--- title: "Radon-Resistant New Construction for York, PA Builders" canonical: "https://radonmitigationyorkpa.net/services/new-construction-radon/" pubDate: "2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z" updatedDate: "2026-10-03T00:18:00.000Z" author: Radon Mitigation York PA description: "RRNC rough-ins for York builders: sub-slab gravel or mat, vapor retarder, sealed openings, vent stack and attic outlet. Free written quote: (717) 356-3035." --- # Radon-Resistant New Construction for York, PA Builders Radon-resistant new construction (RRNC) builds radon control into a house before the slab is poured. For York, PA builders and owner-builders, that means a gas-permeable layer under the slab, a vapor retarder, sealed openings and a vent stack with an attic electrical outlet, so the home can be switched to an active system with a fan if a test comes back high. It costs far less to rough in during construction than to retrofit later. We handle [radon mitigation York PA](/) homeowners and builders count on, with DEP-Certified Installers. Call [(717) 356-3035](tel:+17173563035) any time for a same-day callback and a free written quote on your next build. ## What's included in our RRNC service We work with builders, site supers and homeowners building custom homes. Depending on where your project is, we can handle the whole radon package or just the pieces you need. - **Plan review.** We look at the foundation plan and mark the best stack location, sump location and attic outlet before the trades start. - **Sub-slab gas-permeable layer.** EPA's RRNC guidance calls for about 4 inches of clean, coarse gravel under the slab. Where gravel is not practical, a soil gas collection mat can do the same job. - **Suction point.** A perforated pipe loop or a T-fitting set in the gravel layer, connected to the vent stack. - **Vapor retarder.** Heavy-duty polyethylene sheeting (EPA cites 6 mil) laid over the gravel, with overlapped and taped seams. - **Sealing.** Caulking and sealing of slab cracks, control joints, the slab perimeter and plumbing penetrations. - **Sealed sump lid.** If the home has a sump pit, a gasketed cover so the pit does not become an open radon path. - **Vent stack.** A 3 or 4 inch Schedule 40 PVC pipe from the sub-slab layer up through a conditioned or garage chase and out the roof, labeled at each level. - **Attic electrical rough-in.** A junction box or outlet near the stack in the attic so a fan can be added later without new wiring. - **Post-occupancy test and activation.** After move-in, a radon test. If it reads high, we add the fan and run a clearance test. ## When RRNC makes sense Every new house in York County is a good candidate. York County is in [EPA Radon Zone 1](https://www.epa.gov/radon/epa-map-radon-zones-and-supplemental-information), the highest potential category, and you cannot predict a lot's radon level from the soil before the house is built. RRNC is especially worth it when: - You are building with a basement or slab-on-grade foundation. - The buyer has asked about radon, or the home is being marketed as a healthy or high-performance home. - The project is a spec home that will face a radon test during the buyer's inspection. - You want to avoid a retrofit pipe running up the outside of a brand-new house. For apartments, mixed-use buildings and other larger projects, see our page on [commercial and multifamily radon mitigation](/services/commercial-radon-mitigation/). ## Our process for builders 1. **Call.** Reach us at [(717) 356-3035](tel:+17173563035) any time. We call back the same day. 2. **Plan review and quote.** Send the foundation and floor plans. We mark the stack route and outlet location and give you a free written quote. 3. **Pre-pour visit.** Before the slab is poured, we place or check the gravel or mat, the suction pipe, the vapor retarder and the stack stub. 4. **Framing visit.** We route and label the vent stack through the house, out the roof and to the attic outlet location. 5. **Final sealing.** We seal accessible slab joints, penetrations and the sump lid. 6. **Post-occupancy test.** Once the home is finished and occupied, we test. 7. **Activation if needed.** If the test is 4.0 pCi/L or higher, or the buyer wants it active from day one, we install the fan, manometer and labeling, then run a clearance test. We schedule around your build calendar and coordinate with your plumber, electrician and concrete crew. ## Passive vs. active: your options compared A house with an RRNC rough-in starts as a passive system. The stack relies on natural airflow (warm air rising in the pipe) to pull some soil gas out. Adding a fan makes it active. | Option | What it includes | Typical result | When it fits | |---|---|---|---| | Passive RRNC | Gravel or mat, vapor retarder, sealing, vent stack, attic outlet | Some reduction, varies by house | Every new home as a baseline | | Activated RRNC | Passive rough-in plus fan, manometer and labels | Much larger reduction, similar to a retrofit system | Test at or above 4.0 pCi/L, or buyer preference | | Retrofit after build | New suction hole, pipe and fan added to a finished home | Effective, but more cost and visible pipe | Homes built without RRNC | When a passive stack is in place, adding the fan is usually a quick job. See our [passive radon pipe activation](/services/passive-radon-system-activation/) service for what that involves. ## What affects the price The cost of RRNC depends on the job, and every build is different. Main factors include: - Foundation type and footprint size - Whether gravel is already in your spec or a soil gas mat is needed - Stack route length and whether it runs through a garage or interior chase - Number of site visits