PRELIMINARY

SUBJECT TO CHANGE

User Manual

USER MANUAL
Safety Warning

Opening the cover of this instrument is likely to expose dangerous voltages.

Disconnect the instrument from all voltage sources while it is being opened. Due to
battery power, the instrument may still be dangerous.
Using this instrument in a manner not specified by the manufacturer may impair the
protection provided by the instrument.

Service Records

It is recommended that the RAD8 be returned to Durridge Company annually for recalibration.

Date: Service:

Owner: ________________________________ Serial #: _________________

Shipping and Contact Information

Durridge U.S. Office 900 Technology Park Drive

Billerica, MA 01821 USA
Phone: (978)-667-9556
Fax: (978)-667-9557
Durridge UK Office Sheffield Technology Park
Cooper Buildings, Arundel Street
Sheffield S1 2NS, UK
Phone: +44 (0)114 221 2003
Email [email protected]
Web http://durridge.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Safety Warning 2
Service Records 2
Shipping and Contact Information 2

INTRODUCTION 8
1 GETTING STARTED: YOUR FIRST DAY WITH THE RAD8 9
1.1 Unpacking 9
1.2 General Safety Instructions 10
1.2.1 Air Travel 11
1.3 Taking a Look 11
1.4 Starting a Two-Day Test 12
1.4.1 Connecting the RAD8 Hardware 12
1.4.2 Setting Up the RAD8 13
1.4.3 Purging the RAD8 14
1.4.4 Starting the 2-Day Test 14
1.4.5 Completing the Test 15
1.5 Starting a Sniff Test 16

2 BASICS OF RAD8 OPERATION 18

2.1 Input Controls 18
2.2 Main Menu Organization 19
2.3 Starting a Radon Test 20
2.3.1 Overview 20
2.3.2 Setting the testing protocol 20
2.3.3 Configuring individual test parameters 20
2.3.4 Test Parameters 22
2.3.5 Analysis Modes 22
2.3.6 Pump Modes 23
2.3.7 Stopping a test 23
2.3.8 Purging the RAD8 24
2.4 Monitoring the Test Status 25
2.5 Browsing Stored Radon Data 27
2.5.1 Viewing Stored Data 27
2.6 Configuring System Settings 28
2.6.1 Measurement Unit Settings 28
2.6.2 Clock Settings 29
2.6.3 Audio Settings 30
2.6.4 Printing Settings 30
2.6.5 Display Settings 33
2.6.6 Locking and unlocking the RAD8 33
2.6.7 Graph View Settings 34

Table of Contents 3
 2.6.8 Spectrum View Settings 34
2.6.9 Managing Custom Test Protocols 34
2.6.10 Managing Storage Space 34
2.6.11 Wi-Fi Settings 34
2.6.12 Capture Cloud Settings 34
2.6.13 Firmware Update Settings 35
2.7 Viewing RAD8 Device Information 35

3 COMPUTER CONNECTIVITY 36
3.1 Computer Connection Basics 36
3.1.1 Connecting the RAD8 to a Computer via USB 36
3.2 Capture Software 37
3.2.1 Introduction to Capture 37
3.2.2 Capture Installation 37
3.2.3 Feature Summary 38
3.2.4 Downloading RAD8 Data 38
3.2.5 Graphing and Analysis 38
3.2.6 Real-Time RAD8 Monitoring 38
3.2.7 Capture Cloud 39

4 BASICS OF RAD8 TECHNOLOGY: HOW IT WORKS 40

4.1 Radon and Thoron Decay Chains 40
4.1.1 Radon-222 (Radon) 42
4.1.2 Radon-220 (Thoron) 42
4.2 Continuous Monitors 43
4.3 Radon Sni ers 44
4.4 Working Level 44
4.5 RAD8 Solid-State Detector 45
4.5.1 RAD8 Calibration and Data Correction 45
4.6 RAD8 Spectrum 46
4.7 Windows 47
4.8 Isotope Equilibrium 47
4.9 Analysis Modes: Rapid, Precise, and Automatic 49
4.10 Background 50
4.10.1 Short-lived Radon and Thoron Progeny 50
4.10.2 Adsorbed Radon Gas 50
4.10.3 Intrinsic Background 51
4.10.4 Long-lived Radon Daughters 51
4.10.5 Contamination by Radon, or Thoron, Producing Solids 51
4.10.6 Other Alpha Emitters 51
4.10.7 Beta and Gamma Emitters 51
4.11 Precision and Accuracy 52
4.11.1 Dry operation 52
4.11.2 Humidity Correction 53

Table of Contents 4
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 4.11.3 Concentration Uncertainties 53
4.12 Spectrum Examples 54
4.12.1 Operational Radon Spectra 54
4.12.2 Thoron Spectra 55
4.12.3 Combination Spectra 56
4.12.4 Pathological Spectra 58

5 USING THE RAD8: MEASURING RADON AND THORON IN AIR 60

5.1 Introduction 60
5.2 Continuous Monitoring 60
5.2.1 Preparation 60
5.2.2 Purging 61
5.2.3 Test Location 61
5.2.4 Test Protocol 61
5.2.5 To Print Or Not To Print 63
5.2.6 Running the Test 63
5.2.8 Finishing the Test 63
5.2.9 Examining the Data 64
5.3 Sni ng 64
5.3.1 Why Sni ? 64
5.3.2 Locating Radon Entry Points 64
5.3.3 Preparation 64
5.3.4 Purging 64
5.3.5 Running the Test 65
5.3.6 Drilled Sampling Points 66
5.3.7 Spot Readings 66
5.4 Grab Sampling 67
5.4.1 Applicability 67
5.4.2 Preparation and Protocol 67
5.4.3 Taking the Sample 67
5.4.4 Analysis 67
5.5 Thoron Measurement 68
5.5.1 Thoron and Radon 68
5.5.2 Thoron Measurement Issues 68
5.5.3 Calculation and Interference Correction 69
5.5.4 Avoiding Longer-Lived Decay Products 69
5.5.5 Standard Thoron Setup, Thoron Calibration and Flow Rate 70
5.5.6 Calculating Sample Decay 70
5.5.7 Calculating Internal Measurement Chamber Concentration 70
5.5.8 Measurement Chamber Thoron Sensitivity Calibration 71
5.5.9 Setting up a Thoron Measurement 71
5.5.10 Sni Protocol for Thoron Measurement 72
5.5.11 Thoron Measurements in Standard Pump Mode 73
5.6 Managing Background 73
5.7 Air ow Rate Limits 74

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 5.7.1 Maximum Air ow Rate 74
5.7.2 Minimum Air ow Rate 74
5.8 Harsh and Hazardous Environments 75
5.8.1 Dusty Environment 75
5.8.2 Radiation Hazard 75

6 USING RAD8 ACCESSORIES: TESTING SOIL AND WATER 76

6.1 Introduction 76
6.2 Radon in Water 76
6.2.1 The RAD H2O and Big Bottle Systems 76
6.2.2 The RAD AQUA Accessory 77
6.2.3 The Water Probe Accessory 77
6.3 Soil Gas Sampling 78
6.3.1 Application 78
6.3.2 The Soil Gas Probe Accessory 78
6.3.3 Soil Gas Probe Preparation 78
6.3.4 Running the Test 79
6.3.5 Interpreting the Data 79
6.4 Emission Measurements 79
6.4.1 Application 79
6.4.2 Open-Loop Con guration 79
6.4.3 Closed-Loop Con guration 80
6.4.4 Very Low Emission Rates 80
6.4.5 Bulk Emissions 80
6.4.6 Surface Emission 81
6.5 The DRYSTIK 82

7 MAINTENANCE 83
7.1 Accessories - Usage and Care 83
7.1.1 Desiccant 83
7.1.2 Laboratory Drying Unit 83
7.1.3 Small Drying Tube 84
7.1.4 Cascading Drying Tubes 84
7.1.5 Filters 85
7.1.6 Batteries 86
7.2 RAD8 Operating Ranges 86
7.3 Service and Repair 87
7.3.1 Calibration 87
7.3.2 Repair 87
7.3.3 Shipping 87
7.4 RAD8 Quality Assurance 90
7.4.1 Spectrum 90
7.4.2 Spill Factor (C Window to B Window) 90

8 TROUBLESHOOTING 91

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 8.1 Readings 91
8.1.1 No Counts 91
8.1.2 Excessive Uncertainty In Reading 91
8.2 Relative Humidity High 91
8.3 Water Ingress 92
8.4 Capture RAD8 Detection Failure 93

Appendix 1: THERMAL PRINTER 94

A1.1 Thermal Printer Description 94
A1.1.1 General Printer Information 94
A1.1.2 Printer Features 94
A1.1.3 Power Switch 94
A1.1.4 Indicator LEDs 94
A1.1.5 Push Buttons 95
A1.1.6 Sensors 95
A1.2 Thermal Printer Operation 97
A1.2.1 Precautions 97
A1.2.2 Self-Test 97
A1.2.3 Setup Mode 97
A1.2.4 Using the Printer 99
A1.3 Thermal Printer Maintenance 99
A1.3.1 Battery Installation 99
A1.3.2 Paper Installation 99
A1.3.3 Cleaning the Printer 100
A1.3.4 Cleaning the Print Head 100
A1.4 Thermal Printer Speci cations 101

Appendix 2: RAD8 Speci cations 102

Appendix 3: Glossary of Terms 104

Table of Contents 7
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 INTRODUCTION
e RAD8 is a highly versatile instrument that can form the basis of a comprehensive
radon measurement system. It may be used in many di erent modes for di erent
purposes. is manual adopts a progressive approach, starting with a step-by-step
description of how to get readings for a) real-time monitoring, and b) sni ng. Next
comes a more detailed description of the many features of the instrument and how to
access them. e rest of the manual covers a whole range of topics, in somewhat arbitrary
order. We recommend that, as soon as possible, you read the entire text, just so that you
will have an idea of what there is. While you can start to make good measurements on the
rst day of ownership of the RAD8, it can take months to master the subtleties of radon
and thoron behavior, and to appreciate the full capabilities of the instrument.
We have tried to make the RAD8 manual easy to use, with a useful table of contents.
Please let us know how well we have succeeded. If there are some topics inadequately
covered, please tell us. We will issue updates from time to time.

Introduction 8
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 1 GETTING STARTED: YOUR FIRST DAY WITH THE RAD8
is section will cover unpacking the RAD8, reviewing the package contents, safety
fundamentals, examining the controls and ports on the RAD8 front panel, and setting up
the instrument to perform basic radon tests.

1.1 Unpacking

First make sure you have everything. Take the materials out of the packing boxes and
check that you have all the items shown in the illustrations below, or on the packing list
enclosed with the shipment. If anything is missing, please email Durridge immediately at
[email protected], or call us at (+1) 978-667-9556.

RAD8 Packing List

RAD8 and Case Accessories
• RAD8 electronic radon detector
• 12V adaptor with 4 plugs
• USB-A to Mini-B cable

Drying Tubes and Desiccant

• Laboratory Drying Unit
• Opener tool for drying unit
• 5 lbs desiccant
• 4 Small Drying Tubes

RAD8 Filters
• 5 RAD8 air sample lter assemblies
• 1 Dust lter

Packing List continued on next page.

Section 1 Getting Started 9

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 Vinyl Tubing Set (3ft x 3)
• From Drying Unit to Sample In port
• From air sample to Lab Drying Unit
• From Sample Out port to exhaust
Removable Tubing Bridge
• From Pump Out port to Detector In port
(Comes pre-inserted in correct position)

RAD8 Documentation Bundle

• RAD8 User’s Manual
• Additional documentation
• Durridge Product Information

1.2 General Safety Instructions

e RAD8 measures radon and thoron activity concentration in air. For your own safety
and the proper operation of the RAD8, do not allow liquid to be pulled into the inlet. If
you intend to measure radon in water using one of Durridge’s water-air exchange
accessories, please consider also using the Durridge Water Switch accessory to prevent
water ingress. Although the entire RAD8 enclosure is sealed for water resistance, it is
important to prevent liquids from entering any of the ports on the front panel, because
once inside the RAD8, liquids may damage the RAD8’s detector. e front panel's
electrical connectors are water resistant, but are best protected when they have their
rubber caps inserted or their mating cables installed. Always replace caps when the
connectors are not in use.
If liquid does get into the air sample path, please disconnect the power cord, turn o the
RAD8, and follow the instructions in Section 8.4, Water Ingress. It will be necessary to
return the RAD8 to Durridge for repair.
Do not use your RAD8 if the instrument is damaged or malfunctioning. Please call or
email the Durridge service department to receive instructions on what to do about the
problem.
Replace a frayed or damaged power cord immediately. Electrical equipment may be
hazardous if misused. Do not open or attempt to repair the RAD8. e detector has an
internal high voltage supply that can generate more than 2,500V. e battery module in
the RAD8 contains lithium ion cells. is battery module is not user replaceable. Keep the
RAD8 away from children.

Section 1 Getting Started 10

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 1.2.1 Air Travel
e U.S. Federal Aviation Administration advises that devices containing lithium ion
batteries should be kept in carry-on baggage. If such devices are packed in checked
baggage, they must be turned completely o , protected from accidental activation, and
packed so they are protected from damage. Since the RAD8 contains lithium ion batteries,
it should be in carry-on baggage whenever possible. DURRIDGE IS NOT LIABLE FOR
ANY DAMAGES RESULTING FROM IMPROPER PROCEDURES RELATING TO AIR
TRAVEL. THIS IS ENTIRELY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE USER.
An MSDS sheet, issued by the battery manufacturer, is enclosed with this manual. A copy
of this sheet should be carried and presented to airport security as necessary when
traveling by air with a RAD8.

1.3 Taking a Look

The RAD8 Professional Electronic Radon Detector

Section 1 Getting Started 11

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 1.4 Starting a Two-Day Test

e radon testing guidelines published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

stipulate that home radon tests should be taken for a minimum of 48 hours. e RAD8
can provide dependable results more rapidly, but for the purpose of learning to use the
instrument, we will initiate a standard 48-hour test.

1.4.1 Connecting the RAD8 Hardware

You will need the RAD8 and power cord, the Laboratory Drying Unit (the large tube of
desiccant, with a screw cap at the top), one of the six included air inlet lter assemblies,
and the piece of tubing with a 5/16” ID segment at one end and a ⅛” ID segment at the
other end. A thermal printer may be connected to one of the RAD8’s two USB-A ports
using the included printer cable as described on the next page, but it is optional.
Carefully remove both plastic caps from the Laboratory Drying Unit (you will need them
later, to reseal the unit). Next connect the tubing containing the inlet lter assembly. e
sleeved end of the tubing should be connected to the end of the Laboratory Drying Unit
farthest from the screw cap, and the end with the inlet lter assembly should click in to
the Sample In port on the RAD8. Finally, click the Tubing Bridge into place between the
Pump Out and Detector In ports. e air sampling system is now set up for the
measurement.

Tubing Port Connections Required

The RAD8’s Sample In, Pump Out, Detector In,

and Sample Out ports are sealed off except
when tubes are connected to them. It is
important to insert a tube into each connector
whenever the RAD8 pump is providing air ow,
or else too much pressure will build up inside
the instrument. The end of each tube contains
a connector that clicks into the port.
The Sample In and Sample Out ports can be
opened by clicking standard tubing connectors
into each of them. To open the Pump Out and
Detector In ports, snap the Tubing Bridge
accessory into place. It should span the gap
between the two ports. The Tubing Bridge
accessory comes pre-installed in the correct
position by default.

In the illustration at left, tubes are properly

connected to all four tubing ports, and the
RAD8 is ready for use. Under normal
operating conditions, the RAD8 must be
operated with all four ports populated to
RAD8 Standard Con guration
avoid damaging the instrument.

Section 1 Getting Started 12

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 1.4.2 Setting Up the RAD8
Connect the RAD8 power supply to the DC Power In Port at the top right corner of the
RAD8 front panel, and turn on the RAD8 using the nearby power button. As the
instrument starts up, the touchscreen will display the Main Menu as shown below.
On rst starting up, the RAD8’s clock should be set. e RAD8 can be con gured to set
the date and time automatically when a Wi-Fi connection is available. Using either the
touchscreen controls or the front panel buttons to the right of the display, enter the
System Settings menu and select the Wi-Fi option. Next select the desired wireless
network and enter the Wi-Fi password as necessary. Use the back arrow button at the
top le corner of the screen or the corresponding physical back arrow button to return to
the System Settings menu.
Next choose Date/Time, and specify the Date, Time, and Time Zone, using the and
arrows to increment values as needed. Use the Auto menu to set the clock to the
correct time by default whenever the Wi-Fi connection is available. Note however that the
time zone and daylight savings time must be set manually, even when a Wi-Fi connection
is available. e time zone is set to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) by default. When
nished, use the back arrow to return to the Main Menu.

Main Menu Screen System Settings Screen

Wi-Fi Settings Screen Date/Time Settings Screen

Section 1 Getting Started 13

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 The RAD8’s waterproof front panel buttons include a four-way directional pad for selecting
menu items, a checkmark button for con rming the selection, and a back button for
returning to the previous menu. Any function that can be performed using the controls on the
RAD8’s interactive touchscreen can also be performed using the front panel buttons. The
resistive touchscreen can be operated with a stylus or gloved ngers, but the front panel
buttons may be easier to use with bulky gloves or by feel.

1.4.3 Purging the RAD8

Next the air inside the RAD8 should be purged. is practice removes any radon that may
be le over from an earlier test, to prevent it from in uencing the measurement. Using the
touchscreen controls or the front panel buttons, choose Start Test. e Select
Protocol screen will appear. Choose Purge. Finally, press the Start Purge button.
e RAD8 pump will start. Let the purging operation continue for ve minutes, then press
the Stop Purging button on the touchscreen, or press the button at the center of
the directional pad.

1.4.4 Starting the 2-Day Test

A er ve minutes have passed, use the RAD8 touchscreen or front panel buttons to return
to the rst page of the Start Test menu. en choose Preset Protocols and
select the 2-Day Test protocol. Next press the Run button. e RAD8 will begin

Select Protocol Screen

The Select Protocol screen contains numerous

preset protocols, in addition to a Manual Con g
option at the top of the list, plus a Purge RAD8
command on the third page. The scroll bar is used
to move between pages.
When a protocol is selected its details appear on
the right side of the screen. Use the red button at
the bottom right to con rm the selection.

Test Status Screen showing the Summary Panel

The Test Status screen contains three panels:

Summary, Graph and Spectrum. Use the buttons at
the bottom of the screen to toggle between the
panels.
The Gear button at the bottom right connects to the
Live Test Options screen, which is used to change
test parameters in real time, as explained in Section
2.4.

Section 1 Getting Started 14

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 measuring radon, and the Test Status Screen will display the progress of the measurement,
as shown below.
You are now monitoring the radon level right where you are. Use the buttons at the
bottom of the Test Status Screen to switch between the real-time Summary, Graph, and
Spectrum panels. Every hour, the Graph Panel will be updated, with a new data point
appearing on the graph.

Test Status Screen showing the Graph Panel

The Test Status Graph panel displays a real-time graph of

the RAD8 data that has been recorded during the current
test. For more information, see Section 2.4, Monitoring the
Test Status.

1.4.5 Completing the Test

If you allow the RAD8 to complete the entire 2-Day test, the graph will expand to a total
of 48 data points. ( e stored test data will be saved for later viewing, as described in
Section 2.5.) Additionally, if the RAD8 printer is connected and enabled a test summary
will be printed, containing the average radon concentration for the test, a bar chart of the
individual readings, and a cumulative alpha energy spectrum.
To end the radon test before the 48-hour test is completed, return to the main menu using
the button, and choose Stop Test. e data that has been collected will be stored in
the RAD8 memory, and it will remain available for viewing, printing, or saving to a
computer or to Capture Cloud. ese operations will be covered later in this manual.
You may turn o the RAD8 by pressing the power button on the front panel. A Shut
Down Con rmation screen will appear. Use the touchscreen or front panel buttons to
con rm. Pressing the power button a second time will also shut down the RAD8. If you
shut down the RAD8 while it is still actively measuring radon, the radon test will stop and
the data will be saved to the RAD8’s memory before the instrument turns o .

The terms Test and Cycle appear often in this manual. A RAD8 Test contains all the radon and
thoron data that is recorded between the time the RAD8 starts and when it stops. A Test
consists of multiple Cycles, which are typically between 5 minutes and 2 hours in duration.
Each Cycle produces an individual radon reading which appears as a data point on a graph.
The 2-Day Test described in this section involves recording 48 1-hour Cycles. The Sniff Test
described in the next section has no predetermined length, so it consists of an ongoing
sequence of 5-minute Cycles, ending only when the Test is manually stopped.

