Commercial Radon Testing in Harrisburg, PA

Pennsylvania does not have a blanket state mandate requiring all commercial buildings to test for radon. However, PA DEP Chapter 240 requires that any radon testing performed in the state — residential or commercial — must be conducted by a PA DEP Certified tester. Schools, healthcare facilities, and HUD-assisted housing face additional federal guidance. Employers may also face exposure under OSHA’s General Duty Clause if elevated radon is documented and not remediated. We recommend testing any occupied commercial building in EPA Zone 1 counties, which includes most of Central Pennsylvania.

Commercial radon testing follows ANSI/AARST standard MA-MFLB-2023, separate from the residential standard (MAH-2023). Commercial testing requires multi-point device placement based on floor area and HVAC zoning, longer minimum testing durations, and formal written documentation. Consumer charcoal canisters sold in hardware stores are not appropriate for commercial buildings.

Short-term electronic testing typically takes 48–96 hours under closed-building conditions. Long-term testing — preferred for large or complex buildings and required for some regulatory purposes — runs 90 or more days to capture seasonal radon variation. We’ll recommend the right method based on your building and what you plan to do with the results.

The EPA recommends mitigation when radon levels reach or exceed 4.0 pCi/L. In Pennsylvania’s high-radon geology, this threshold is commonly exceeded in below-grade and ground-floor spaces. Enviroquest has a 100% success rate reducing radon below the EPA action level in every building we’ve mitigated.

Yes. While radon enters through the foundation, a building’s HVAC system, stack effect, and internal pressure dynamics can move radon throughout multiple floors. This is why commercial testing requires devices at multiple levels — not just the lowest occupied floor.

If your commercial test results exceed 4.0 pCi/L, Enviroquest provides a detailed mitigation plan and installs a sub-slab depressurization system. We handle testing and mitigation in-house — you won’t be handed off to a subcontractor. Our 7-year warranty covers all commercial mitigation systems with unlimited return visits.

OSHA does not have a specific radon standard for commercial workplaces. However, OSHA’s General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1)) requires employers to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards that may cause serious harm. If radon is a known risk in your region and your building has not been tested, this provision may apply. We recommend consulting legal counsel on your specific liability exposure.

Your written report includes: radon concentrations measured at each test point, a site diagram of device placement, comparison to the EPA 4.0 pCi/L action level, testing dates and duration, the certifying technician’s PA DEP license number, and written remediation recommendations where applicable. Reports meet the documentation standard expected by property managers, real estate attorneys, insurers, and regulators.