needed to match your schedule - Whether you want the system activated at completion EPA notes that building these features in is typically less costly than mitigating the home after construction. Our RRNC pricing is `$935 to $1,320`, and your free written quote sets the real number. For retrofit and activation pricing, see our guide to [radon mitigation cost in York](/radon-mitigation-cost/). ## RRNC in York County: codes, soils and buyers ### Pennsylvania building code Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code (UCC) does not require radon-resistant features statewide, according to the Pennsylvania Housing Research Center at Penn State. Radon controls appear in an appendix to the International Residential Code (Appendix F in earlier editions, Appendix AF in 2021), and appendices only apply where they are adopted. Some Pennsylvania municipalities have adopted the radon appendix by local ordinance. The 2021 UCC, in effect since January 1, 2026, did not adopt Appendix AF statewide. Local rules vary, so ask your York City or York County code office what applies to your build. Even where RRNC is not required, it is a smart build choice in a Zone 1 county. ### Soils and seasons York County's geology produces radon across the county, and levels vary from lot to lot. Winter heating pulls more soil gas into homes through the stack effect, so a test in the cold months often shows the highest numbers. A passive stack also tends to work better in winter, when the temperature difference is greater. ### Buyers and closings In Pennsylvania, sellers must disclose known radon test results on the seller's property disclosure statement. Many buyers order a radon test as part of the home inspection. A house with a labeled RRNC stack and an attic outlet answers that question before it comes up, and gives you a quick fix if a test does read high. Pennsylvania also requires anyone who tests or mitigates radon for others to be certified by PA DEP under the Radon Certification Act and 25 Pa. Code Chapter 240. You can check certification through the [PA DEP Radon Division](https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dep/programs-and-services/radiation-protection/radon-division). ## Why choose us ### DEP-Certified Installers Pennsylvania requires radon mitigators who work for others to be certified by PA DEP, and our installers are too. That matters on new construction because the person who activates the system and runs the clearance test must be certified too. Builders get one certified team from pre-pour through post-occupancy, with our certification number on every quote. ### Built to recognized standards We follow EPA's RRNC guidance and the ANSI/AARST standards for new construction of one and two family homes and townhouses, including the rough-in standard for radon control components. That means correct pipe size, slope, labeling and attic outlet placement, so any certified mitigator can activate the system later without tearing into finished walls. Your buyers get a system that matches what inspectors expect to see. ### A written clearance guarantee When we activate a system we roughed in, you get our written guarantee: if the clearance test is not below 4.0 pCi/L, we keep working at no charge until it is. For builders, that means a clear answer for buyers and no open-ended callback. For homeowners, it means the system does what it should, with a test result on paper to prove it. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is radon-resistant new construction (RRNC)? RRNC is a set of building steps that make a new home resist radon. It includes a gas-permeable layer of gravel or matting under the slab, a plastic vapor retarder, sealed slab openings and a vent stack with an attic electrical outlet so a fan can be added. Read [radon-resistant new construction explained](/radon-guide/radon-resistant-new-construction/). ### Are builders required to install radon systems in Pennsylvania? Not statewide. Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code does not include a statewide radon requirement for new homes, though some municipalities have adopted the IRC radon appendix locally. Code editions and local rules change, so check with your code official. Learn more about [Pennsylvania building code and radon](/radon-guide/pa-building-code-radon-requirements/). ### Should a brand-new house be tested for radon? Yes. New homes can test high, and EPA recommends testing every new home after occupancy, even one built with radon-resistant features. A passive pipe lowers radon in some homes, but it does not guarantee a result below 4.0 pCi/L. Read more on [radon in brand-new homes](/radon-guide/radon-in-new-construction-homes/). ### What should I ask my builder about radon? Ask whether the house will have RRNC features: gravel or a mat under the slab, a vapor retarder and sealed openings. Ask where the vent stack will run, whether there is an attic outlet for a fan, and who pays to activate it. See our [questions to ask your builder about radon](/radon-guide/questions-to-ask-builder-about-radon/). ### When should the fan be added to a new home's system? Add the fan after a post-occupancy radon test shows 4.0 pCi/L or higher. Some buyers choose to activate right away for extra protection. Either way, run a clearance test after the fan goes in to confirm the result. Learn [what a passive radon system is](/radon-guide/what-is-a-passive-radon-system/). ## Build radon control into your next York project Roughing in radon control takes a few hours during construction and saves a retrofit later. Call [(717) 356-3035](tel:+17173563035) any time for a same-day callback, or [send us your plans for a free written quote](/contact/).