Section 1 Getting Started 15

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 1.5 Starting a Sni Test

Sni ng lets you make quick, qualitative surveys of radon and thoron levels. It may be
used to search for radon entry points. ere are some advantages in sni ng for both
thoron and radon at the same time, (see Section 4.13.3), so that is the procedure described
here.
You will need the same equipment as for the 2-day test, above, except that a Small Drying
Tube should be used, instead of the Laboratory Drying Unit. Also, for portability, you may
remove the external power from the RAD8, and run the RAD8 on battery power. If you
have not already done so, set the RAD8 clock, as described above.

RAD8 Sni Con guration

Tubing Port Connections Required: As with the Normal Con guration described in Section
1.4.1, the RAD8 Sniff Con guration shown above requires tubing connections in each of the
RAD8’s four air ports. The Tubing Bridge accessory should snap into place, spanning the gap
between the Pump Out and Detector In ports.

Section 1 Getting Started 16

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 Next perform the following series of steps:
1. Make sure the inlet lter assembly is connected to the tubing. e end of the lter
should be pushed into the the ⅛” inner diameter (ID) segment of tubing.
2. Carefully remove both plastic caps from the Small Drying Tube (you will need them
later, to reseal the Small Drying Tube). Attach the wider 5/16” ID end of the tubing to
one end of the Small Drying Tube.
3. Click the inlet lter assembly into the Sample In port of the RAD8, and click an
exhaust tube into the Sample Out port. e air sampling system is now set up for the
measurement. While testing, you can use the Small Drying Tube as a wand, to collect
your air sample from the location of interest.
4. Plug in the RAD8 and power it on.
5. If the thermal printer accessory is used, set up the printer as described earlier in
Section 1.4.3.
6. Purge the RAD8 for approximately ve minutes, as explained in Section 1.4.4.
7. From the Main Menu, choose Start Test and select the Sniff Test Protocol,
which is found on the third page of the list of Protocols. e RAD8 will begin
operating, sni ng for both radon and thoron.
As the test proceeds, the RAD8 will display thoron readings in addition to radon readings.
Instrument and environmental parameters are shown on the Test Status Summary screen.
If the optional thermal printer is connected, it will print out a reading every ve minutes,
Note that the radon daughter, polonium-218, has a 3-minute half-life. A er moving the
RAD8 to a new location, it will take about 12 minutes for the count rate in Window A to
reach equilibrium with the new radon concentration. So not until a er the third 5-minute
Cycle will the reading indicate the new level. However, the thoron daughter,
polonium-216, has a very short half-life (150 ms), so the response of the RAD8 to thoron
is virtually instantaneous. For thoron, the rst 5-minute Cycle is as good as any other.
oron will only be found very close to radon entry points. at, together with its fast
response, makes thoron sni ng an excellent sleuth for radon entry points. For more
information, see the Sni ng For oron article at https://durridge.com/support/
technical-resources/application-notes/.
As with the two-day test described earlier, the Sni test can be terminated by choosing
Stop Test from the Main Menu.

Unless otherwise stated, all uncertainties in this manual are 2-sigma (k=2) statistical
uncertainties (as distinguished from systematic uncertainties). This is based on a 95%
con dence interval, meaning the true concentration value will fall within the speci ed uncertainty
range 95% of the time. Large uncertainty values may be reported when attempting to measure
low radon concentrations quickly. Sometimes the uncertainty gure may approach or even
Section 1 exceed
Getting the base concentration value, for example “1.6 ±2.3 pCi/L”) This can be avoided
Started 17 by
increasing the Cycle Time to extend the test duration.
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 2 BASICS OF RAD8 OPERATION
is section will explain how to navigate the RAD8’s user interface to perform operations
including starting a radon test, viewing the test status, modifying test settings, con guring
custom test protocols, and changing system settings. For instructions on choosing the
appropriate test protocols and techniques based on particular goals and conditions, please
see Section 5.

2.1 Input Controls

e RAD8 user interface consists of the touchscreen and the accompanying physical front
panel buttons, which may be used interchangeably with the touchscreen controls. e
front panel buttons include a directional pad with four arrows plus a central
checkmark button and a back button .

When navigating menus, the button is used to choose the selected menu item. To
return to the previous menu, press the button at the top le corner of the touchscreen,
or press the corresponding physical button. When you return all the way to the top
level Main Menu, the button is replaced with a lock icon , which leads to the Lock
Screen, securing the RAD8 with an optional passcode.

RAD8 Input Control Functionality

Section 2 Basics of RAD8 Operation 18

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 2.2 Main Menu Organization

e ve buttons on the Main Menu screen lead to submenus used for starting a test,
monitoring the current test status, browsing stored radon data, con guring system
settings, and viewing information about the RAD8. ese options will be explored in this
section.

RAD8 Main Menu Options

Start Test

Test Status

The colors of the buttons on the

RAD8 touchscreen indicate their Browse Radon Data
function.
Red buttons always connect to
another screen. For example the red
Start Test button advances to the
Select Test Protocol Screen. A red
button can be triggered simply by
touching it, or by selecting it with the System Settings
Directional Pad and pressing the
button on the front panel.
Gray buttons do not connect to
another screen. They are used to
increment or decrement adjustable
values, such as a time duration or a
cycle count. They are also used for
scroll bar arrows that let you browse About This RAD8
through lists, and to toggle between
panels within a screen, as seen on
the Test Status screen, which
consists of three selectable panels.

Section 2 Basics of RAD8 Operation 19

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 2.3 Starting a Radon Test

2.3.1 Overview
A RAD8 Test includes a particular number of Cycles, each of a speci c duration, plus a
speci ed air pumping behavior, as well as several other testing parameters. e test may
use a preset collection of these parameters, called a Protocol, or it may use a series of
manually speci ed parameters. A collection of commonly used testing Protocols is built
into the RAD8, and it is also possible to add custom User Protocols. is section will
explain how to start a Test by choosing an existing Protocol, and by specifying a series of
individual parameters.
To begin, go to the Main Menu and choose Start Test. e Select Test Protocol
screen will appear.

2.3.2 Setting the testing protocol

e Select Test Protocol screen o ers several options, including a list of Preset Protocols as
shown on the rolling page. Select Preset Protocols, and use the scroll bar to navigate up
and down through the pages, and choose the desired Protocol. e table below shows the
parameters of each built-in Protocol. e meaning of each parameter is explained in
Section 2.3.4, Test Parameters.

Table 2.3.2 Built-In RAD8 Testing Protocols

Protocol Cycle Cycle Total Test Pump Pre-Test Pre-Test Analysis Sample Thoron
Name Count Time Duration Mode Purge Delay Mode Source Display
Sniff — 5 min. Inde nite On — — Rapid Standard Visible
1-Day 48 30 min. 24 hrs. Standard — — Auto 2 Standard Visible
2-Day 48 1 hr. 48 hrs. Standard — — Auto 2 Standard Visible
Continuous — 2 hrs. Inde nite Standard — — Auto 2 Standard Visible
Grab 4 5 min. 20 min. Off 1 5 min. 5 min. Rapid Standard Hidden
H2O 40 ml 4 5 min. 20 min. Off 1 5 min. 5 min. Rapid 3 H2O 40 ml Hidden
H2O 250 ml 4 5 min. 20 min. Off 1 10 min. 5 min. Rapid 3 H2O 250 ml Hidden

1 The pump switches from On to Off after the pre-test purge is complete.
2 The Analysis Mode switches from Rapid to Precise after 3 hours.
3 The sensitivity is scaled with respect to the water volume and the air-water partition coef cient.

Once a protocol has been selected, the RAD8 will begin the radon test, and the Test Status
Screen will appear. is screen consists of multiple status panels, and it will be explained
in detail in Section 2.4, Monitoring the Test Status.

2.3.3 Con guring individual test parameters

If none of the RAD8’s built-in testing protocols are suitable for a particular radon test,
choose the Manual Con g option in the Select Protocol menu. is will allow you to set
each test parameter, including the Cycle Count, Cycle Time, Pump Mode, Pre-Test Purge

Section 2 Basics of RAD8 Operation 20

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 duration, and more. Note that the list of parameters extends onto a second menu page.
Each of these parameters is explained below.
To save a custom protocol consisting of a particular combination of test parameters,
choose the User Protocols option from the Select Protocol menu.

Preset Protocols Screen

To run a built-in Protocol, choose the Preset Protocols option

from the Test Protocol menu. The available choices will
appear in a multi-page list. Use the Run button to begin a
test with the selected Protocol.

Manual Con g Screen

If none of the built-in Protocols contain the desired

combination of test parameters, choose Manual Con g from
the Test Protocol menu. This makes it possible to individually
specify each test parameter.

User Protocols Screen

Custom Protocols consisting of user-speci ed parameters

may be edited and run using the User Protocols menu.

Section 2 Basics of RAD8 Operation 21

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 2.3.4 Test Parameters
Pre-Test Purge Duration: The duration of pump activity before the RAD8 begins recording
the rst Cycle in the test. The pre-test purge clears the RAD8 of any residual radon and
airborne daughter particles that may be left over from an earlier test.
Cycle Time: The duration of each Cycle in the test. A Cycle is represented by one data
point on a graph. Longer Cycle Times yield lower statistical uncertainty for each data point,
but causes the data points to be spaced out further on the graph, which is not suitable
when the radon concentration uctuates rapidly.
Cycle Count: The number of Cycles in the test. This can be set to a nite number, or the
Test may be allowed to continue inde nitely until it is manually concluded. The duration of
the test is equal to the Cycle Time multiplied by the Cycle Count.
Analysis Mode: The RAD8 operates in one of several Analysis Modes, including Rapid,
Precise, and Automatic, plus additional modes facilitating the measurement of radon in
water. These modes are explained further in Section 2.3.5.
Pump Mode: The RAD8 pump can be set to either On, Off, or Standard. The pump modes
are explained below, in Section 2.3.6.
Thoron Reporting: The RAD8 measures thoron as well as radon. Note that this typically
requires the Standard Thoron Setup, as described in Section 5.5.9.

2.3.5 Analysis Modes

e RAD8 Analysis Mode is a key attribute of the testing protocol, determining which of
the RAD8’s alpha energy spectrum channels inform the calculation of the reported radon
activity concentration. When measuring radon in water, the Analysis Mode additionally
determines which sensitivity factor is applied with respect to the known water sample
volume and air-water partition coe cient. e available Analysis Modes include Rapid,
Precise, and Auto, plus radon-in-water modes for use with particular water sample sizes.

Rapid Analysis Mode: This mode is used when you want to follow rapid changes of radon
concentration. In Rapid Analysis Mode, the RAD8 achieves rapid response to changing
radon levels by focusing on the 3-minute polonium-218 alpha peak in the A Window,
calculating the radon concentration on the basis of this peak alone.
Precise Analysis Mode: This mode is used to achieve higher statistical precision by
summing counts in both the A and C Window alpha peaks. These peaks are generated by
the alpha decays of the short-lived radon progeny polonium-218 and polonium-214,
respectively.
Automatic Analysis Mode: This mode automatically switches from Rapid Analysis Mode to
Precise Analysis mode after three hours of continuous measurement. The earliest part of the
test will have the bene t of the Rapid Analysis Mode's quick response, while the latter parts
of the test will bene t from the Precise Analysis Mode’s superior statistical precision.
RAD H2O modes: There are two RAD H2O modes, which are used for measuring the radon
concentrations in speci c water sample sizes of 40 mL and 250 mL. These modes require
the Durridge RAD H2O water accessory kit, which aerates the water sample, bringing its
radon into equilibrium with a closed air loop, which the RAD8 samples. Since the amount of
radon that can enter the air loop depends on the water-to-air volume ratio, each sample size
calls for a particular sensitivity scale factor when calculating radon-in-water concentrations.

Section 2 Basics of RAD8 Operation 22

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 It is recommended that Automatic Analysis Mode be used for all screening tests and any
tests to measure the average radon concentration over a period of time. With Automatic
Analysis Mode there is no need to throw away the rst three hours of data, or to calculate
adjustments to correct for disequilibrium. e mean concentration reported in the test
summary should accurately re ect the actual mean. Rapid Analysis Mode should be used
where the goal is to follow, and measure, rapid changes in the radon concentration. e
radon-in-water modes should only be used when measuring bottled water samples with
the aid of the RAD H2O.

2.3.6 Pump Modes

e RAD8’s air pump can operate in three di erent modes: On, O , and Standard.

On Mode: When the RAD8 pump mode is set to On, the pump runs continuously whenever
the RAD8 is actively conducting a radon test. (When a test is not being conducted the
pump will remain off unless the RAD8 has been set to purge.) The preset Protocols dictate
that the pump remain On while snif ng for radon, and while measuring thoron, due to its
short half-life.
Off Mode: When the RAD8 pump is set to Off, the instrument will not actively draw air into
the measurement chamber. The pump may be Off if an external pump is being used, or if
the RAD8 is known to already contain an air sample that was pumped in previously. The
latter scenario applies when using Grab protocol or the radon-in-water protocols.
Standard Mode: When the RAD8 pump is set to Standard, it will switch on and off
according to a predetermined pattern that allows for suf cient sampling of air while
conserving the battery charge and reducing pump wear (two minutes on, three minutes off).

Several of the RAD8’s built-in testing protocols use the Standard pump mode, which is
recommended for routine radon testing. e On mode is used for Rapid Protocol.

2.3.7 Stopping a test

To stop a RAD8 test, go to the Main Menu and choose the Stop Test button. e
RAD8 will prompt you to con rm that you want to stop the test. Note that when an in-
progress test is stopped, the current incomplete Cycle will not be preserved, but all of the
preceding completed Cycles will be saved.

Section 2 Basics of RAD8 Operation 23

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 2.3.8 Purging the RAD8
Purging the RAD8 involves running the device’s pump to clear the sample chamber of
radon gas and airborne short-lived radon progeny as quickly as possible. Outdoor air is
usually adequate for this purpose. Purging should be conducted before recording a test,
and optionally a er a test is complete.
e inlet lter assembly and Laboratory Drying Unit should be connected to the RAD8.
Ten minutes of purging activity is usually su cient for bringing the background down
a er exposure to moderate amounts of radon.
In order to dry out the RAD8 without using up much desiccant, connect the hoses from
the RAD8 to the Laboratory Drying Unit in a closed loop. When the pump runs, the same
air will circulate repeatedly through the desiccant. is procedure will e ciently remove
residual moisture from the RAD8. However this does not introduce any fresh air, and so it
does not signi cantly change the radon level in the instrument.
To begin a purge, go to the Main Menu and choose Start Test, then choose the Purge
RAD8 command. You will be prompted to start the purge, upon which the RAD8 pump
will start, and the touchscreen will display the humidity level. To stop the purge, use the
Stop Purging button.

Purging the RAD8

Purging the RAD8 ushes out and refreshes the air sample
in the measurement chamber. While purging is underway,
the elapsed time and humidity level can be monitored in real
time.

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 2.4 Monitoring the Test Status

To monitor the status of a test that is already in progress, go to the Main Menu and choose
the Test Status button. is brings up the Test Status screen, which consists of three
main panels: the Summary Panel, Graph Panel, and Spectrum Panel. e selection buttons
at the bottom the screen are used to switch between these panels. Use either the on-screen
buttons or the and arrows on the Directional Pad to move between these panels. ese
panels are described on the next page.
e Gear Menu at the bottom right corner of the display connects to the Live Test Options
screen, which is used to change the Cycle Count, Analysis Mode, Pump Mode, and
oron Reporting while the RAD8 test is proceeding. Note that not every RAD8
operating parameter can be changed in the middle of a test.
e Live Test Options screen is also used to adjust the visual parameters of the real-time
graph on the Test Status screen. e graph line visibility options are used to choose
whether the graph displays lines for radon, thoron, temperature, barometric pressure,
and/or relative humidity. It is also possible to specify whether the labels on the graph’s
vertical axis automatically cycle between the scales for each of the visible elements. If
automatic cycling is disabled it is still possible to switch from one scale to the next simply
by tapping the graph image on the touch screen.
Finally, the Live Test Options screen can be used to save the test data to Capture Cloud on
demand. Note that it is also possible to con gure the RAD8 to automatically log data to
Capture Cloud as it is being recorded, as described in Section 2.6.10.
Capture Cloud requires a Wi-Fi internet connection. e Wi-Fi settings can be speci ed
using the System Settings button on the Main Menu. If a connection is not available
during the test, the data can be uploaded to Capture Cloud at a later time.
Although any RAD8 can save data to the cloud, browsing the cloud data requires a
computer with Durridge’s Capture so ware and a Capture Cloud account. For more
details see https://durridge.com/so ware/capture-cloud/.

Section 2 Basics of RAD8 Operation 25

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 Test Status Summary Panel

The Test Status Summary panel displays real-time information about

the Test in progress, including the current radon concentration, the
time remaining in the current Cycle and Test, the current RAD8
Protocol, and the current temperature, humidity, and pump activity.
The right side of the screen summarizes the number of counts and
the counts per minute in each of the spectrum windows for the
current Cycle.

Test Status Graph Panel

The Test Status Graph panel displays a real-time graph of the RAD8
data that has been recorded during the current Test. Radon, thoron,
temperature, and humidity each appear as a separate graph line. The
labels on the vertical axis can be set to automatically change at
regular intervals, revealing the scale used for each graph line. These
parameters, along with the graph time scale, can be set using the
Gear menu.

Test Status Spectrum Panel

The Test Status Spectrum panel displays a histogram revealing the

distribution of alpha decay events across the RAD8’s energy
windows. The peak in Window A represents new radon, B represents
new thoron, C represents old radon, and D represents old thoron.
The RAD8’s Analysis Mode determines which peak(s) inform the
calculation of radon concentrations. A histogram representing the
entire test is displayed by default. Press the and front panel
buttons to view through histograms representing each individual
cycle within the Test.

Live Test Options Screen

The Gear menu activates the Live Test Options screen, which is used
to change the RAD8’s operating parameters while a test is active. It is
also used to adjust the appearance and time range of the real-time
Graph, to print Test and Cycle summaries on demand, and to save
the test data to Capture Cloud.
When nished con guring the settings, press the button to return
to the Test Status screen.

Section 2 Basics of RAD8 Operation 26

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 2.5 Browsing Stored Radon Data

When the RAD8 conducts a radon test, the test data is automatically saved to the
instrument’s local storage, allowing it to be viewed, printed, or exported at any time. ese
operations are covered in this section.

2.5.1 Viewing Stored Data

To view stored data, rst go to the Main Menu and choose Browse Radon Data. e
Browse Radon Data screen will appear, allowing you to view a list of data les from a
speci ed time period. e le side of the screen contains date selector controls for
choosing the desired year and month, and the right side of the screen contains a list of
radon data les from the selected month. If the list contains more than ve items a scroll
bar can be used to move up and down between multiple pages of results.
A er choosing a result from the scrollable list, the Test Details screen will appear. is
screen contains Summary, Graph, and Spectrum panels, which are similar to the panels
seen when monitoring the status of a live test. See Section 2.4 for details on live test
monitoring.

Use the and front panel buttons or use the controls at the bottom of the touchscreen
to move between the panels. When the Spectrum panel is visible, it will show a histogram
of alpha particle energy, representing the entire test content by default. Histograms for
speci c Cycles may also be displayed. Press the front panel button to view the rst
cycle’s histogram. Press it again to view the second cycle’s histogram, and so on. Press the
button to move in the opposite direction through the list of cycles.

To access another data set, press the button to return to the Browse Radon Data screen.

Main Menu Screen Browse Radon Data Screen Test Details Screen

e Gear Menu at the bottom right corner of the screen connects to the Stored Test
Options screen, which is used to adjust the graph and spectrum parameters, print test and
cycle summaries, and save the data to Capture Cloud. ( e RAD8 can also be con gured
to save data to Capture Cloud automatically, using the System Settings menu.)
Graph line visibility options are provided for choosing whether the graph displays lines
for radon, thoron, temperature, and/or humidity. It is also con gured to set the automatic
cycling of the labels on the graph’s vertical axis, so that the axis displays the scales for each
of the visible elements, one at a time.

Section 2 Basics of RAD8 Operation 27

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 e Gear Menu also makes it possible to upload the data le to Capture Cloud, if it was
not automatically uploaded while the RAD8 was performing the test. is option requires
a Wi-Fi internet connection.

2.6 Con guring System Settings

e System Settings button in the Main Menu provides access to numerous settings
a ecting the RAD8’s functionality and visual output. ese are explained below.

