excessive exposures. The National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) provides a national point of reference on the risks and measurement of radon, evaluates the effectiveness of remedial programmes and works closely with many other groups to highlight and promote measures that are effective in reducing radon levels.

To highlight the importance of effective post occupancy evaluation (POE) as part of a sustainable approach to workplaces and guide facilities professionals in their choice of POE tools.

A literature review provides an insight into sustainability and an introduction to POE options, with detailed discussion of key factors influencing the effectiveness of POE. A POE case study (at the Eden Project) provides an applied analysis of POE tools, focussing particularly on the usefulness of obtainable data.

POE is shown to be useful in addressing client satisfaction and user needs as part of sustainability assessments. Improvements to the assessment of occupants' experiences are suggested, in consideration of a more holistic approach to POE.

This paper is grounded in UK experience, but the international relevance of the issues could also be explored by readers/further research. Further exploration of novel and holistic methodologies is needed, in order to test the integrated value of the evaluation of environmental data and human perceptions.

This paper will help facilities professionals determine suitable POE approaches for workplaces, as part of an evaluation of available tools.

This paper evaluates a current topic in the property sector and demonstrates the value that facilities professionals can provide in implementing effective POE of workplaces.