2.6.1 Measurement Unit Settings

e RAD8 can report radon and thoron concentrations using either Picocuries per liter
(pCi/L) or Becquerels per cubic meter (Bq/m3). Picocurie is the favored unit of radon
activity in the U.S., while Becquerel is the favored unit in the rest of the world. 1 pCi/L
equals 37 Bq/m3.
Temperatures may be reported using either the Celsius (°C) or Fahrenheit (°F) scale.
Barometric pressure readings may be reported using either millibars (mbar) or inches of
mercury (inHg).
To choose which units are used to display concentrations, temperatures and barometric
pressures, go to the System Settings screen and choose Measurement Units.

System Settings Screen Set Units Screen

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 2.6.2 Clock Settings
An accurate clock setting ensures that each RAD8 data point contains the correct
timestamp. To set the clock, go to the System Settings screen and use the Set Date,
Set Time, and Set Time Zone panels. e RAD8 will remember the speci ed clock
settings when it is powered o , even if the main battery is depleted. erefore it will
typically be necessary to adjust these settings only when daylight savings time starts or
ends, or when the RAD8 is transported to a di erent time zone.
When a Wi-Fi connection is available, the clock may be set automatically using a time
server. However the time zone and daylight savings time options must be set manually.

Set Date Screen Set Time Screen Set Time Zone Screen

Section 2 Basics of RAD8 Operation 29

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 2.6.3 Audio Settings
e RAD8 can produce audible feedback when an alpha particle is detected, when buttons
are pressed, and/or when each test cycle is completed. To con gure these options go to the
System Settings Screen and choose Audio Settings.
If the Detection Sound is turned On, the RAD8 will emit a chirp when a particle is
detected, much like the familiar Geiger counter. But unlike a Geiger counter, the pitch of
the chirp depends on the energy of the alpha particle. A trained ear can distinguish "old"
radon from "new" radon by the sound of the chirps. oron detection events produce the
highest pitch. When sni ng for radon it will be possible to recognize an entry point by
the rapid- re chirping produced by the RAD8.
If the Button Press Sound is On, the RAD8 will play a clicking sound each time a button
press is registered on the touchscreen.
If the End of Cycle Sound is turned On, the RAD8 will play a chime sound each time it
reaches the end of a Cycle.
e Volume control is used to adjust the audio output level. It can be set to any value
between 1 (nearly silent) and 11 (maximum volume).

2.6.4 Printing Settings

When the optional thermal printer is connected to the RAD8, the instrument can print
measurement summaries upon the completion of each Cycle and/or Test. Additionally,
RAD8 device information can be printed when the unit is powered on. To con gure these
options go to the RAD8’s System Settings Screen and choose Printing Settings.

Printing Settings Screen

The Printing Settings Screen contains two pages of options.

It is used to specify whether summaries are printed upon the
completion of each cycle and/or test, and to set the
formatting of cycle summaries. This screen also includes a
button for aborting an in-progress print operation, and for
specifying whether information about the RAD8 is
automatically printed each time the instrument is powered
on. This information can also be printed on-demand.

e Printing Settings Screen contains a set of buttons and checkboxes. If the Cycle
Summaries box is checked, the RAD8 will print measurement information upon the
completion of each Cycle, formatted in accordance with the speci ed Cycle Summary
Type. ere are three Cycle Summary Type options: Basic, Medium, and Advanced. If the
Basic option is selected, Cycle Summaries will be concise. e Medium Summary option
adds information on the distribution of particle detections between the four main
windows, A, B, C, D, and all the rest, O (for “other”). Each window corresponds to a
particular range of alpha particle energies within the spectrum.

Section 2 Basics of RAD8 Operation 30

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 e Advanced Summary option includes this additional information as well as a
histogram illustrating the aforementioned distribution, aka the Spectrum. Examples of
each Cycle Summary Type are shown below.

Cycle Summary Types

Basic Cycle Summary

Medium Cycle Summary

Advanced Cycle Summary

In the above sample printout the measured radon concentration is 2.69, and 0.73 is the
two-sigma statistical uncertainty. PCiL indicates that the measurement unit is picocuries
per liter. “Rapid” shows that, for this reading, only the Po-218 decays are being counted.
(A er three hours, the Analysis Mode automatically changes from Rapid to Precise if
using the 1-Day or 2-Day Test Protocol.) e third line of the printout contains the date
and time, while the fourth shows the temperature and humidity inside the RAD8
measurement chamber, and the battery’s state of charge.
If the Test Summaries box is checked, then when a test concludes the RAD8 will print
relevant details pertaining to the entire test. is summary includes an average of the
radon concentrations, the highest value, lowest value, and standard deviation. ese are
followed by a bar chart, showing the variation of radon concentration from cycle to cycle
throughout the test. Finally, it prints a cumulative spectrum, showing the distribution of
energy of all the alpha decays counted during the test. is spectrum is very informative;
it gives a good indication of the condition of the instrument and the quality of the
measurement. It is a useful habit to look at the cumulative spectrum from time to time.
Section 3.12.4 gives some examples of pathological spectra to look out for.

Section 2 Basics of RAD8 Operation 31

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 Note that even if the RAD8 is not con gured to print cycle and test summaries as tests are
being conducted, these summaries can still be printed at a later time, when browsing data
from within the Stored Test Details Screen.
e Printing Settings Screen includes a Print RAD8 Info at Startup button, which causes
the printer to output basic information about the RAD8 each time the instrument is
powered on. is information includes the instrument’s serial number, rmware version,
hardware revision number, and calibration date. is information can also be printed on
demand by pressing the accompanying Print RAD8 Info Now button.
It is good practice to allow the RAD8 to print this information when it starts up, because it
provides a header listing the instrument identity and setup as follows:

RAD8 Info Printout

Section 2 Basics of RAD8 Operation 32

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 2.6.5 Display Settings
e RAD8 touchscreen can be con gured with a speci ed brightness, and a speci ed
delay before the screen turns o to save power. To set these preferences, go to the System
Settings screen and choose Display Settings.

2.6.6 Locking and unlocking the RAD8

To lock the RAD8, go to the Main Menu and press the lock icon , at the top le corner
of the touchscreen. Alternatively press the physical button. e lock screen displays the
date and time, but it does not reveal the current radon concentration or other potentially
sensitive information. If the RAD8 is locked while performing a radon test, the test will
continue in the background, but it will not be possible to monitor the test from the Lock
Screen.
If a passcode has been assigned in the System Settings, it will be necessary to enter the
code to return to the Main Menu and regain access to RAD8 functionality. e passcode is
a multi-digit number that you must remember to avoid losing access to the RAD8. If you
forget the passcode, it will be necessary to contact Durridge. We will provide instructions
to help you regain access to your RAD8.

Lock RAD8 Prompt RAD8 Locked Screen

Section 2 Basics of RAD8 Operation 33

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 2.6.7 Graph View Settings
e RAD8 Graph View can be con gured to display radon and/or thoron, the air sample
temperature, the air sample relative humidity, and the barometric pressure. It is also
possible to set whether the graph’s Y scale labels automatically or manually cycle between
the speci ed elements, and the rate at which the labels cycle. is can occur every 5
seconds, every 10 seconds, or manually. To set these preferences, go to the System Settings
screen and choose Graph View Settings.

2.6.8 Spectrum View Settings

e RAD8 Spectrum View can be con gured to display a histogram for either a single
cycle, or the cumulative data from an entire test. To do this, go to the System Settings
screen and choose Spectrum View Settings.

2.6.9 Managing Custom Test Protocols

To create, delete, rename, or modify a custom test protocol, go to the System Settings
screen and choose Manage Custom Protocols. Each custom protocol contains the
following user-con gurable parameters: Analysis Mode, Cycle Duration, Cycle Count,
Radon Source, Pump Mode, and Pre-Test Purge Duration. When starting a radon test, the
option to run a Custom Protocol is o ered along with the option to run a Preset Protocol
and a Manual Con guration.

2.6.10 Managing Storage Space

If the RAD8’s ample internal storage space ever lls up, it can be restored by deleting data.
Make sure the data has been copied to a computer or to Capture Cloud, then use the
System Settings menu to erase the data stored in the RAD8.

2.6.11 Wi-Fi Settings

e System Settings menu can be used to choose a Wi-Fi network. When the RAD8 is
connected to Wi-Fi, data can be copied to a computer running Capture, and uploaded to
Capture Cloud. e Wi-Fi Settings screen is shown in Section 1.4.2. is screen contains
options for selecting a network, rescanning for available networks, auto-connecting at
startup, and disconnecting.

2.6.12 Capture Cloud Settings

e System Settings menu is also used to enable or disable the automatic saving of RAD8
data to Capture Cloud. When a RAD8 test nishes, the data can be automatically
uploaded to the cloud, and Capture Cloud subscribers who have access to the instrument’s
data will be able to browse the data using the Capture application on Windows and
macOS computers.

Section 2 Basics of RAD8 Operation 34

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 2.6.13 Firmware Update Settings
e System Settings menu is also used to check for any available rmware updates,
whenever a Wi-Fi connection is active. e RAD8’s operating rmware is being
continuously improved with new features for added power and convenience, and
Durridge recommends always installing the latest available updates. e instrument can
be con gured to check for updates automatically at regular intervals.

2.7 Viewing RAD8 Device Information

To view information about the RAD8, go to the Main Menu and choose the About button.
e screen will display the following information:

RAD8 Serial Number: The unique identi cation number for this RAD8.
Model Number: The RAD8 hardware model number.
Firmware version: The version of the rmware on the RAD8. The rmware may be updated
when new versions become available. Update noti cations may appear automatically,
depending on the System Settings.
Date of manufacture: The date on which the RAD8 was rst assembled.
Date last calibrated: The date when the RAD8 was last calibrated by Durridge. It is
recommended that the instrument be recalibrated annually.
Total running time: The total amount of time the RAD8 has spent conducting radon tests,
including time spent with the pump both on and off.
Total pump time: The total amount of time the RAD8 has spent with the pump active,
including pump activity during radon tests and purging.
Most recent test: The date of the most recently recorded radon test that has been saved in
the RAD8’s memory.

About This RAD8 Screen

The About This RAD8 Screen lists important RAD8

information including the serial number, which should be
reported to Durridge when arranging for the the instrument to
be calibrated or repaired.

Section 2 Basics of RAD8 Operation 35

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 3 COMPUTER CONNECTIVITY
3.1 Computer Connection Basics

e RAD8's Wi-Fi and USB connectivity allow you to transfer radon data to your
computer and to Capture Cloud, which is Durridge's cloud-based service for storing,
organizing, sharing, and analyzing radon data. Durridge provides a free so ware
application for Windows and macOS called Capture, which makes it easy to download
radon data from the RAD8, monitor the instrument’s status in real time, browse radon
data sets stored on your computer and on the cloud, graph the data, apply corrections to
account for environmental factors, and export data for analysis in other so ware.
An overview of the Capture so ware is provided in Section 6.2, and the full program
documentation is available at https://durridge.com/documentation/capture_help/. is
information is also accessible from within the Capture, using the Help menu. For
troubleshooting RAD8 detection problems in Capture, please refer to the program
documentation or to Section 8.7, Capture RAD8 Detection Failure, in this manual.

3.1.1 Connecting the RAD8 to a Computer via USB

e RAD8 can be connected to a computer using the included USB-A to USB Mini-B
cable, with the USB-A end of the cable connected to the computer, and the USB-B end
connected to the RAD8’s COM port. It may be necessary to install FTDI driver so ware
on your computer. e driver so ware is widely available online, including at the
Durridge website: https://durridge.com/so ware/so ware-drivers/.
It is recommended that the RAD8 remain plugged into an external power source to
prevent its battery from draining while it is connected to the computer, particularly if the
computer will be used to monitor the RAD8 status for an extended period of time.
Multiple RAD8s can be connected to a computer simultaneously, with each plugged into a
separate USB port. A USB hub can be used to increase the number of available ports.

Connecting the RAD8 to a computer via USB

Section 3 Computer Connectivity 36

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 3.2 Capture Software

3.2.1 Introduction to Capture

Capture simpli es the transfer of data from the RAD8 to a computer. It also provides a
wealth of graphing and data analysis options, plus the ability to export data to other
programs for further review. Additionally, Capture can be used to browse RAD8 data that
has been saved to Capture Cloud, which is a subscription-based service for securely
storing, organizing, and sharing RAD8 data. Capture so ware can be downloaded for
Windows or macOS from https://durridge.com/so ware/capture/.

3.2.2 Capture Installation

Durridge's Capture so ware can be downloaded for Windows or macOS from https://
durridge.com/so ware/capture/. To install Capture on Microso Windows, launch the
installer program and follow the prompts to install the necessary components on your
computer. Once installed, a Capture shortcut will typically appear in the Start Menu and
on the Windows desktop. To install Capture on a macOS computer, open the
downloaded .dmg disk image le and drag the Capture application into the Applications
folder on the hard drive. Capture will provide noti cations when updates are available,
and the so ware will facilitate the downloading of new versions as needed.

Capture Software running on Microsoft Windows

Section 3 Computer Connectivity 37

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 3.2.3 Feature Summary
Capture’s capabilities fall into four main categories: downloading RAD8 data, graphing
and analysis, real-time RAD8 monitoring, and Capture Cloud. An overview of each is
described below.

3.2.4 Downloading RAD8 Data

Capture’s primary function is to download radon data. Once connected to a RAD8, the
program can be instructed to download a particular Test or range of Tests. When a
download operation is complete, the data is saved to a le on the computer using the .rd8
le name extension. e data may also be displayed in a Graph Window.
In addition to being able to download data from RAD8s connected directly to the
computer, Capture can obtain data from RAD8s connected via a local network or the
internet.

3.2.5 Graphing and Analysis

Capture’s Graph Window displays radon, thoron, temperature, and humidity data.
Navigation controls make it possible to select the data points within a speci c date range
and zoom in to the selected region for a closer look.
Accompanying the graph display is a statistics panel showing information about the point
nearest to the cursor and the points within the selected region, as well as the points
comprising the entire data set.
A spectrum display appears in another panel, providing an indication of the changes that
occur within the RAD8 as a Test progresses.
RAD8 Pro les based on device calibration data may be applied to graphs to improve the
accuracy of the data shown. Additionally, calculated radon concentration values may be
corrected with respect to temperature, humidity, and other variables. Any problematic
data records will be examined by Capture’s comprehensive error catching system, and the
error details will be reported to the user.
Capture supports the exporting of both raw RAD8 data and corrected RAD8 data in a
number of formats, for use in spreadsheets and other analysis tools. Summary reports may
also be generated, providing general overviews of the collected data.

3.2.6 Real-Time RAD8 Monitoring

Capture is capable of monitoring multiple local and remote RAD8s simultaneously in a
Chart Recorder, displaying status details and plotting radon concentrations in real time as
they are recorded. A statistics panel is automatically refreshed as new data arrives at
regular intervals.
In addition to being able to track the state of each connected RAD8, it is also possible to
issue menu commands, performing such tasks as starting and stopping tests and setting
the device protocol. Nearly all of the functionality available via the RAD8’s physical
controls is also accessible from within Capture’s graphical user interface, eliminating the
need to physically access the instrument when monitoring it from a remote location.

Section 3 Computer Connectivity 38

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 As stated above, it is suggested that users examine the complete Capture documentation,
which is available from within the program’s Help menu. If Capture fails to detect a
connected RAD8, troubleshooting solutions can be found in Section 8.7 in this manual.

3.2.7 Capture Cloud

Capture Cloud is a subscription-based service that o ers secure storage for RAD8 data
les and makes it easy to organize, analyze, and share data with your colleagues. e
RAD8 is capable of automatically uploading its data to Capture Cloud as it is being
recorded, or later at a time speci ed by the user. Data may also be uploaded to Capture
Cloud from within the Capture so ware for Windows and macOS.
When using the Capture desktop so ware, users can browse radon data les generated by
any RAD8s that are owned by the organization(s) to which the user belongs. Search
queries may be issued to locate speci c RAD8 record sets based on criteria such as date
range, organization, device serial number, and custom data tags. Users can be easily added
or deleted by an organization administrator upon request. Additionally, shared data can
be made accessible to authorized Capture Cloud users.
When a RAD8 data le is selected from a list of search results, a preview appears
immediately. e data can then be analyzed and edited using Capture. Any modi cations
made to the data le, such as changes to the device pro le or the speci ed radon
measurement method, can be saved to disk or back to the Capture Cloud server, so that
the data is presented correctly when viewed by any user.
Subscribing to Capture Cloud unlocks premium Capture so ware features including
Event-Driven Actions, which make it possible to con gure Capture to perform speci ed
sequences of actions when particular events occur. For example, send an email
noti cation when the radon concentration gets too high. Or, change a DRYSTIK's
pumping behavior when the humidity level exceeds a speci ed threshold. For more
information on Capture Cloud, including subscription details, instructional videos, and
written documentation, see https://durridge.com/so ware/capture-cloud/.

The Capture Cloud Browser

Durridge’s Capture software for Windows and

macOS offers the Capture Cloud Browser,
which provides access to all of the RAD7 data
les that you and the other members of your
organization have saved to your Capture
Cloud account. It also provides access to any
data les that have been speci cally shared
with you.
The browser consists of controls for
specifying search parameters, a list
containing search results, and a graph
previewing the selected result.

Section 3 Computer Connectivity 39

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 4 BASICS OF RAD8 TECHNOLOGY: HOW IT WORKS
is section deals with a number of fundamental facts concerning radon and thoron, their
measurement in general and their measurement, speci cally, with the RAD8. It is not
necessary to master the underlying physics to become pro cient in the use of the
instrument, but some understanding of what is happening is helpful.

4.1 Radon and Thoron Decay Chains

When the earth was formed, billions of years ago, there were likely many radioactive
elements included in the mix of material that became the earth. ree, of interest, have
survived to this day, namely uranium-235, uranium-238, and thorium-232. Each has a
half-life measured in billions of years, and each stands at the top of a natural radioactive
decay chain.
A radioactive element is unstable. At some indeterminate moment, it will change to
another element, emitting some form of radiation in the process. While it is impossible to
predict exactly when the transformation of an individual atom will take place, we have a
very good measure of the probability of decay, within a given time slot. If we started with a
very large number of atoms of a radioactive element, we know quite precisely how long it
would take before half those atoms had decayed (though we could not identify the
decaying atoms individually, beforehand). is time interval is called the half-life of that
particular element.
A natural radioactive transformation is accompanied by the emission of one or more of
alpha, beta or gamma radiation. An alpha particle is the nucleus of a helium atom. It has
two protons and two neutrons. us an ‘alpha decay’ will reduce the atomic number by
two and reduce the atomic weight by four. A beta particle is an electron, with its negative
charge. us a beta decay will increase the atomic number by one and leave the atomic
weight unchanged. A gamma ray is just a packet of energy, so a gamma decay by itself
would leave both the atomic number and atomic weight unchanged.
A decay chain is a series of distinct transformations. A uranium-235 nucleus goes through
a series of 11 transformations to become stable lead-207. A thorium-232 nucleus goes
through 10 transformations to become stable lead-208. And a uranium-238 nucleus goes
through 14 transformations to become stable lead-206.
All three of these natural decay chains include isotopes of radon. Radon-219, or "actinon",
is a link in the uranium-235 chain. You will probably never encounter actinon in indoor
air, due to its scarcity and short half-life. Radon-220, or "thoron", is part of the
thorium-232 decay chain. You will sometimes encounter thoron in indoor air, particularly
near radon entry points, and, more o en, in soil gas. Radon-222, is the familiar "radon",
and it is part of the uranium-238 decay chain. You will almost always be able to detect
radon-222 in indoor air, outdoor air, and soil gas.
e radon isotope is the rst element, in each of the decay chains, that is not a metal. It is
in fact an inert “noble” gas, so it can escape any chemical compound that its parent
(radium) may have been in, and di use into the air.

Section 4 Basics of RAD8 Technology 40

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 e thoron and radon decay chains below reveal the parts of the thorium-232 and
uranium-238 decay chains that include inert radioactive gasses and their short-lived
progeny.
It may be noted that only alpha decays change the atomic weight, and then only in steps of
four. erefore the atomic weights of all the members of the radon-220, thoron, decay
chain are divisible by four, while none of the radon-222 are.

Radon Decay Chain

Thoron Decay Chain

Section 4 Basics of RAD8 Technology 41

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 4.1.1 Radon-222 (Radon)
Every nucleus of radon-222 eventually decays through the sequence polonium-218,
lead-214, bismuth-214, polonium-214, and lead-210. With each transformation along this
path the nucleus emits characteristic radiations: alpha particles, beta particles, or gamma
rays, or combinations of these. e RAD8 was designed to detect alpha particles only, so
we will emphasize alpha radiation.
Radon-222 is an inert gaseous alpha-emitter that does not stick to or react with any
materials. It has a half-life of 3.82 days. A particular radon nucleus may decay at any time,
but it is most likely to decay between now and 8 days (two half-lives) from now. When the
radon nucleus decays, it releases an alpha particle with 5.49 MeV of energy, and the
nucleus transforms to polonium-218. e polonium nucleus can never go back to radon
again. Polonium atoms are metals and tend to stick to surfaces they come in contact with,
e.g., a dust particle in the air, or a wall, or the inside of your lung!
Polonium-218 nuclei have a short half-life, only 3.05 minutes, which means that most of
them will decay within 6 minutes of their formation. e average polonium-218 nucleus
lives for only 4.40 minutes before it decays (1.443 times the half-life gives the mean life).
Like radon, polonium-218 emits an alpha particle when it decays, but with an energy of
6.00 MeV rather than radon's 5.49 MeV.
When polonium-218 decays, it transforms to lead-214, also a radioactive solid. But
lead-214 has a half-life of 26.8 minutes, and it emits beta radiation rather than alpha
radiation. When lead-214 decays, it becomes bismuth-214, also a radioactive solid and a
beta emitter. Bismuth-214 has a half-life of 19.8 minutes, and transforms to polonium-214
when it decays.
Polonium-214 is a bit di erent. It has a half-life of only 164 microseconds (0.000164
seconds) and it emits a 7.69 MeV alpha particle when it decays. When polonium-214
decays, it becomes lead-210, which has a half-life of 22.3 years. is means that an average
lead-210 nucleus takes 1.443 times 22.3 years, or 32.2 years, to decay. Because of its long
half-life, we usually ignore lead-210 as a factor in radon measurement, though it adversely
a ects the background of some instruments (not the RAD8).
Lead-210 eventually undergoes beta decay to Bismuth-210 which quickly (5 days half-life)
undergoes a further beta decay to polonium-210. Polonium-210 has a half-life of 138 days
and decays with a 5.30 MeV alpha particle to Lead-206, which is e ectively stable. e
5.30 MeV alpha particle from polonium-210 creates unwanted background in most radon
monitors, but not in the RAD8.

4.1.2 Radon-220 (Thoron)

Similarly to radon-222, every radon-220 (thoron) nucleus eventually decays through a
sequence of 5 transformations to Lead-208. e main distinction is the very di erent half
lives involved.
oron has a half-life of only 55.6 seconds. It emits a 6.29 MeV alpha particle and
transforms to polonium-216, which in turn has only a 0.15 second half-life before
emitting a 6.78 MeV alpha particle and transforming to lead-212.
Lead-212 hangs around for a long time, with a half-life of 10.6 hours. It transforms by beta
decay to bismuth-212, which, in turn, has a half-life of 60.6 min.

Section 4 Basics of RAD8 Technology 42

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 Bismuth-212 has a 2:1 split, with two thirds transforming by beta decay to polonium-212
and one third transforming by 6.05 MeV alpha decay to thallium-208. e polonium-212
decays immediately to lead-208, emitting an 8.78 MeV alpha particle in the process, while
the thallium-208, with a half-life of 3 min, undergoes a beta decay to the same destination,
lead-208.

4.2 Continuous Monitors

ere are several types of continuous radon monitors on the market. Nearly all of these
are designed to detect alpha radiation, but not beta or gamma radiation. Why? Because it
is very di cult to build a portable detector of beta or gamma radiation that has both low
background and high sensitivity.
ree types of alpha particle detectors are presently used in electronic radon monitors:
1. Solid state alpha detectors
2. Scintillation cells or "Lucas cells”
3. Ion chambers
Each of these types has advantages and disadvantages relative to the others.
e Durridge RAD8 uses a solid state alpha detector. One important advantage of this
detector is its ruggedness. Another advantage is the ability to electronically determine the
energy of each alpha particle. is makes it possible to tell exactly which isotope
(polonium-218, polonium-214, etc.) produced the radiation, so that you can immediately
distinguish old radon from new radon, radon from thoron, and signal from noise. is
technique, known as alpha spectrometry, is a tremendous advantage in many applications,
including sni ng and grab-sampling. Very few instruments other than the RAD8 are able
to do this.
A distinction should be made between true, real-time continuous monitors, and other
instruments and devices. With a continuous monitor, you are able to observe the variation
of radon level during the period of the measurement. is can sometimes show big swings
in radon concentration and may allow you to infer the presence of processes in uencing
the level. For good data, it is important that there be su cient counts to provide
statistically precise readings. Devices which give just a single, average reading, or whose
precision is inadequate except a er a long measurement time, are not, in this sense,
continuous monitors.
Another important parameter is background. is is the reading given by the instrument
when there is no radon in the air sample. For low level continuous monitoring, it is
necessary that the background be extremely low and stable. Because of the high quality
alpha detector, and unique, real-time spectral analysis, the RAD8 background is
vanishingly small, and is immune to the buildup of lead-210, which plagues other
instruments.

Section 4 Basics of RAD8 Technology 43

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 4.3 Radon Sni ers

Sni ng means taking quick, spot readings. us you can get a rough idea of the radon
level, without waiting for a full, 48-hour, EPA protocol test. e technique is o en used to
locate radon entry points in a building.
Any fast-response, continuous radon monitor, with a pump, can be used for sni ng.
However, there are some factors to consider, one of which is the rate of recovery a er
exposure to high radon levels. When the sni er nds a radon entry point, the whole radon
decay chain builds up inside the instrument, and the various daughters become well
populated. If the sni er now moves to a low level region, it will take many hours for the
lead/bismuth/polonium-214 daughters to decay away. In the RAD8 this doesn’t matter,
because in Rapid analysis mode it looks only at the polonium-218 decays, and ignores the
polonium-214 decays le over from previous sni s. e polonium-218 has a three-minute
half-life, so the RAD8, sni ng for radon, has a 15-minute response time to both sudden
increases and sudden decreases in level.
Unique to the RAD8 is the ability to simultaneously sni for thoron. e thoron daughter,
polonium-216, has a 150 ms half-life, so the instrument response is virtually
instantaneous. e only delay is the time required to pump the air sample into the
measurement chamber, which is about 45 seconds.
Another factor when sni ng with other instruments is the vulnerability to lead-210
buildup. Only with the RAD8 can you continue to sample high levels, without having to
worry about increasing the background.

4.4 Working Level

Radon concentrations are determined by measuring the radioactivity of the radon or by

measuring the radioactivity of radon decay products in equilibrium with the parent
radon. Instruments that measure pre-existing airborne radon decay products are called
"working level" monitors. Working level monitors sample air through a ne lter and then
analyze the lter for radioactivity. e radon progeny are metals and they stick to the
lter, where their subsequent decays are counted by a detector. Radon-222, an inert gas,
passes through the lter, so it is not counted in such an instrument. erefore, a working
level instrument measures the radon progeny concentration (polonium-218, etc.), in the
air, but not the radon gas concentration.
e RAD8, on the other hand, measures radon (and thoron) gas concentration. Pre-
existing airborne radon progeny do not have any e ect on the measurement. In short, the
RAD8 does not measure radon daughter concentrations (working levels), only radon (and
thoron) gas concentrations.

Do not confuse the RAD8's spectrum with that of a working level instrument. The alpha peaks
may appear the same, but the RAD8 is really measuring radon gas, not the working level.

Section 4 Basics of RAD8 Technology 44

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 4.5 RAD8 Solid-State Detector

e RAD8's internal measurement chamber contains a solid-state alpha detector, which

detects the energy of alpha particles from the decay of radon and thoron progeny
produced inside the measurement chamber.. In Rapid Analysis Mode, the RAD8 uses only
the polonium-218 signal to determine radon concentration, and the polonium-216 signal
to determine thoron concentration, ignoring the subsequent and longer-lived radon
daughters. In this way, the RAD8 achieves fast response to changes in radon
concentration, and fast recovery from high concentrations. In Precise Analysis mode, the
polonium-214 counts are also included, increasing the sensitivity at the expense of
response time, which is increased from 15 minutes to 2.5 hours.

4.5.1 RAD8 Calibration and Data Correction

e RAD8 depends on calibration to determine the radon and thoron concentrations it
measures. Built into the RAD8 rmware are four sensitivities:
1. Rapid analysis mode radon sensitivity, counting only polonium-218 for the fastest
response.
2. Precise analysis mode radon sensitivity, counting both polonium-218 and
polonium-214 decays for the highest precision.
3. oron sensitivity for Standard pump mode, counting polonium-216 decays for
thoron.
4. oron sensitivity for ON pump mode, counting polonium-216 decays for thoron
with increased sensitivity to thoron.
In calibration, the RAD8 is exposed to a known concentration of radon (or thoron) and
the count rates are measured. Your radon calibration certi cate gives the two radon
sensitivities.
For thoron calibration (optional), a separate calibration memo gives the calibrated thoron
sensitivities for Standard and ON pump modes. e RAD8 automatically applies the
appropriate sensitivity when calculating the reported thoron activity concentration.
In addition to the bare count rates in the three windows, there are various corrections and
calculations that may be applied to calculate more precise radon and thoron
concentrations. Some of these corrections are made automatically by the RAD8 itself.
Others are optionally applied using Durridge’s Capture so ware, a er the data has been
downloaded onto your computer.

Section 4 Basics of RAD8 Technology 45

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 4.6 RAD8 Spectrum

e RAD8 spectrum is a scale of alpha energies from 0 to 10 MeV. Of particular interest

are the radon and thoron daughters that produce alpha particles in the range of 6 to 9
MeV.
When the radon and thoron daughters inside the RAD8 decay, they emit alpha particles of
characteristic energy.

RAD8 Alpha Energy Spectrum

A combination of di erent alpha emitters appears on the spectrum as a series of di erent

peaks. For example, a combination of equal amounts of polonium-218 and polonium-214
(as would occur in the case of secular equilibrium between radon and its short-lived
progeny) appears as twin alpha peaks. One peak (polonium-218) is centered at 6.00 MeV,
while the other (polonium-214) is centered at 7.69 MeV.
e rst example spectrum, shown in Section 4.12.1, is the characteristic signature of
radon at equilibrium with its alpha emitting progeny. We would expect to see a spectrum
like this a er several hours at a constant radon level.

Section 4 Basics of RAD8 Technology 46

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 4.7 Windows

e RAD8 groups the spectrum's numerous channels into several "windows" or energy
ranges. In summary, Window A covers the energy range of 5.40 to 6.40 MeV, and this
includes the 6.00 MeV alpha particle from polonium-218, representing newly decayed
radon. Likewise, Window B represents new oron. Window C represents “old radon”
which decayed less recently. Similarly, Window D represents old thoron. e Spectrum
view clearly marks Window A, B, C, and D with dotted lines, as shown in the gure in
Section 4.6. e RAD8 also includes Windows E, F, G, and H, which may be collectively
referred to as Window O (for “other").
Here is a more detailed explanation of each window's function:
A. Radon Rapid Analysis Mode counts. e total counts of alpha particles from the 3-
minute, 6.00 MeV, polonium-218 decay.
B. oron 1 Window. e total counts in the region of the 0.15 second, 6.78 MeV decay
of polonium-216. is window lies between Window A and C of the radon groups and
may have some counts from spill-over from the C window (see Section 4.5.1).
C. Radon Precise Analysis Mode (polonium-214) counts. e total counts of the 7.69
MeV alpha particles from the decay of the great-great granddaughter of radon, which
has an e ective half-life of nearly an hour.
D. oron 2 Window. e total counts in the region of the 8.78 MeV decay of
polonium-212, which has a half-life of about 10 hours. Used only in the onboard
correction of the Window A counts for bismuth-212, as shown in Section 4.5.1 c).
O. Composite window for "Others". e RAD8 groups Windows E, F, G, and H together
to form the composite Window O. is window catches all the counts that did not go
into the major Windows A, B, C, and D. If Window O consistently receives more than
30% of the total counts, you should inspect the spectrum for signs of trouble.

4.8 Isotope Equilibrium

Take a RAD8 that is completely clean, with no radon or radon progeny inside. What does
the detector see? Close to nothing. Less than one alpha count per hour, due to trace
amounts of radium in the materials of the instrument's construction. at is the
instrument's intrinsic background. It is ignored by most people as of no consequence.
Intrinsic background adds approximately 0.004 pCi/L to a typical measurement, far below
the (low) radon concentration of outdoor air, which is usually 0.10 to 1.00 pCi/L.
Now introduce some radon into the RAD8. What do you see? At rst, nothing. But within
a few minutes, you begin to get counts in Window A. e RAD8 may produce an audible
chirp with each count. is is polonium-218, a result of the decay of radon-222 within the
RAD8 sample chamber.
For the rst 5 minutes or so, the count rate increases, then begins to approach a steady
level. A er about 10 minutes, the polonium-218 daughter has reached close to
equilibrium with the radon-222 parent. Equilibrium is when the activity of the daughter

Section 4 Basics of RAD8 Technology 47

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 stabilizes, neither increasing or decreasing. At this point, nearly all of the counts land in
Window A, and you see a single peak in the spectrum printout.
But the total count rate is still increasing, albeit more slowly. You begin to see counts
appear in Window C. Just a few, but more and more of them over the course of the next
hour or two. A er 3 hours or so, we achieve full equilibrium, in which the activities of all
the progeny stabilize. Now the spectrum shows the characteristic twin peaks:
polonium-218 in Window A and polonium-214 in Window C. e peaks are of almost
identical size.
Now ush the RAD8 with fresh, radon-free air. e count rate in Window A immediately
begins to drop, just as fast as it rose when you rst put the radon in. Without radon inside
the RAD8, there is no source to replace the polonium-218 that decays. So the
polonium-218 disappears with its characteristic half-life of 3.05 minutes.
A er 3.05 minutes, the count rate in Window A is half of what it was before. A er 6.10
minutes, the count rate is half of that, or one-quarter of what it was before. A er 10
minutes, there are hardly any counts at all in Window A. However this is not the case for
Window C. e spectrum still shows a single strong peak in Window C.
e peak in Window C takes hours to disappear. A er half an hour, the count rate in
Window C has not even halved. Polonium-214 may have a very short half-life, but its
grandparent and parent, lead-214 and bismuth-214, respectively, take longer to decay: one
has a half-life of 26.8 minutes, and the other has a half-life of 19.8 minutes. ese decays
are sequential, prolonging the process.
A er you completely remove the radon, it may be 3 or more hours before the counts really
die down in Window C. We call Window C the "old radon" window, since it represents
counts from radon that was present in the RAD8 an hour or more before.
e e ect of time in Windows B and D is comparable, but much more pronounced. ere
is no delay in the RAD8 to polonium-216, so the count rate in Window B is always in
equilibrium with the thoron gas in the measurement chamber. In contrast, there is a 10-
hour half-life in the decay chain down to polonium-212, so it takes days for Window D to
reach equilibrium. Window D is therefore not used by the RAD8 in the calculation of its
reported thoron activity concentration.

Section 4 Basics of RAD8 Technology 48

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 4.9 Analysis Modes: Rapid, Precise, and Automatic

Rapid Analysis Mode means that the RAD8 calculates the radon concentration from the
data in Window A only. It ignores Window C. Now the instrument responds to changes
almost instantaneously. Hit a "hot spot?" No problem. In Rapid Analysis Mode, you can
purge the sample chamber and, in 10 minutes, you're ready to measure low levels again.
You can move from point to point in minutes, looking for radon entry points in
foundation cracks or test holes.
For continuous monitoring in one location over many hours, Precise Analysis Mode is the
way to go. Precise Analysis Mode means that the RAD8 uses both radon peaks, A and C,
to calculate concentration. With double the count rate, you increase the precision of the
measurement. In indoor environments, the radon concentrations rarely uctuate quickly
enough to justify using Rapid Analysis Mode for continuous monitoring.
e best of both worlds is provided by the default Auto mode. Here, the RAD8 starts a test
in Rapid Analysis Mode, and then, a er three hours, switches automatically to Precise
Analysis Mode. In this way, the rst few cycles give readings without any bias from either
“old” radon progeny le on the detector, or the slow build-up to reach equilibrium in
Window C, while the rest of the readings bene t from the higher precision given by twice
the number of counts in each cycle.
For real-time monitoring, you are always better o to leave the mode in Auto. e RAD8
gets up to speed quickly, and is not in uenced by old measurements. e nal average of
the test is therefore more accurate and more reliable.
Durridge's Capture so ware can read a RAD8 data le and switch between Rapid and
Precise analysis modes at the click of a button.
erefore, if a er looking at data taken in Precise Analysis Mode, there is what appears to
be a rapid change in radon concentration, changing to Rapid Analysis Mode presentation
in Capture will permit another look at the changes with better time resolution.

Section 4 Basics of RAD8 Technology 49

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 4.10 Background

"Background" in a radon detector refers to spurious counts that occur even in the absence
of radon in the sample volume. Background can arise from the properties of the
instrument or its components, other forms of radiation in the instrument's environment,
or contamination of the instrument.
e RAD8's design makes it much less susceptible to background counts than other radon
monitors, but one should still be aware of background in the RAD8 to avoid mistakes. e
following list gives possible sources of background in the RAD8:

4.10.1 Short-lived Radon and Thoron Progeny

ese are by far the most important components to background in the RAD8. Radon and
thoron progeny that normally build up on the RAD8's detector continue to produce alpha
counts for some time a er the radon and thoron gasses have been removed from the
instrument. ese lingering progeny can greatly confuse the result when you try to
measure a low radon sample immediately a er a high radon sample.
Many radon detectors require that you wait for the short-lived progeny to decay away
(about three hours) before counting another sample. With the RAD8 however you can go
from high to low concentrations in a matter of minutes by switching to Rapid Analysis
Mode, since the instrument distinguishes the di erent alpha-emitting progeny by their
alpha energy. e resulting reported radon concentration responds with a 3.05-minute
half-life. us, 10 minutes a er the radon has been removed from the instrument, the
background will have been reduced by more than 90%, and you can count a new sample.
oron progeny are worse behaved than radon progeny. One thoron progeny species,
lead-212, has a half-life of 10.6 hours, which means if you sample large concentrations of
thoron you may have to wait one to two days before using your radon instrument again to
get accurate radon measurements. e RAD8's ability to distinguish daughters by their
alpha energy almost always makes it possible to continue working, unlike other detectors
that lack the RAD8’s sophisticated species discrimination.

4.10.2 Adsorbed Radon Gas

Radon atoms can adsorb on or absorb into internal surfaces of the RAD8, on the inside of
tubing or on desiccant granules. is radon can stay behind a er you purge the
instrument, then desorb (or out-gas) from these surfaces and enter the measurement
chamber volume. is e ect is ordinarily negligible since only a small fraction of the
radon ever becomes adsorbed. But at very high radon concentrations (over 1000 pCi/L),
even a small fraction can be signi cant, and you can expect to see some lingering radon
a er purging the instrument.
e best solution is to purge for 10 minutes every few hours until the count rate goes
down. Even in the worst possible case, the radon must decay with a 3.82 day half-life, so
the background will return to its original (very low) level within, at most, a few weeks.

Section 4 Basics of RAD8 Technology 50

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 4.10.3 Intrinsic Background
Due to very low concentrations of alpha emitting contaminants in the materials of the
RAD8's construction, you can expect to get approximately one count every ve hours
(0.003 cpm) without any radon present. is count rate, corresponding to about 0.004
pCi/L, is low enough to neglect when doing routine indoor radon work. But for very low-
leveled outdoor radon levels, or special clean room applications, this background may be
signi cant. With painstaking technique, and long-term monitoring, it can be measured.
Very low level readings can then be corrected for background, bringing the detection
threshold of the instrument down below 0.004 pCi/L.

4.10.4 Long-lived Radon Daughters

A er many years of use at elevated radon levels, your RAD8's detector will accumulate
lead-210, a radionuclide with a 22-year half-life. ough lead-210 is itself a beta emitter,
one of its daughters is polonium-210, which produces a 5.3 MeV alpha particle. e
RAD8 is able to distinguish this isotope by its energy, and exclude it from all calculations.
Lead-210 buildup does not contribute to background in the RAD8, even a er years of use.

4.10.5 Contamination by Radon, or Thoron, Producing Solids

If radon- or thoron-producing solids, such as radium-226 or thorium-228, become
trapped in inlet hoses or lters, they may emanate radon or thoron gas that will be carried
through the lters and into the instrument. Certain dusty soils may contain enough of
these isotopes to make this scenario possible. Usually, replacing the inlet lter is enough to
remove the contamination. However, if you suspect that a source of radon or thoron has
made its way past the lter and into the RAD8, please call Durridge. We would like to
discuss your experience with you and help you solve your problem.

4.10.6 Other Alpha Emitters

As long as you lter the incoming air stream, there is little or no possibility for
contamination of the instrument with other alpha emitters. Virtually all solids will be
stopped by the inlet lter. e only naturally-occurring alpha-emitting gas other than
radon and thoron is radon-219, or "actinon." Actinon, which has a very short half-life (less
than four seconds), results from the decay of naturally-occurring uranium-235. But since
uranium-235 is so much less abundant than uranium-238 (the ancestor of radon-222), we
do not expect to ever see actinon in signi cant quantities apart from alongside much
larger quantities of radon.

4.10.7 Beta and Gamma Emitters

e RAD8's detector is almost completely insensitive to beta or gamma radiation, so there
will be no interference from beta-emitting gasses or from ambient gamma radiation.
Typical environmental levels of beta and gamma emitters have absolutely no e ect on the
RAD8.

Section 4 Basics of RAD8 Technology 51

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4.11 Precision and Accuracy

4.11.1 Dry operation

"Precision" means exactness of measurement with regard to reliability, consistency and
repeatability. “Accuracy" means exactness of measurement with regard to conformity to a
measurement standard.
As long as the operator follows consistent procedures, counting statistics will dominate
the RAD8's precision. The most important factor in RAD8 accuracy is calibration.
Durridge calibrates all instruments to a set of four "master" instruments with a calibration
precision of 1% or better. The master instruments have been calibrated by way of inter-
comparison with secondary standard radon chambers designed by the U.S. EPA. We
estimate the accuracy of the master instrument to be within 4%, based on inter-
comparison results. We estimate the overall calibration accuracy of your RAD8 to be
better than 5%.
The table on the following page summarizes the precision of the RAD8 according to the
contribution of counting statistics. Counting statistics depend on sensitivity (calibration
factor) and background count rate. The RAD8's intrinsic, or "fixed," background count
rate is so low as to be a negligible contributor to precision, for the range of radon
concentrations covered by the table. The uncertainty values reported by the RAD8 are
estimates of precision based on counting statistics alone, and are two-sigma values, as are
the values in the table below.

1 pCi/L 4 pCi/L 20 pCi/L 100 pCi/L

1 hour 0.29 (29%) 0.14 (14%) 0.06 (6.4%) 0.03 (2.8%)
2 hours 0.20 (20%) 0.10 (10%) 0.05 (4.5%) 0.02 (2.0%)
6 hours 0.12 (12%) 0.06 (5.8%) 0.03 (2.6%) 0.01 (1.2%)
24 hours 0.06 (5.8%) 0.03 (2.9%) 0.01 (1.3%) 0.01 (0.6%)
48 hours 0.04 (4.1%) 0.02 (2.1%) 0.01 (0.9%) 0.004 (0.41%)
72 hours 0.03 (3.4%) 0.02 (1.7%) 0.01 (0.8%) 0.003 (0.034%)

Table: 3.11 Typical RAD8 precision based on counting statistics only.

Precise Analysis Mode with sensitivity 0.820 cpm/(pCi/L). Table values are two-sigma (or 95% confidence
interval) relative uncertainties.

Section 4 Basics of RAD8 Technology 52

 4.11.2 Humidity Correction
Much of the superior functionality of the RAD8 is a result of the high-precision real-time
spectral analysis that it performs. e high resolution of the energy spectrum is obtained
by precipitating the radon daughters, formed by the decay of radon, right onto the active
surface of the alpha detector. e combination of a precipitation process and the physical
attributes of the RAD8 measurement chamber means that humidity inside the
measurement chamber will a ect the sensitivity of the instrument. e e ect is a function
of the absolute humidity.
At normal room temperature and with good desiccant in the air sample path, the
humidity in the measurement chamber at the start of a measurement will quickly be
brought down below 10% RH and will eventually settle below 6%. Should the desiccant
expire and/or should the operating temperature rise well above normal room temperature,
the absolute humidity may become signi cant and a humidity correction may be required
to compensate for the drop in sensitivity.

4.11.3 Concentration Uncertainties

Obtaining accurate readings of low radon concentrations requires long Cycle Times,
because when there are zero or very few counts within a given timeframe, the statistical
uncertainty is proportionately high. Radioactive decays obey Poisson statistics, in which
the standard deviation (one-sigma) is the square root of the count. However, at very low
counts Poisson statistics underestimates the uncertainty. To compensate, the RAD8
de nes sigma as 1 + SQR(N+1), where N is the number of counts. us when there are no
counts, instead of reporting a nonsensical zero uncertainty, the RAD8 reports an
uncertainty value based on a two-sigma, 95% con dence interval, equivalent to ± 4 counts
for a cycle in which zero counts were recorded.
In Precise Analysis Mode, an average count rate of 0.2 cpm (i.e. one count in ve minutes)
would indicate a radon concentration of about 9 Bq/m3. In a ve-minute run, sigma
would be 1 + SQR(N + 1) or 2.4 counts, and the reported two-sigma value would be 4.8
counts. us a er 5 minutes, the uncertainty would be reported as 1 cpm, or ± 45 Bq/m3.
Large uncertainty values are o en the product of the fact that it is impossible to measure
low radon concentrations quickly. Greater certainty can be achieved by increasing the
Cycle Time and/or by averaging multiple Cycles. In Rapid Analysis Mode, polonium-218
(which has a 3.05 min half-life) takes around 12 minutes to reach equilibrium with the
radon concentration in the RAD8 chamber.
Occasionally, a concentration uncertainty greater than the base value may be reported, e.g.
0.00 ± 36.1 Bq/m3. Such values are typical for Cycles containing zero counts. is should
not be taken to suggest that a negative concentration may have occurred. e RAD8 does
not report di erent positive and negative uncertainties, and it is expected that the user
will recognize that the negative uncertainty can never be greater than the base value of the
reading.

Section 4 Basics of RAD8 Technology 53

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4.12 Spectrum Examples

4.12.1 Operational Radon Spectra

A. Radon in full equilibrium

After more than three hours at a constant radon
level. The count rate in Window C is about the same
as in Window A.
A 6.00 MeV Po218
C 7.69 MeV Po214

B. New radon
The RAD8 spectrum after less than one hour of
exposure to radon. The peak in Window C is just
beginning to grow in, but its count rate is still much
less than in Window A.

C. Old radon
The RAD8 spectrum after purging the instrument
with radon-free air for more than 10 minutes,
following exposure to radon.

Section 4 Basics of RAD8 Technology 54

4.12.2 Thoron Spectra

A. New thoron
The RAD8 spectrum while continuously sampling
thoron-laden air

B 6.78 MeV Po216

B. Thoron in equilibrium
The spectrum after continuously sampling thoron-
laden air for more than 12 hours. The count rate in
Window A should be about half the count rate in
Window D
A 6.05 MeV Bi212
B 6.78 MeV Po216
D 8.78 MeV Po212

C. Old thoron
The spectrum after discontinuing a lengthy sampling
of thoron laden air. The thoron peak, B, disappears
immediately. The remaining two peaks decay
together with a 10.6 hour half-life. The count rate in
Window A should be about half the count rate in
Window D.

Section 4 Basics of RAD8 Technology 55

4.12.3 Combination Spectra

Radon and thoron spectra can add together to form combination spectra. Peaks in Window B and/or D
come from thoron, while a peak in Window C comes from radon. The peak in Window A is usually entirely
from radon, but if there is a peak in Window D, then there will a contribution of 0.561 times the D count rate
to the peak in Window A (due to the bismuth-212 branching ratio discussed in Section 4.8).
The RAD8 takes this into account, and always adjusts the Window A count rate to correct for the
bismuth-212 count, before calculating the radon concentration. The spectra below have comparable
amounts of radon and thoron, but you will usually see one of the two much stronger than the other.

A. New radon with new thoron.

Peaks grow in Window A, representing new radon,

and Window B, representing new thoron.

B. Equilibrium radon with new thoron

Peaks grow in Window A and Window C,

representing new radon and old radon, respectively,
plus Window B, representing new thoron.

C. Equilibrium radon with equilibrium thoron.

The count rate in Window A is roughly the rate of
Window C plus half the rate of Window D.
A 6.00 MeV Po218
+6.05 MeV Bi212
B 6.78 MeV Po216
C 7.69 MeV Po214
D 8.78 MeV Po212

Section 4 Basics of RAD8 Technology 56

D. Equilibrium radon with old thoron

The count rate of Window A is roughly the rate of

Window C plus half the rate of Window D.

E. Old radon with old thoron.

The count rate in Window A is no more than about
half the count rate of Window D.

F. New radon with old thoron.

Looks like an old thoron spectrum, but the count
rate of Window A is signi cantly more than half the
count rate of Window D.

G. New thoron with old radon.

Peaks form in Window B, representing new thoron,
plus Window C, representing old radon.

Section 4 Basics of RAD8 Technology 57

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4.12.4 Pathological Spectra
If any of the following occur, and an external cause is not identi ed, the RAD8 may be malfunctioning and it
may be necessary to contact Durridge for service.

A. No counts.
Try a longer counting time. If there is not a single
count in an hour, that is a clear indication of an
instrument malfunction.

B. Few counts.
Normal for low radon levels and short counting
times. Abnormally low counts could be caused by
disruption of the air ow, or by malfunction in the
high voltage circuit.

C. Lead-210/polonium-210.
A persistent peak at 5.3 MeV will develop from
many years of regular use, or from sustained
exposure to very high radon levels. It results from
the buildup of lead-210 on the detector surface.
Lead-210 has a 22 year half-life. It is not a problem
for the RAD8 because the peak is outside Window
A, and thus does not contribute to the background.

D. Wide alpha peaks.

Typically caused by electronic noise in the system.
May be associated with vibration or high operating
temperature.

Section 4 Basics of RAD8 Technology 58

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E. Smeared spectrum.
Alpha peaks cannot be discerned by the eye.
Severe electronic noise.

F. Low energy noise.

Independent of radon or thoron, such electronic
noise may be intermittent or be associated with
vibration.

G. Shifted peaks.
Peaks appear normal, but are shifted in position.
Shows a malfunction of the RAD8, which should be
returned to Durridge for service without delay.

H. Heavy tails on alpha peaks.

The peaks are narrow, but have unusually thick tails.
This may be caused by electronic noise, or by
malfunction of the alpha detector.

Section 4 Basics of RAD8 Technology 59

 5 USING THE RAD8: MEASURING RADON AND THORON IN AIR
5.1 Introduction

e di erent ways of using the RAD8 may be arranged in six categories:

(a) Continuous monitoring of radon in air
(b) Sni ng for radon and/or thoron
(c) Testing air grab samples
(d) Measuring radon in water
(e) Testing soil gas
(f) Measuring radon and thoron emissions from objects and surfaces.
While all six are discussed below, it is primarily categories (a) and (d) that require
standard operating procedures. e other applications tend to be more interactive, and
individuals will develop protocols which work best for them. is section focuses on using
the RAD8 to measure radon and thoron in air, without the use of special hardware
accessories. Section 5 introduces applications involving the optional RAD AQUA, RAD
H2O, and other Durridge accessories.

5.2 Continuous Monitoring

5.2.1 Preparation
e RAD8 battery should be fully charged so that, even if there is a power cut, the test will
be completed. Similarly, there should be more than su cient active (blue) desiccant in the
Laboratory Drying Unit.
For an EPA protocol test, the house should be fully closed from 12 hours before the start
of the test. is means that ALL doors and windows should be shut tight. No air exchange
system, or ventilation fans, may be running.
In winter it is not di cult to satisfy this requirement. Continued operation of the furnace
is permitted. Closed house conditions are usually maintained anyway, to save heating
costs. Doors may be opened momentarily, for access, but should otherwise remain closed
during the test.
In summer it may be impossible to satisfy the requirement, without the residents moving
out for the duration of the test. If doors and windows are le open, it can nullify the test,
except that if there is a radon problem under these conditions, then there will be a greater
problem under closed house conditions.
Air conditioning o en includes some fresh air ventilation, which dilutes the radon. Even if
there is no ventilation, the cold air in the house will want to sink, increasing pressure in
the basement, and thus reducing any ow of soil gas into the house. So air conditioning in
the summer will tend to lower the radon level in the house.

Section 5 Using the RAD8 60

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 5.2.2 Purging
For the RAD8 to be all set to go, ready to start a test, it should be purged for at least ve
minutes beforehand.
Locate a Laboratory Drying Unit and a length of tubing to connect it to the RAD8. e
tubing will have a sleeved end which attaches to the Laboratory Drying Unit. e
narrower end of the tubing contains a lter assembly, and connects to the RAD8’s Sample
In port. Remove the plastic caps from the Laboratory Drying Unit’s tubing ports, and push
the sleeved end of the tubing onto the drying unit port farthest from the screw cap. e
end of the tube with the lter will pop in to the RAD8 Sample In port with an audible
click. Make sure that the pump tubing bridge is in place between the Pump Out and
Detector In ports on the front panel, and that the Sample Out outlet port is populated
(and, hence, open).
Power on the RAD8, and from the Main Menu screen choose Start Test. e Select
Protocol screen will appear. Choose the Purge option. Once purging has begun the
RAD8 pump will start. e Purge screen will display the elapsed time and the current
relative humidity. Leave the unit purging for ve minutes or longer. en choose Stop
Purge.

5.2.3 Test Location

In general, the test should be conducted in the “lowest area in the house that is used, or
could be adapted for use, as a living area”. is would include a full-height basement, but
not a crawl space.
Place the RAD8 near the center of the room, about 3 - 4 feet above the oor. Avoid walls,
vents, replaces, windows, dra , and direct sunlight.
Where possible, connect DC power to the RAD8, to conserve and recharge its battery.
e air intake will be the connector of the Laboratory Drying Unit without any tubing
attached (nearest the end with the screw cap). A tube is connected to this end of the
drying unit, to draw air from another location. Make sure the air intake is at least 30
inches (75 cm) above the oor, and away from the walls.
Once set up in location, let the RAD8 continue to purge as needed until ready to start the
test.

5.2.4 Test Protocol

In any location there is o en a diurnal variation of radon level. It is therefore preferable
that the test period be an exact number of whole days. ( e EPA protocols require an
average taken over at least two days.) e RAD8 o ers preset protocols for 1-Day and 2-
Day tests. e 1-Day Protocol involves 48 30-minute Cycles, and the 2-Day Protocol
involves 48 60-minute Cycles. Each Cycle produces a data point with a particular radon
concentration, making it possible to visualize any uctuations in the radon concentration
over time. e temporal resolution of the data points is the Cycle Time, and it is an
attribute of the selected Protocol, but this setting can be overridden, either before starting
the test, or a er the fact once the data has been imported in Durridge’s Capture so ware.

Section 5 Using the RAD8 61

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 Your Cycle Time and Cycle Count preferences may also be saved in a custom RAD8
protocol. You may, for instance, prefer to conduct 3-day tests, perhaps using 24 cycles,
each 3 hours long. Longer cycles produce more precise results with lower statistical
uncertainty. However, Cycles that are excessively long may mask any patterns of change
caused by diurnal variation or other factors, and long Cycles can also make it hard to
pinpoint the exact time at which a step change in radon concentration occurs.
For a 24-hour or 48-hour test, choose the 1-Day or 2-Day protocol as desired. You may
also con gure the RAD8’s printing settings and audio settings at this time using the
System Settings. See Section 2.6 for details.
For very long term monitoring, use the Continuous Test protocol. is sets the RAD8 to
continue running inde nitely, with 2-hour cycles. e RAD8’s ample onboard storage can
record data for years before lling up, so there is typically no need to clear the memory,
even a er very long tests.
When the Laboratory Drying Unit is used to dry the sampled air, the desiccant will have
to be replaced every 7 to 14 days, depending on the humidity. e RAD8 needs external
power for inde nite operation, but it can continue to record data during a power outage
until the battery is depleted.
For other measurement periods, it will be necessary to set the parameters yourself. e
Cycle Time and the duration of the total measurement may be set using the Manual
Con guration option, which appears at the top of the Select Test Protocol Screen. In
almost every case, for continuous monitoring, the Analysis Mode should be set to
Automatic, and the Pump Mode should be set to Standard.
A er three hours of operation the RAD8 will switch from Rapid Analysis Mode to Precise
Analysis Mode, meaning that the reported radon concentration will begin to account for
the Window C counts. ese counts come from the decay of polonium-214 atoms, which
are themselves the product of radon decays that occurred inside the RAD8 as much as an
hour or more beforehand. erefore in Precise Analysis Mode the RAD8 is averaging the
radon concentration from less than 20 minutes ago (polonium-218) with the radon
concentration from less than three hours ago (polonium-214). Since this causes the
instrument to respond more slowly to changes in radon concentration, extended tests in
Precise Analysis Mode can use Cycle Times of up to two hours without the loss of time
resolution.
Where there is a requirement for a fast response and detailed time resolution, the Cycle
Time may be set as short as 5 minutes, and the Analysis Mode should be set to Rapid,
rather than Automatic. If an unsuitable Analysis Mode is chosen it can be changed later
using Capture so ware. Note however, that when counting only Window A, and only for
short periods, the number of counts per cycle will be signi cantly lower than for longer
cycles in Precise Analysis Mode, and so the individual readings will be more scattered,
exhibiting statistical noise. Finally, if the thermal printer is being used, it will consume
more paper, because a printout is typically completed at the end of each cycle.

Section 5 Using the RAD8 62

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 5.2.5 To Print Or Not To Print
It is not necessary to connect the optional thermal printer during a measurement, because
all data, including the detailed spectra, are recorded to the RAD8’s memory, and this
information remains available for printing or downloading to a computer at any time.
Furthermore, with no printer and the RAD8 controls locked, it is impossible for any
unauthorized snooper to read the radon concentration during the test. On the other hand,
use of a printer gives a convenient and informative hard copy of the results. For routine
continuous monitoring, it is usual to set the Cycle Summary Type to Basic by going to the
System Settings Screen and choosing Printing Settings.
Connect the printer to the RAD8 and switch the printer on. Power the RAD8 o , and then
on again. Information about the RAD8 and its current setup will print out. Data will be
printed at the end of every cycle, and a summary, bar chart and cumulative spectrum will
print at the end of the test.

5.2.6 Running the Test

When everything is con gured, start the radon test. e pump will start running and the
RAD8’s touchscreen will display a real-time summary of the testing progress.
At any time, the RAD8’s status can be viewed. e relative humidity and temperature
parameters are worth observing. Rising relative humidity may indicate that the desiccant
is exhausted, or that there is a leak in the air sample path. e temperature reading gives a
base for future reference, as explained below.

5.2.8 Finishing the Test

Even if no printout has been made at the end of every cycle, it may still be useful to have a
printout at the end of the test. If the RAD8 can be accessed before the test is nished,
simply connect the optional printer to the RAD8 and switch it on. A er the last cycle is
completed, the RAD8 will print the test summary, including the mean value, a bar chart of
all the readings, and a cumulative spectrum. If the instrument cannot be accessed before
the end of the test, the summary can be printed out later.
Switch o the printer and shut down the RAD8. Disconnect the tubing from the desiccant
and replace the plastic caps over the hose connectors. If the caps have been lost, a single
piece of tubing may be attached between the two connectors, forming a sealed loop to
keep the desiccant dry.
Remove the air sample lter assembly from the RAD8. Consider connecting a short piece
of tubing between the Sample In and Sample Out ports. is keeps the internal space of
the instrument sealed and thus dry, while still allowing air ow if or when the pump starts
running. Close the RAD8 enclosure and latch it shut.
When moving the RAD8, treat it with respect. It is rugged, but it is still an electronic
instrument. Avoid hard knocks and very harsh environments.

Section 5 Using the RAD8 63

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 5.2.9 Examining the Data
Data may be examined on the RAD8 touchscreen, during or a er a test. e records may
also be downloaded to a computer and/or saved to Capture Cloud, where they are then
available for creating graphs and tables for printed reports.
On reviewing a set of data, rst check that the relative humidity in the instrument stayed
below around 10% throughout the measurement. If it rose above 10%, it suggests that the
desiccant was either removed, or became depleted. e temperature during the
measurement should remain fairly steady. Sudden changes of temperature in the record
may suggest that the testing conditions changed unexpectedly, as could occur if the testing
environment was ventilated or the RAD8 was moved to a di erent location.

5.3 Sni ng

5.3.1 Why Sni ?

ere are two main reasons for sni ng. One is to obtain a quick, spot reading of radon
concentration, as a simpler substitute for grab sampling, and the other is to locate radon
entry points. For each application, the method will be slightly di erent.

5.3.2 Locating Radon Entry Points

ere is a very good chance that thoron will be present in the soil gas entering a building.
However due to its short half-life, thoron will be detectable only close to the entry points.
erefore if thoron is in the soil gas, it can be considered as a tracer for fresh radon gas.
Sni ng to locate radon entry points may thus involve detecting thoron, to speed and
simplify the process. e same procedure will also give radon concentrations, provided
that the sampling point is kept at one spot for at least 15 minutes.

5.3.3 Preparation
On the Select Test Protocol screen, select the Sni Test Protocol. en go to the System
Settings screen and use the Audio Settings menu to enable the detection event sound. For
detailed instructions on the RAD8 con guration, see Section 1.5. Connect a Small Drying
Tube to the RAD8 using 3 . of tubing. e end of the tube attached to the lter assembly
should be connected to the RAD8’s Sample In port, and the other end should be
connected to the Small Drying Tube.

5.3.4 Purging
While it is always good practice to purge the instrument before using it, there is less
necessity before sni ng. In Sni Protocol the pump runs continuously, so the air sample
will be ushed through every minute or two, and the measurement chamber will quickly
dry out, even if the relative humidity starts above 10%.
To bring the humidity in the instrument down without wasting desiccant, the RAD8
outlet may be connected to the open end of the drying tube, making a closed loop, during
the purge cycle.

Section 5 Using the RAD8 64

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 A er detecting high concentrations of radon and/or thoron, it is good practice to purge
the instrument immediately a er use.

5.3.5 Running the Test

Holding the Small Drying Tube as a wand, start the test. e Summary panel on the Test
Status Screen will appear. e number of counts per minute (cpm) for thoron appears in
the B Window. You may also listen to the beeps, which have a di erent pitch for di erent
windows. oron produces a high-pitched beep.
Floor/wall, wall/wall and split-level seams are common locations for radon entry points.
So are sumps, wells, beam pockets and utility conduits, entering the building from below
ground level. Before starting the sweep it may be useful to sketch a map of the area,
leaving space for writing the thoron reading at each of the likely entry points. While
making this map, the RAD8 can be taking a benchmark radon measurement in the center
of the room. Take at least four 5-minute-cycle readings. Later radon readings, at likely
entry points, can then be compared with this benchmark.
To start the sweep, hold the Small Drying Tube as a wand, with the open end either in, or
as close as possible to, the most likely radon entry point. Keep it there for at least ve
minutes. If the thoron count rate in Window B exceeds approximately 2 cpm, then you
know a) that you were right in your suspicion and are close to a radon entry point, and b)
that thoron is present in the soil gas, so you can concentrate on thoron for the rest of the
survey. Move the wand a foot or so in any direction to see if the Window B cpm changes
appreciably during the next Cycle.
If there are few or no counts in Window B, then either the location is not a radon entry
point, or there is no appreciable thoron in the soil gas. In this case you must keep the
wand in the same position for another 10 minutes, or until the counts in Window A start
to rise rapidly. If a er een minutes there are still only a few counts in Window A, and
the radon concentration, displayed at the end of the third 5-minute cycle, is still very low,
then you can be con dent that the position is not a radon entry point. On the other hand,
a high radon concentration, without thoron, does not necessarily indicate a radon entry
point if the whole basement is high. In either case, you need to note the reading on your
map, and move to another likely point to repeat the process, rst looking for thoron.
If no thoron is found at any time, then the map of radon concentrations will help to
identify entry points. Once thoron has been detected, the whole search is made much
easier. Spend one complete cycle at each suspected radon entry point, observing the
counts in Window B, or listening for the characteristic thoron beeps. You will quickly
determine the location and relative strengths of the radon entry points, from the cpm in
Window B, for the di erent locations. Note that in this procedure you must ignore the
counts in Window A, because they refer to radon that entered the measurement chamber
as much as 10 minutes previous to the observed counts.
Even if thoron is present at some points, there is still a possibility that there may be a
radon entry point showing little or no thoron. is could occur if the path taken by the
soil gas was very long, or the ow was slow. Conduit for a utility service, or a path up a
hidden sha in a wall, could delay the entry of the soil gas by several minutes. Each
minute’s delay halves the concentration of thoron (but not radon).

Section 5 Using the RAD8 65

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 5.3.6 Drilled Sampling Points
Some mitigators drill a number of test holes through the concrete slab, to sni the soil gas
beneath and to test the communication between di erent areas of the slab. ey then
install the suction points of the mitigation system where the sub-slab radon readings are
highest. is approach is complementary to the search for actual radon entry points, as
described above. Both methods are likely to result in a similar, nal con guration of the
mitigation system, though locating the entry points can also indicate where additional
sealing is required.

5.3.7 Spot Readings

A spot reading may be accepted only as a rough indicator of the radon level at any
location. is is not only because a short-term reading is less precise, but also because it
does not average out the uctuations in radon level through a typical day. Quite o en, the
indoor radon concentration tends to be higher in the early morning, a er a cold night,
and lower at the end of a warm day.
Furthermore, the radon concentration typically takes hours to recover from open doors
and windows, so unless the house was closed up tight for many hours beforehand, the
spot-reading radon level will be signi cantly lower than an average taken over several days
in closed house conditions.
For this spot reading the sampling point should be away from walls and oor. oron is
not an issue in this measurement, so the large Laboratory Drying Unit may be used,
instead of a Small Drying Tube. e Cycle Time may be le at ve minutes. At least four
Cycles should be taken, but the rst two should be ignored. Alternatively, increase the
Cycle Time to 10 minutes, or more, and ignore the rst reading.
To measure a radon level of 4 pCi/L with a standard deviation of no more than 10%, the
RAD8 must run for 60 minutes (for example six Cycles of ten minutes).

Section 5 Using the RAD8 66

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 5.4 Grab Sampling

5.4.1 Applicability
e ability of the RAD8 to “grab” a collected sample is useful when it is not possible to
take the RAD8 to the location to be tested, or when the RAD8 is preoccupied with
continuous monitoring and will not be available until later. e Grab functionality is also
useful when many samples must be gathered from di erent rooms of a building within a
short timeframe.
However, if the RAD8 is available and can be taken to the test location, then data quality is
much improved by a) monitoring the radon level over an extended period of time, such as
1-day, or, if that is not a possibility, b) making a short-term measurement such as
described in Section 5.2.10, or else just sni ng for a spot reading, as described above.
Grab samples have the same shortcomings as spot readings. e radon concentration
‘grabbed’ is not necessarily representative of the average level at the sampling location. e
precision of the reading is also limited by the short time for counting.

5.4.2 Preparation and Protocol

It is important that the RAD8 be well dried out prior to accepting the grab sample. First,
purge the unit with fresh, dry air for at least ve minutes. en connect the Laboratory
Drying Unit in a closed loop with the RAD8 so that air from the outlet passes through the
desiccant and back into the inlet. Note that air should always ow out of the bottom end
of the Laboratory Drying Unit. Purge the RAD8 until the reported relative humidity drops
below 8%. Keep the pump running until you are ready to take the grab sample.
On the Main Menu, choose Start Test and select the Grab Test protocol from the list. is
will set up all the measurement parameters correctly.

5.4.3 Taking the Sample

If the RAD8 is at the correct location, simply start the test. Alternatively, samples may be
collected in tedlar air sampling bags. Samples of at least ve liters are required. Any
sampling pump may be used, including the RAD8’s internal pump. Simply remove the
tubing bridge between the ports labeled ‘Pump Out’ and ‘Detector In’ on the front panel,
attach the Tedlar bag to the ‘Pump Out’ port, and attach your sample inlet tubing to the
‘Detector In’ port. ese bagged samples may be re-connected to the RAD8 and analyzed
later. Make sure the Laboratory Drying Unit and sample air lter assembly are in place,
between the sample bag and the RAD8, during the measurement.

5.4.4 Analysis
With the grab sample source connected to the RAD8 sample air inlet, start the test. e
pump will run for ve minutes, ushing the measurement chamber, and then stop. e
RAD8 will wait for ve more minutes, and then count for four 5-minute cycles. e
measurement process takes 30 minutes in total. If the analysis is made more than an hour
a er the sample was taken, a correction must be applied for the decay of radon in the
sample.

Section 5 Using the RAD8 67

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 5.5 Thoron Measurement

5.5.1 Thoron and Radon

oron is an isotope of the element radon having an atomic mass of 220, so it is also
known as radon-220. e word "radon" without a mass number almost always refers to
radon-222. oron and radon have very similar properties. ey are both chemically inert
radioactive gasses that occur naturally from the decay of radioactive elements in soils and
minerals. Both thoron and radon are members of decay chains, or long sequences of
radioactive decay.
While radon results from the decay of natural uranium, thoron results from the decay of
natural thorium. Both uranium and thorium are commonly found in soils and minerals,
sometimes separately, sometimes together. e radioactive gasses radon and thoron that
are produced in these soils and minerals can di use out of the material and travel long
distances before they themselves decay. Both radon and thoron decay into radioactive
decay products, or progeny, of polonium, lead, and bismuth before nally reaching stable
forms as lead. For more information on the radon and thoron decay chains, see Section
4.1.
oron and radon and their respective progeny di er very signi cantly in their half-lives
and in the energies of their radiations. While radon has a half-life of nearly 4 days, thoron
has a half-life of only 55 seconds. Since thoron is so short-lived, it cannot travel as far
from its source as radon can before it decays. It is commonly observed that compared to
that of radon gas, a much smaller fraction of the thoron gas in soil ever reaches the
interior of a building. Even so, thoron can still be a hazard since its progeny include
lead-212 which has a half-life of 10.6 hours, more than long enough to accumulate to
signi cant levels in breathable air.

5.5.2 Thoron Measurement Issues

Many di culties impede the accurate measurement of thoron gas. e presence of radon
gas (o en found together with thoron) can interfere with a measurement. e short half-
life of thoron gas makes some aspects of the measurement easier, but makes sampling
method a critical issue. oron concentration can vary greatly through a space, depending
on the speed and direction of air movement as well as turbulence. e position of the
sample intake can strongly a ect the results.
In many instruments, radon and thoron interfere with each other. Generally speaking, it is
di cult to measure one isotope accurately in the presence of the other. But compared to
other instruments, the RAD8 is much less susceptible to radon-thoron interference due to
its ability to distinguish the isotopes by their unique alpha particle energies. e RAD8
separates radon and thoron signals and counts the two isotopes at the same time with
practically no interference from one to the other.
Some issues of concern in measuring radon do not apply to thoron. e short half-lives of
thoron (55 seconds) and its rst decay product (polonium-216 - 0.15 seconds) mean that
thoron measurements can be made quickly and in rapid succession, since there is little
concern with growth and decay delays. e RAD8 responds virtually instantly to the
presence of thoron; its time constant for response to thoron is less than 1 minute. e
chief limit on the thoron response speed is the RAD8 pump's ability to ll the

Section 5 Using the RAD8 68

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 measurement chamber. e RAD8 clears just as rapidly when you purge the instrument
with thoron-free air. In fact you need not purge the instrument at all between thoron tests,
because thoron's short half-life ensures that it will be gone in a few minutes.
In thoron measurement the sample pump must run in a continuous fashion, at a steady
consistent ow rate. If the ow rate of the sampling pump changes, the RAD8 thoron
result will also change. Flow rate a ects the amount of thoron in the RAD8’s internal
measurement chamber, since a signi cant fraction of the thoron decays in the sample
intake system as well as within the instrument. In most of the RAD8’s built-in analysis
modes, the pump runs for two minutes out of every 5, with only the counts recorded
during the second minute being used in the calculation of the reported thoron
concentration, ensuring that all 5-minute RAD8 ‘Data Slices’ have valid thoron data.
When using Sni Protocol, the pump runs with 100% duty cycle, and counts occurring
during the entirety of each 5-minute Data Slice are used in the thoron calculation.
e RAD8 measures thoron concentration in the air at the point of sample intake. Since
thoron varies from place to place depending on the motion of the air, the instrument
operator may nd it necessary to make measurements in several locations to properly
assess a thoron situation. Fortunately, rapid- re thoron measurements are very easy to do
with the RAD8.

5.5.3 Calculation and Interference Correction

e RAD8 calculates thoron concentration on the basis of the count rate in spectrum
Window B, which is centered on the 6.78 MeV alpha line of polonium-216, the rst decay
product of thoron gas. To further avoid interference from radon, the RAD8 applies a
correction to the thoron count rate to compensate for a tiny percentage of "spillover" from
Window C.
If the spill from Window C to Window B is too great relative to the base amount in
Window B, it becomes impossible to calculate thoron concentrations with su cient
certainty. is situation can be avoided by purging the RAD8 with fresh air and waiting
with the unit turned o for two hours prior to testing for thoron. is provides enough
time for the peak in Window C to decay to one tenth of its original value. e threshold
above which thoron concentration readings can be attributed to thoron with 95%
con dence is called the Minimum oron reshold (MTT). See Section 4.5.1 for more
details.
e RAD8 calculates radon concentration from the count rate in Window A (Sni
Analysis Mode) or Windows A plus C (Normal Analysis Mode). e RAD8 compensates
for interference from the long-lived progeny of thoron (10.6 hours) by applying a
correction to the radon count rate in both Rapid and Precise Analysis Modes. e
correction is based on a xed fraction of the count rate in the D window (around the 8.78
MeV peak of polonium-212) which predicts the amount of thoron progeny activity in the
A window (due to the 6.05 and 6.09 MeV peaks of bismuth-212). e uncertainty gures
that accompany each reading include the e ect of these corrections.

5.5.4 Avoiding Longer-Lived Decay Products

Although the RAD8 corrects for the buildup of the long-lived thoron progeny (10.6 hour),
exposure of the instrument to high levels of thoron for long periods of time can make low

Section 5 Using the RAD8 69

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 level radon measurements somewhat less accurate than would otherwise be possible, due
to the thoron-genic counts in the A window. For that reason, it is best to avoid measuring
high levels of thoron immediately before low levels of radon. However, should such an
exposure occur, the 10.6 hour half-life of the thoron progeny makes for a temporary
inconvenience of a few days at worst, a er which the thoron-genic count rate in the A
window will have recovered to its extremely low intrinsic background level.

5.5.5 Standard Thoron Setup, Thoron Calibration and Flow Rate

As discussed above, thoron's rapid decay causes the intake path and the air ow rate to
become important factors in calibration. e RAD8 factory calibration for thoron is based
on a standard RAD8 inlet lter, a standard 3-foot long, 3/16 inch inner diameter vinyl
hose, and a standard Small Drying Tube, which is about 6 inches in length. Deviation
from this arrangement can change your thoron results. For example, if you were to use a
very long hose for thoron sampling, then the sample might decay signi cantly before it
ever reached the instrument inlet. Additionally, if you were to use a non-recommended
inlet lter, the ow might be restricted enough to greatly lower the result. For more
details, see Section 5.5.9.

5.5.6 Calculating Sample Decay

e thoron concentration at the inlet of the RAD8, C1, can be expressed mathematically
as
C1 = C0 * exp( -L * V1 / q )
where C0 is the original sample concentration, V1 is the volume of the sample tube +
drying tube + lter (around 50 mL), q is the ow rate (around 0.6 L/min), and L is the
decay constant for thoron (.756 /min). A typical value for C1/C0 is then
C1/C0 = exp( -.756 * 50 / 550 ) = 0.934 = 93.4%
is is the number Durridge assumes in the factory calibration. Adding a few extra feet of
hose will not matter much (about 0.7% per foot), but if we were to use a 100 foot hose
instead (in which case V1 becomes around 580 mL) then the same calculation would give
00.451 or 45.1%, a signi cant reduction from 93.4%!

5.5.7 Calculating Internal Measurement Chamber Concentration

e sample decays slightly in going from the RAD8 inlet to the instrument’s internal
measurement chamber, due to internal hose and lter volumes. is decay can be
calculated in a similar fashion to the above, giving the measurement chamber
concentration, C2. Within the RAD8 measurement chamber, the equilibrium thoron
concentration, C3, will be determined by the following formula:
C3 = C2 / ( 1 + L * V2 / q )
where L and q are as above, and V2 is the volume of the measurement chamber (around
500mL). Typical values then give C3/C2 as
C3/C2 = 1/(1+.756 * 500/550) = 0.593 = 59.3%

Section 5 Using the RAD8 70

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 Multiplying this result by the sample decay factors calculated above, we obtain an overall
concentration in the measurement chamber of the original sample.

5.5.8 Measurement Chamber Thoron Sensitivity Calibration

Preliminary investigations have shown that the thoron sensitivity in cpm/(pCi/L) of a
RAD8 running the pump set to ON is equal to 0.32 times its radon Rapid Analysis mode
sensitivity. With the pump mode set to Standard, this factor is 0.15. Presently, we are
programming all new RAD8s according to these empirical results, and claim an
uncalibrated thoron precision of ± 30%.
With calibration against a thoron standard assessed by gamma spectrometry we are able
to state the thoron sensitivity with higher certainty. is thoron calibration is o ered as an
option and for this we claim an overall accuracy of ± 20%. e RAD8 has a typical radon
Sni sensitivity of 0.40 cpm/(pCi/L), so we estimate the typical thoron sensitivity to be
around 0.13 cpm/(pCi/L).

5.5.9 Setting up a Thoron Measurement

For a quantitative measurement of thoron it is necessary to use the Standard oron Setup
and protocol. e Standard oron Setup consists of a Small Drying Tube, used as a wand
for sni ng, with a standard input tubing of 36″ (91.4cm) length and inner diameter (ID)
of 3/16″ (4.8mm); see the diagram on the following page.
e Small Drying Tube should be lled with fresh (blue) desiccant. Always use an inlet
lter, free from ow restrictions or clogs. Avoid obstructing the intake of the sample tube.
For the most accurate results, check the ow rate with a meter (rotameter or " oating ball"
type) to be sure it is consistent from measurement to measurement. Note that the ow rate
a ects the thoron reading, but not the radon reading due to radon’s much longer half-life.
Choose the Sni preset protocol for 5-minute repeating Cycles and continuous pump
operation. Before making a measurement, be sure the instrument has been purged to dry
it out, as described in Section 2.3.8. Position the sample tube intake and start the test.
For accurate thoron measurement, always use this sample taking arrangement.
e polonium-216 daughter of thoron has only a 145 ms half-life, so the main component
in the response time of the RAD8 to a step change in thoron concentration is the time
taken to acquire the sample. e response is virtually instantaneous.
Sni ng for thoron is much the same as sni ng for radon, except it tends to be a little
faster. If you are just "prospecting", you probably will not be very interested in getting the
most accurate results possible, so technique is not critical. But if you are trying to make an
accurate measurement, technique is of great importance.

Section 5 Using the RAD8 71

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 5.5.10 Sni Protocol for Thoron Measurement
e Sni Protocol causes the RAD8 pump to run continuously to assure a fresh sample,
increasing the instrument's e ective thoron sensitivity. Under Standard pump operating
conditions, the pump runs for two minutes in every ve. e thoron sensitivity is close to
zero when the pump is not running, so running the pump continuously increases the
thoron sensitivity by a factor of approximately 2.
Running the RAD8 in Sni Protocol does not hinder the instrument's ability to measure
radon. Note that valid thoron measurements require that the RAD8 be con gured with a
Small Drying tube and the appropriate tubing length. For more information on Protocols,
see Section 2.3.2.

Recommended RAD8 Thoron Con guration

Tubing Port Connections Required: As with the Standard Con guration described in Section
1.4.1, the RAD8 Thoron Con guration shown above requires tubing connections in each of the
RAD8’s four air ports. The Tubing Bridge accessory should snap into place, spanning the gap
between the Pump Out and Detector In ports.

Section 5 Using the RAD8 72

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 5.5.11 Thoron Measurements in Standard Pump Mode
When the RAD8 is being primarily used for measuring radon, each 5-minute Data Slice
begins with two minutes of continuous pump activity, followed by three minutes with the
pump o . e RAD8 is only sensitive to thoron whilst the pump is running (and for a
short time therea er), giving an e ective thoron sensitivity approximately 2/5ths of the
value when the instrument is running in dedicated Sni Protocol with the pump set to
ON. e RAD8 is programmed with separate thoron sensitivities for Standard and ON
pump modes, and applies the appropriate sensitivity automatically. If a Laboratory Drying
Unit is used instead of a Small Drying Tube, the e ective thoron sensitivity will be
reduced slightly due to the extra time taken for the thoron to reach the RAD8
measurement chamber.

5.6 Managing Background

A major concern in radon testing is background. e RAD8 has a number of features that
help to keep short and long-term background under control. For more information see
Sections 3.10 and 3.11. Following a few simple rules will help to keep background to a
minimum.
Short term background is activity le in the detector a er the air sample has been ushed
from the measurement chamber. e higher the radon concentration and the longer the
sample is held in the chamber, the more short-lived progeny activity it leaves behind. So to
avoid this short-term background, when you see high radon readings, purge the RAD8
promptly a er the measurement. Take the instrument somewhere with little radon, such
as outdoors. Make sure the drying tube is connected, and purge the RAD8 for 5 to 10
minutes, or longer if the sample was exceptionally high in radon.
e two radon-genic alpha peaks (A and C) decay at di erent rates. e polonium-218
peak in Window A decays with a 3.05 minute half-life. So in 10 minutes it will be down to
about one-tenth of its original count rate. However the peak in Window C will take over
two hours to get down to one-tenth its count rate.
Rather than wait around for hours, you can start the next radon test in Rapid Analysis
Mode, which ignores Window C. In fact, the preset, one and two-day, monitoring
protocols, in the RAD8, start the measurement in Rapid Analysis Mode and automatically
change to Precise Analysis Mode a er three hours. is takes care of all but extreme
exposure to very high radon.
You can always measure the short-term background, with 5-minute Cycles, and Analysis
Mode set to Rapid. Record a short test consisting of a few Cycles to make sure the
background is low.

Section 5 Using the RAD8 73

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 5.7 Air ow Rate Limits

When the RAD8’s pump is not running it is permissible to use an external pump device,
such as the DRYSTIK, which may provide a higher or lower air ow rate than the RAD8’s
built-in pump. However, certain ow rate limits should be observed.
High ow rates are useful for thoron measurement and for fast response RAD AQUA
monitoring of radon and thoron in water. Low ow rates are useful for continuous soil gas
monitoring and for sampling gasses, such as stack gasses, that need signi cant
conditioning.

5.7.1 Maximum Air ow Rate

e maximum recommended air ow rate is 2.5L/minute. Beyond that rate the RAD8’s
sensitivity will eventually drop, because the very fast movement of air interferes with the
electrostatic precipitation process. Air ow rates approaching the 2.5L/min limit are
suitable for measuring thoron, which must be brought into the RAD8 swi ly due to its
rapid decay.
If the RAD8 has been speci cally calibrated for thoron however, the speci ed thoron
sensitivity will remain in e ect only when the RAD8 is con gured exactly as instructed on
the oron Calibration Certi cate. Generally this entails operating the RAD8 in Sni
Protocol, causing its internal pump to run continuously, producing an air ow rate of
about 0.6 L/min.

5.7.2 Minimum Air ow Rate

With Pump Mode set to Standard, the RAD8’s pump runs for two minutes in every ve, to
keep the air sample fresh. erefore, the typical average ow rate is roughly 0.25 L/min.
For certain applications lower air ow rates may be preferred. To determine the minimum
acceptable air ow rate, consider the following parameters:
a) e distance from the sample source to the RAD8 (very slow ow rates may allow
signi cant radioactive decay of the radon before it reaches the RAD8).
b) Whether thoron is being measured (with a one-minute half-life, sample decay during
acquisition is signi cant).
c) e required response speed of the RAD8 (a low ow rate may cause an unacceptably
long time to completely refresh the sample in the measurement chamber).
d) e radioactive decay during residence in the RAD8’s measurement chamber.
Regarding point c), the amount of time it takes to change the measurement sample should
be short compared to the required response time.
Regarding point d), the radon sample in the measurement chamber should have nearly
the same concentration as the radon at the sampling point, to within a small fraction of
the acceptable uncertainty. Ideally less than 1% of the original sample concentration will
be lost to radioactive decay before the measurement occurs. is requires that the transit
time from the sampling point plus the time that radon remains in the RAD8’s chamber is
less than one hour. e RAD8 has a volume of less than 1 L, so a ow rate of 1 L/hour, or

Section 5 Using the RAD8 74

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 0.016 L/min is su cient to satisfy the residence criterion, but the response time to a step
change in radon concentration at the sampling point would then be about 1 hour. For a 15
minute response time, the ow rate would have to be at least ve times greater, or 0.08 L/
min.
e 3-minute half-life of polonium-218 limits the radon response time to a little less than
15 minutes, so there is little bene t in a ow rate greater than 0.1 L/min unless the source
is far away, or thoron is being measured.

5.8 Harsh and Hazardous Environments

5.8.1 Dusty Environment

Dust may contaminate the desiccant and cause elevated radon background due to radon
emitted by trace amounts of radium deposited in the desiccant by the contaminating dust.
To prevent this, a dust lter should be attached to the tubing at the sampling point,
upstream of everything.
A suitable dust lter is supplied with every RAD8. e lter should be replaced when it
becomes soiled. Replacements may be purchased from a car-parts supplier as 1960’s VW
Beetle in-line gasoline lters, part number 803-201-511C, or FRAM G4164, or from
Durridge Company.
Please note that any restriction to air ow, including a plugged dust lter, upstream of a
passive DRYSTIK will reduce the e ectiveness of the DRYSTIK. In a dusty environment,
with a dust lter in place, an Active DRYSTIK will continue to work well even if the dust
lter becomes partially blocked.

5.8.2 Radiation Hazard

If the RAD8 is to be placed in a location that is hazardous to the health of individuals,
remote communication may be established through a wireless network connection. For
details please see Section 6, and the Long Distance Connectivity section of the Capture
user’s manual. ( e Capture manual is available from within the program’s Help Menu, as
well as from the Durridge website.)
Note that the RAD8 electronics are not radiation hardened, so in extreme environments,
shielding for the device may be needed.

Section 5 Using the RAD8 75

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 6 USING RAD8 ACCESSORIES: TESTING SOIL AND WATER
6.1 Introduction

With the addition of various accessories o ered by Durridge, the RAD8 can acquire the
ability to detect radon in water samples, owing water, soil gas, hard and so surfaces, and
objects. ese applications and the accessories required for each are described below.
e accessories discussed here are not included with the RAD8. For full details on the
usage of a given accessory, please see its user manual. All product manuals are available on
the Durridge website (http://durridge.com/) in PDF format.

6.2 Radon in Water

6.2.1 The RAD H2O and Big Bottle Systems

e RAD H2O is an accessory for the RAD8 that enables you to measure radon in
collected water samples with high accuracy over a wide range of concentrations, obtaining
your reading within half an hour of taking the sample. It is particularly suited for well
water testing, where immediate results are o en required.
e RAD H2O uses a standard, pre-calibrated degassing system and pre-set protocols,
built into the RAD8, which give a direct reading of the radon concentration in the water
sample itself. e most widely supported sample sizes are 40 mL and 250 mL, as these
correspond to the RAD8’s built-in RAD H2O 40 ml and RAD H2O 250 ml protocols.
Large water samples of up to 2.5L may be sampled using a separate product, the Big Bottle
System, in which radon concentrations are calculated using the provided Capture so ware
for Windows and macOS.
e RAD H2O and Big Bottle System manuals contain further information on these
products.

Section 6 Using RAD8 Accessories 76

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 6.2.2 The RAD AQUA Accessory

e RAD AQUA accessory handles the continuous

monitoring of radon in water, o ering accurate results in as
little as half an hour. Applications for the RAD AQUA
include testing water from running faucets and water being
pumped from the bottom of a lake. In addition to its rapid
response time, the RAD AQUA o ers a high degree of
sensitivity.
e RAD AQUA functions by bringing the air in a closed
loop into equilibrium with water passing through an
exchanger. e RAD8 is set to operate in continuous mode
(as described in Section 4.2), sampling the air in the loop
and recording its radon and thoron activity concentration.
Since the partition coe cient of radon in air to radon in
water is a ected by temperature, a temperature probe is
used to collect water temperature data. Durridge Capture
so ware for Windows and macOS later accesses the RAD8
data and the water temperature data and calculates the nal
radon in water readings.
Users are encouraged to refer to the RAD AQUA manual
for further details.

6.2.3 The Water Probe Accessory

e Water Probe is used for long-term, slow-response

monitoring of radon activity concentrations in large bodies
of water. e probe consists of a semi-permeable
membrane tube mounted on an open wire frame. e tube
is placed in a closed loop with the RAD8.
When the probe is lowered into water, radon passes
through the membrane until the radon concentration of
the air in the loop is in equilibrium with that of the water.
As with the RAD AQUA, the RAD8 data and water
temperature data are collected simultaneously and accessed
by Capture to determine the nal radon-in-water result.
As compared to the RAD AQUA, the Water Probe takes
longer to make a spot measurement. However, it does not
require a water pump, and the resulting low power
requirements are well-suited to long-term monitoring.

Section 6 Using RAD8 Accessories 77

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 6.3 Soil Gas Sampling

6.3.1 Application
e radon concentration in the soil gas surrounding a building is one of many parameters
that impact the radon health risk to the occupants. e construction of the building, the
porosity of the soil, the height of the water table, and several other factors are all
important. Even if there is no radon in the surrounding soil, the building may still be at
risk if it has a well in the basement, or is built on rock, over a ssure. Regardless, it is o en
of interest to determine the radon concentration in soil gas.
oron is usually associated with radon in the soil. When measuring soil gas, it is
therefore particularly useful to determine the thoron content as well as the radon content.
Should there be a su cient thoron, it may be used as a tracer, to nd radon entry points
inside the building. See Section 5.3.2 for details.

6.3.2 The Soil Gas Probe Accessory

e cost and complexity of a soil gas probe increases with the depth to which it can be
inserted. A choice of two probes is available from Durridge: one made from stainless steel
for use in most soils, and one made from hardened steel for use in more hard-packed or
clayey soils. Both probes will penetrate to a depth of 3 feet, which for most soils is deep
enough to escape surface metrological e ects such as rain and barometric pressure
uctuations. Such e ects can strongly in uence radon concentrations in the top 70 cm or
so of the soil.

6.3.3 Soil Gas Probe Preparation

For full details on using a soil gas probe, please refer to the appropriate user’s manual
found at the Durridge website (http://durridge.com). e basic procedure can be
summarized as follows.
Insert the soil probe. Make sure that there is a very good seal between the probe sha and
the surrounding soil, so that ambient air does not descend around the probe and dilute
the soil gas sample.
Between the probe and the RAD8, connect the included Water Stop assembly, which
includes a pressure gauge to give an indication in the event that the air sample line
becomes blocked, either deliberately by the trap in the event of liquid water in the sample
line, or by accident, for example by clogging of the probe tip. en, connect the
Laboratory Drying Unit, and the inlet lter.
Set the RAD8 to the Sni Protocol. Soil gas is normally so high in radon that it is not
necessary to use long Cycle Times to achieve good statistical precision. e minimum ve
minute Cycle Times are usually su cient.

Section 6 Using RAD8 Accessories 78

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 6.3.4 Running the Test
Start the test and navigate to the Test Status > Summary screen, which will display the
temperature, relative humidity and pump current. Pay particular attention to the relative
humidity and pump current. e humidity should gradually drop down to below 10%,
and stay there.
If the reading on the Water Stop assembly pressure gauge rises signi cantly, or the pump
current starts to rise much above 100 mA, it suggests that the soil is not porous, in which
case it may be that a good soil gas sample cannot be drawn, no matter how powerful the
pump is. With the RAD8 pump current above 100 mA, the air ow rate will be
signi cantly reduced from the nominal 0.6 L/min. is will not a ect the radon reading,
but will reduce the e ective sensitivity to thoron, as more of the thoron will decay en route
to the RAD8. If desired, an external pump may be used, but it should be placed upstream
of the RAD8’s measurement chamber (pump outlet pushing the sample air directly into
the ‘Detector In’ tubing port), so that the RAD8 is operating at normal pressure. With an
external sampling pump in use, the RAD8 pump mode should be set to O .

6.3.5 Interpreting the Data

As with any Sni test, the rst two 5-minute cycles should be ignored. e next one or two
cycles should be averaged, to arrive at the radon concentration of the soil gas.
For thoron, some estimate has to be made of the time taken for the sample, a er it has le
the soil, to reach the RAD8. is requires an estimate of the volume of the sample path,
including the probe, water trap, tubing and drying unit, and an estimate, or measurement,
of the ow rate. For example, if the total volume of the sample path is 2 L, and the ow
rate is 0.5 L/min, then the sample delay is about 4 minutes. If the thoron decays by half
every minute, then a er four minutes the concentration will be just 1/16th of the
concentration in the ground. So, the thoron concentration measured by the RAD8 would
be multiplied by 16. See Section 5.5.6 for more details.

6.4 Emission Measurements

6.4.1 Application
With its internal pump, sealed sample path, and inlet and outlet connectors, the RAD8 is
well suited to the measurement of radon emissions from objects and surfaces.
Furthermore, the ability to count only the polonium-218 decays (Rapid Analysis Mode)
means that dynamic measurements are clean, and not complicated by long-half-life
decays.

6.4.2 Open-Loop Con guration

Emissions may be sampled from objects and material samples using Durridge’s Bulk
Emission Chamber. It is also possible to analyze emissions from so or hard surfaces, with
the aid of a Durridge Surface Emission Chamber, which consists of a plate-like enclosure
capable of forming a tight seal around the surface in question. In both cases the RAD8
draws air from within the enclosed space, through the desiccant and inlet lter, and into
the measurement chamber. e air may then be returned to the enclosure from the RAD8

Section 6 Using RAD8 Accessories 79

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 outlet, to form a closed loop. Alternatively, in an open loop con guration the air being
drawn from the enclosure may be replaced with ‘zero’ air from a cylinder, or with ambient
air, which should have a low but known radon concentration.
With the open loop con guration, a steady and known ow rate must be established. If a
pressurized cylinder of ‘zero’ air is used, then the RAD8’s internal pump may be bypassed
(using the ‘Detector In’ port instead of the ‘Sample In’ port as the air inlet), and a pressure
reduction valve and needle valve may be used to control the ow rate. With ambient air,
the RAD8’s internal pump may be set to On, for a continuous ow. In both cases, a ow
meter is required. Once a steady state has been achieved, a long-term measurement may
be made. e rate of emission will equal the radon concentration times the ow rate.

6.4.3 Closed-Loop Con guration

In a closed-loop con guration, the system is rst purged, then sealed. From the moment
the system is sealed, the radon begins to ‘grow in’ to secular equilibrium with its parent
radium-226 in the surface of the object or material sample. Next the radon concentration
within the loop is monitored in Rapid Analysis Mode, with short, e.g. 15-minute, Cycle
Times, for a few hours. It is necessary to know the total volume of the closed-loop system.
For this purpose the volume inside the RAD8 may be taken as 800 mL. e initial rate of
increase in radon concentration (neglecting the rst 15-minute Cycle), multiplied by the
volume, gives the rate of radon emission.
Durridge’s Capture so ware can be used to view a graph slope line and inspect the change
in radon concentration over time. e line should be set to begin a er the initial response
delay and before the ingrowth curve begins to approach secular equilibrium and level o .
Capture will express the slope of the line in the units of your choice.

6.4.4 Very Low Emission Rates

Very low emission rates can be measured by placing the sample in an airtight container
with sealable inlet and outlet valves, and allowing the ingrowth of radon to occur over at
least a week (a er which the ingrowth must be calculated) and preferably a month or
more (a er which the ingrowth is complete, and secular equilibrium established between
radon-222 and radium-226). e container is then connected to the RAD8 in a closed
loop. e valves are opened and the RAD8 measures the radon concentration. e
concentration rises as the radon is distributed around the loop. Eventually the
concentration will settle to a steady-state value determined by 1) the strength of the ‘radon
source’ (the radium-226 in the surface of the object or material sample), and 2) the rate of
loss of radon from the closed system due to tiny leaks.

6.4.5 Bulk Emissions

e Durridge Bulk Emission Chamber is an airtight box with two well-separated hose
connectors. e material to be tested is placed in the chamber, which is then connected to
the Laboratory Drying Unit, and thence to the inlet lter on the RAD8. e other box
connector has tubing attached, which is either connected to the RAD8 outlet for closed-
loop operation, or to a cylinder of zero-radon or ambient air.
Note that bulk emissions are a ected by pressure uctuations and by temperature and
humidity. All these parameters can and should be controlled in both the closed-loop and

Section 6 Using RAD8 Accessories 80

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 open-loop con gurations. Radon emission is also dependent on the grain size of loose
materials, and the porosity of any bulk material.
In addition to radon, thoron can also be measured in the Bulk Emission Chamber. In the
open loop mode, a correction is required for the decay of the thoron during the time
between its emission and measurement in the RAD8 (see Section 5.5.6). In closed loop
mode, another correction must be made for the portion of thoron that makes it all the way
around the loop to get fed back into the enclosure. Note that for thoron, both the closed
loop and open loop modes are steady-state measurements.

6.4.6 Surface Emission

Durridge o ers two surface emission chambers, one for solid hard surfaces, and another
for so soil surfaces. Each consists of a circular plate which is sealed against the surface
under investigation. e Solid Surface Emission Chamber accomplishes this using a
rubber seal, while the Soil Surface Emission Chamber uses a penetrating metal rim.
e measurement procedure is similar to that of the Bulk Emission Chamber described
above, with the enclosed surface acting as the ‘radon source’. Once the total emission rate
within the enclosure has been calculated, it may be divided by the area of the surface
within the sealed boundary, to determine the emission per unit area.

Bulk Emission Chamber Surface Emission Chamber

Section 6 Using RAD8 Accessories 81

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 6.5 The DRYSTIK

e RAD8’s sensitivity is maximized when there is zero absolute humidity in the sample
air, and drops as humidity increases. e use of desiccant ensures that the air entering the
RAD8 is not too humid, but since desiccant is expended quickly when exposed to very
moist air, Durridge o ers the DRYSTIK, an instrument which removes moisture from the
air entering the RAD8 without removing any of the radon itself. e DRYSTIK is capable
of reducing the humidity of a typical air sample to 4% in under 20 minutes, greatly
prolonging the life of the desiccant, or in certain cases, eliminating the need for it.
e DRYSTIK reduces the humidity of the air entering the RAD8 by transferring moisture
from the sample about to enter the RAD8 to the air being pumped out of the instrument.
As the air enters the desiccant in the Laboratory Drying Unit (which is not included with
the DRYSTIK) on its way to the RAD8, it will have already lost most of its moisture,
greatly extending the life of the desiccant. In certain cases the need for desiccant is
eliminated altogether.
e DRYSTIK has at its heart a length of coaxial Na on humidity exchange tubing with
diaphragm pump, xed and variable ow limiters, and a built-in pump duty cycle
controller. ese are all contained in one of two enclosures, either standard or ruggedized.
e DRYSTIK’s pump compresses the sample air inside the membrane tubing, initiating
the transfer of water molecules to the outer purge ow, drying the incoming air as it
moves through the device.
e DRYSTIK is capable of bringing the relative humidity of air owing at 0.15 L/min
down below 10% in less than four hours, and maintaining the RH below 6% inde nitely
without any desiccant. is allows a RAD8 to operate under optimum conditions with the
highest sensitivity and lowest operating cost.
For soil gas measurement, the DRYSTIK provides a high ow capability, supporting the
detection of short-lived thoron. For radon, the ability to lower the ow with the built-in
pump duty cycle controller and needle valve ow rate adjustment means that continuous
soil gas readings may be made inde nitely, without any risk of fresh air diluting the soil
gas sample by di using from the surface down to the extraction point. Given its
versatility, the DRYSTIK is e ective for a wide range of applications.

DRYSTIK ADS-3 DRYSTIK ADS-3R

Section 6 Using RAD8 Accessories 82

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 7 MAINTENANCE
If the RAD8 is treated with respect, the only maintenance required is its regular
recalibration. For this, it should be returned to Durridge, who will check the health of the
instrument, replace any worn-out components, and update the calibration parameters in
the instrument rmware.

7.1 Accessories - Usage and Care

7.1.1 Desiccant
Two sizes of desiccant tubes are supplied. In the Precise Analysis Mode, use the large 2"
diameter tube (Laboratory Drying Unit). is unit will last for days under continuous
operation at high humidity before it needs regeneration.
When using the RAD8 as a Sni er, the Small Drying Tube is recommended. It will last for
several hours before replacement or re lling of the tube is necessary.
To regenerate the desiccant, the granules should be removed from the tube and spread
evenly in an extremely thin layer on a metal or Pyrex glass tray. Heat at about 205°C
(401°F) for one hour, or until granules turn uniformly blue. Allow the desiccant to cool in
a closed, but not airtight, container before re lling the acrylic Laboratory Drying Unit or
Small Drying Tube.
e following sections provide insight into how long the desiccant will last in various
scenarios.

7.1.2 Laboratory Drying Unit

e column holds approximately 500 grams of Drierite desiccant. is desiccant can
adsorb at least 10% of its weight in water, so the water capacity of the column is at least 50
grams. e RAD8 pump develops a ow rate of about 0.6 L/min. With the RAD8 set for
continuous monitoring with timed pump operation, the pump operates 40% of the time.
erefore, we will assume an average ow rate of 0.25 L/min.
e following table shows the expected lifetime of a charge of desiccant in the Laboratory
Drying Unit under various temperature and humidity conditions.

Section 6 Using RAD8 Accessories 83

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 Table 7.1.2 Laboratory Drying Unit Life

RH Deg. C Deg. F Column Life

30% 20 68 30.4 Days
30% 35 95 13.3 Days
50% 20 68 18.2 Days
50% 25 77 13.7 Days
90% 10 50 18.6 Days
90% 15 59 13.6 Days
90% 20 68 10.1 Days
90% 25 77 7.6 Days
90% 30 86 5.8 Days

7.1.3 Small Drying Tube

e Small Drying Tubes each contain 30 grams of Drierite desiccant. e water capacity of
each tube is 3 grams. We will assume that the RAD8 pump operates continuously, for an
average ow rate of 0.6 L/min. e following table shows the expected lifetime of a Small
Drying Tube under a variety of temperature and humidity conditions.

Table 7.1.3 Small Drying Tube Life

RH Deg. C Deg. F Tube Life

30% 20 68 17.5 Hours
30% 35 95 7.7 Hours
50% 20 68 10.5 Hours
50% 25 77 7.9 Hours
90% 10 50 10.7 Hours
90% 15 59 7.9 Hours
90% 20 68 5.8 Hours
90% 25 77 4.4 Hours
90% 30 86 3.3 Hours

7.1.4 Cascading Drying Tubes

To extend the time before desiccant depletion, you may cascade several drying tubes in
series. Two factors limit the number of drying tubes you can use. First, each additional
drying tube or column adds a small amount of resistance to the air ow, so the pump will
have to work a little harder. But the resistance added by a drying tube is much less than
the resistance of the inlet lter, so you should be able to cascade several without severely
restricting the air ow. Second, each additional tube adds a time lag between sample
intake and instrument response.
For continuous monitoring, a 10- to 20-minute lag may be perfectly acceptable, but for
sni ng it may not be. You can conservatively estimate the time lag by taking four times
the volume of the drying system and dividing it by the average ow rate. Consider a
continuous monitor application using a Laboratory Drying Unit (with an internal air

Section 6 Using RAD8 Accessories 84

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 volume of approximately 458 mL) with the pump in timed operation, giving an average
ow rate of 0.24 L/min. Four times the volume divided by the ow rate gives 8 minutes for
the estimated lag time. is would be perfectly acceptable for continuous monitoring. For
radon sni ng, you will usually use the less voluminous Small Drying Tubes, which create
negligible delays of less than a minute, even at low ow rates. You can cascade several
Small Drying Tubes without trouble.
Do not cascade drying tubes when sni ng for thoron, since thoron's 56-second half-life
necessitates that you keep delays to an absolute minimum. For thoron sni ng, use a single
Small Drying Tube, and set the pump for continuous (on) operation. Keep hose length to
3 feet in keeping with the Standard oron Setup, unless your RAD8 has been calibrated
for thoron using a non-standard inlet tubing setup.

7.1.5 Filters
e supplied inlet lters block ultra ne dust particles and all pre-existing airborne radon
and thoron progeny from entering the RAD8 measurement chamber. e RAD8 should
never be operated without an inlet lter in place.
e lters are manufactured in various pore sizes by several companies, including
Millipore and SRI. We favor pore sizes of 1.0 microns or less; pore sizes as small as 0.4
microns can be used with the RAD8 pump.
e lter should be replaced when it has become noticeably discolored or has clogged
enough to impede the ow of air. If you cannot blow air easily through the lter yourself,
it's time to change the lter.
When you operate the RAD8 in construction areas or basements, dust can quickly build
up in sampling hoses, drying tubes, and inlet lters. is dust will slowly clog the lter,
restrict air ow, and create strain on the pump. You will have to replace the inlet lter. To
greatly slow the buildup of dust, we recommend that you attach a "pre lter" to the intake
of the sampling hose, to prevent coarse dust particles from entering. en, the inlet lter
will remove the ultra- ne dust particles that pass through the pre lter and drying system.

Inlet Filter Required

Always operate the RAD8 with an inlet lter in place. This prevents
containments from entering the RAD8’s measurement chamber. If radon-
emitting material is allowed to enter the RAD8, it will adversely affect the
instrument’s usefulness. Several inlet lters are included with the RAD8,
and additional lters may be purchased from Durridge.

Section 6 Using RAD8 Accessories 85

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 7.1.6 Batteries
e RAD8 uses lithium-ion batteries, similar to a laptop computer. If le in a discharged
state for an extended period of time they will lose capacity. A er running the RAD8 on
battery power, the instrument should be recharged by connecting the power supply and
plugging it into an electrical outlet. When plugged in, the RAD8 will recharge even if it is
not powered on. When the RAD8 measuring radon, it will recharge more slowly. If the
RAD8 is to remain unused for several weeks, the batteries should rst be charged to
approximately half capacity.
If the batteries are deeply discharged, it will be necessary to plug in the RAD8 and
recharge it partially before using it.
e battery state of charge is indicated at the top right corner of the touchscreen display. If
the battery ever goes below 1%, it is fully discharged and should be recharged as soon as
possible.

7.2 RAD8 Operating Ranges

Parameter Minimum Value Maximum Value

Temperature 0°C (32°F) 45°C (113°F)*
Relative Humidity, external** 0% 100%
Relative Humidity, internal** 0% 10%
Pump Current (pump off) 0 mA 10 mA
Pump Current (pump on) 30 mA 90 mA
Table 7.2 RAD8 Operating Ranges

*The RAD8 should not be placed in direct sunlight if the outside temperature is over 38° Celsius (100°
Fahrenheit). Instead it should be moved to a shady location.

**The humidity must be non-condensing

Section 6 Using RAD8 Accessories 86

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 7.3 Service and Repair

7.3.1 Calibration
Durridge maintains two professional radon calibration facilities that include a controlled,
standard source of radon gas, and a controlled-temperature environmental chamber. All
RAD8 alignment and calibration is done here, as well as basic testing and quality
assurance. We determine calibration factors by direct comparison to "master" radon
monitors, which were themselves compared with EPA and DOE instruments, and which
have participated in international inter-comparisons of radon instrumentation. e
calibration accuracy is independently veri ed by direct determination of the radon
chamber level from the calibrated activity and emission of the standard radon source. In
addition, we periodically intercompare with other radon chambers. We generally achieve
a reproducibility of better than 2% with our standard RAD8 calibration. Overall
calibration accuracy is in the range of 5%.
e U.S. EPA recommends that continuous radon monitors such as the RAD8 be
calibrated at least once per year, and Durridge agrees. Durridge’s standard RAD8
calibration procedure requires 10 days from the receipt of the instrument. Prior to
recalibration, we give every RAD8 an inspection and test its critical parts. If additional
service is required, this may delay the return of the instrument.
At present, only Durridge can make adjustments to your instrument's alignment and
calibration factors. If you determine, on the basis of an independent intercomparison (e.g.,
another calibration chamber) that you would like to adjust your RAD8's calibration by a
known amount, we can generally perform this service and send back your instrument
within one day. Requested calibration adjustments of more than 10% are considered
highly unusual and require the written permission of the instrument's owner.

7.3.2 Repair
If you discover that your RAD8 is malfunctioning, we recommend that you rst call
Durridge and talk to a technician. A surprising number of minor "disasters" can be
averted by long-distance consultation. e next step, if consultation fails, is usually to send
your instrument in for evaluation and repair. Please ll out a RAD8 Return Form, and
send any documentation of the problem that you might have (notes, printouts, etc.), along
with a short description of the problem. is information may be emailed to us at
[email protected]. Be sure that you put your name and contact information on the
note. Bear in mind that RAD8 repairs involve a re-calibration of the instrument, which
takes time.

7.3.3 Shipping
1. Please complete the RAD8 Return Form, which is available in the Services section of
the Durridge website. Email the form to [email protected] before you send your
RAD8 back to us. Include a printed copy of the form in the box with the RAD8. You
can send your RAD8 to either one of our Calibration facilities (USA and UK), listed
below (see important, speci c instructions for each below).

Section 6 Using RAD8 Accessories 87

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 2. We need the RAD8 in house for 10 days, so the total time a RAD8 will be away from
your facility will be 10 days plus the time the RAD8 spends in transit. If additional
service or repair is required, this may delay the return of the instrument.
3. When sending your RAD8, please send the instrument only, without the cables and
accessories. Pack the instrument upright in a box with one-inch (2.2cm) padding all
around. A 14 x 14 x 14 in (or 36 x 36 x 36 cm) box is suitable. Pack the box well, and
seal it carefully. Please include your contact info with the package.
4. International customers must be very careful, to avoid substantial extra shipping
charges and delays, both for shipping to the nearest calibration facility, and for its
subsequent return.
5. Commercial Invoice check-list (for international shipping only)

For your courier or freight forwarder, you will need to provide a Commercial Invoice.
Write only in English on the commercial invoice.
Use the following description for the RAD8: “Used RAD8 Electronic Radon Detector”.
Insured value US$1,500.
State on the invoice that the instrument is MADE IN USA and that it is being
“returned to the manufacturer temporarily for repair and recalibration”.
Use the HS (Commodity) code 9030.10.0000.
Mark the box with the serial number of the RAD8 (as the RMA – Return
Merchandise Authorization).
Add the phone number of the Calibration facility you choose, in case the Customs
O ce wants to call us.
Next, you must ensure that your courier (i.e. UPS, FedEX) or freight forwarder will
deliver the package to our door. e formal “INCOTERM” for this is “DDP”, which
means “Delivered Duty Paid.”
We will not pay or be responsible for USA or UK import duties, or Customs clearance
charges. Your shipper must be told this when you arrange your shipment.
It is important to make sure you prepare all the documentation you need to re-import
the goods back into your country without being charged.
For the Return to you: unless you instruct us otherwise, we will return your RAD8
via the same shipping method you used to deliver it to us, Freight Collect. Durridge
can pay for the return shipment CPT (“Carriage Paid To”) to you, but our cost will be
invoiced to you before shipment.
If we can help further, please email us at [email protected].

Speci c info for SHIPPING TO OUR USA FACILITY (from outside the USA):

Durridge Company, Inc.

900 Technology Park Drive
Billerica, MA 01821-2812, USA
Phone: (+1) 978-667-9556
Fax: (+1) 978-667-9557

Section 6 Using RAD8 Accessories 88

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 Declaration Form
ere needs to be documentation proving that the instrument was previously imported
into your country, otherwise you may be charged import duties when the instrument is
returned to your country.
Please ll out the declaration form provided at http://durridge.com/services/RAD8-
calibration/ . Attach the completed declaration form to the commercial invoice. If the
invoice is scanned and submitted electronically, please scan the declaration form and
submit it electronically as well.

Speci c info for SHIPPING TO OUR UK FACILITY:

Durridge UK Ltd.
Shef eld Technology Park
Cooper Buildings
Arundel Street
Shef eld S1 2NS, UK
Phone: +44 (0)114 221 2003

Please complete the checklist in the above section. It is very important to include the HS
(Commodity) code 9030.10.00, otherwise import duty may be charged at the UK border,
for which you will be liable. Please also include our EORI number GB219670885000 on
the commercial invoice.
Please ensure that you make the necessary arrangements with the Customs authority in
your territory for the return of your instruments. ere may be special procedures for
temporary exports. For example, you may need to provide documentary evidence that the
instrument was previously imported into your country, to avoid being charged import
duty again.

Section 6 Using RAD8 Accessories 89

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 7.4 RAD8 Quality Assurance

While the annual inspection and calibration, carried out by Durridge Company, is the
most e ective quality assurance, there are other tests and observations that may be made
that will give assurance of good performance throughout the year.

7.4.1 Spectrum
e alpha energy spectrum that forms the RAD8’s raw data can be viewed in real-time
during a test, or at the end of a test, via the Spectrum panel on the Test Status screen.
ere should be clearly de ned peaks and little or no noise across the spectrum. e
peaks should be located in the middle of the windows. A clean spectrum is indicative of
an instrument in perfect working order, and hence of reliable and accurate readings.

7.4.2 Spill Factor (C Window to B Window)

Due to the occasional alpha particle emitted, from a polonium atom on the detector
surface, at grazing incidence to the surface, there is always a small, low-energy tail to the
peaks. ere is thus a spill of polonium-214 counts from Window C into Window B,
normally of around 1% to 1.5%. Similarly, there is a spill of polonium-216 counts from
Window B into Window A, and a spill of polonium-212 counts from the D window into
the C Window. e actual values are measured during the calibration process (CB Spill for
radon calibration, and BA and DC Spill for thoron calibration) and the spill factors used
to automatically compensate for this phenomenon. CB Spill only gains relevance in
measurements of thoron in the presence of large concentrations of radon. DC and BA
Spill are relevant only to measurements of radon in the presence of large concentrations of
thoron.
If the detector becomes contaminated in use, or either electronic or detector failure causes
noise in the system, thus making the low-energy tail thicker, or the peaks broader, then
these spill factors will increase.
e C window to B window spill factor value can be calculated from any reading,
provided that it is known for sure that there was no thoron in the chamber. e
percentage of counts in windows B and C is indicated on the on-screen histogram. e
spill factor is simply the ratio of the values in those two elds.
It is recommended that the C to B spill factor be noted every month. Any sudden change
is cause for further study of the instrument, and an examination of the spectrum.

Section 6 Using RAD8 Accessories 90

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 8 TROUBLESHOOTING
8.1 Readings

8.1.1 No Counts
e total number of counts so far in any cycle is displayed in the Summary panel on the
Test Status screen. If, near the end of a Cycle, there are no counts, or less than 10, say, it
probably means the Cycle length is too short for the low concentration of radon in the
sample gas. Increase the Cycle length to increase the number of counts in a Cycle and to
improve the precision of the individual readings.
If, with a Cycle Time of one hour or more, the total count near the end of a Cycle
continues to be zero and it is known that there is radon in the sample, then either the
sample path is blocked or there is a fault with the RAD8 and it should be returned to
Durridge Company. Check that air is owing using any of the following measures:
a) Feel the air exiting the outlet when the pump is running.
b) Brie y stop the outlet of the RAD8 and feel the buildup of pressure.
c) Clamp the sample input tubing, hear the change in pump sound and see the change in
pump current.
d) Feel the suction at the sampling point.

8.1.2 Excessive Uncertainty In Reading

If the uncertainty in the reading is greater than the base concentration value or if there is a
large scatter in the readings, the Cycle length is too short for the radon concentration
being measured.
Increase the Cycle Time to reduce the scatter. Four times the Cycle Time will produce half
the scatter and half the uncertainty. For past data, use Capture to graph the data and use
“Smoothing” to smooth out the statistical scatter in the data.

8.2 Relative Humidity High

Relative humidity (displayed in the Summary panel on the Test Status screen) normally
starts high unless the instrument has been well purged just before starting the test.
Depending on how long it has been since the last measurement, it may take an hour or
more of measurement to bring the relative humidity down below 10%.
If it takes too long to bring down the relative humidity, check the following:
a) e desiccant is used up. Replace it.
b) e desiccant was insu ciently regenerated. Follow the instructions in Section 7.1.1.

Section 8 Troubleshooting 91
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 c) ere is a leak in the Laboratory Drying Unit. Clean the O-ring and seating before
replacing the desiccant. Be sure to draw the air sample from the bottom end, furthest
from the screw cap.
d) ere is a leak in the connection to the RAD8.
e) ere is a blockage in the air path. Squeeze the inlet tubing and note any change in the
sound of the pump. Feel for suction at the sampling point.
If none of the above succeed in lowering the relative humidity, there may be a problem
with the humidity sensor. Measure the relative humidity of the air leaving the RAD8. If no
humidity sensor is available, another RAD8, if one is available, would do. e two RAD8s
can be connected in series. Bypass the pump on the downstream RAD8 by using only the
Detector In and Sample Out tubing ports. If the downstream RAD8 reads a lower relative
humidity than the upstream one, then the upstream humidity sensor is wrong and should
be replaced. Return the RAD8 to Durridge Company for service.
If none of these solutions are applicable, measurements made at high humidity can be
corrected automatically using Durridge’s Capture so ware (see Section 3.2.5).

8.3 Water Ingress

With its tubing ports unpopulated (closed), and all the protective caps in place over the
front panel electrical ports, the RAD8 is completely waterproof. However, if water ever
enters the RAD8’s sample path it will probably cease to operate and immediate steps
should be taken to minimize the impact on the instrument. Keep the RAD8 upright in the
briefcase position. is will decrease the risk of water touching the detector. Make sure to
hold the RAD8 still to prevent the water from sloshing. Put a piece of tubing on the RAD8
outlet with the other end in a sink. Use the RAD8 pump if it still works or otherwise use
an external pump to blow air through the instrument. When water ceases to be blown out
of the outlet, put desiccant upstream of the RAD8 to dry out the air path.
Once there is no visible water in or on the instrument, it can be put in an oven at 50°C for
a few hours to dry out completely. Additionally, desiccated air can be passed through the
air path until the air leaving the RAD8 drops below 10% RH. A er this treatment further
corrosion will be prevented. If the RAD8 is able to start up, you can use the internal RH
sensor to measure how dry the air path is. Regardless of whether the RAD8 is able to
operate, at this point the instrument should be returned to Durridge for service.

Section 8 Troubleshooting 92
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 8.4 Capture RAD8 Detection Failure

If Durridge’s Capture so ware is unable to detect a connected RAD8, the following steps
should be taken. Note that comprehensive instructions for troubleshooting a RAD8
detection failure and other Capture problems can be found in the Capture documentation
available at the Durridge website, and from the Capture Help Menu.
1. Make sure you are using the latest version of Capture. e so ware can be downloaded
free of charge from the Durridge website.
2. Make sure your computer is running a supported operating system. e supported
operating systems are listed in the System Requirements section of the Capture
documentation.
3. Make sure the RAD8 is powered On, and that the RAD8's battery is charged or
charging.
4. Make sure the RAD8 is connected to the computer properly using a USB Mini-B to
USB-A cable.
5. It may be necessary to install driver so ware on your computer. e drive so ware is
provided on the Durridge website, at http://durridge.com/so ware/so ware-drivers/.
6. If the RAD8 is not detected when connected to a particular USB port, try connecting it
to a di erent USB port on the computer.
7. Make sure your computer is not running anti-virus so ware or any program that could
interfere with Capture. is includes any other so ware that communicates using
COM ports.
8. A er performing the above checks, if the RAD8 is still not recognized, try restarting
the RAD8 and your computer. If another computer is available, try to connect the
RAD8 to the other computer.

Section 8 Troubleshooting 93
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 Appendix 1: THERMAL PRINTER
A1.1 Thermal Printer Description

A1.1.1 General Printer Information

A portable printer is o ered as an optional accessory for the RAD8. e printer is
designed around a patented easy-loading paper mechanism, which consists of a main
cavity into which a paper roll is dropped for loading. e thermal print head is at the front
of the cavity and a rubber roller is attached to the lid of the mechanism. When the lid is
closed, the paper is pinched between the rubber roller and the print-head to give a close
alignment and a consistent pressure.

RAD8 Printer Supplies

• Portable thermal printer

• Printer cable adaptor
• 4 AA alkaline printer batteries
• 6 rolls of printer paper

A1.1.2 Printer Features

• Small size
• Quiet and fast printing
• Direct line thermal printing (no ink or toner required)
• Easy loading paper
• Easy maintenance and head cleaning
• User settable parameters using external buttons
• Self-test function

A1.1.3 Power Switch

e Power switch, located on the le side of the printer, is used to turn the unit ON and
OFF.

A1.1.4 Indicator LEDs

The Power LED (Green) glows steadily when the printer is turned ON.
e Error LED (Red) ashes once-per-second when the printer is out of paper; the bu er
is full; or when the print head temperature exceeds 140°F (60°C). is LED will also ash
one time when the printer is placed into its set-up mode (refer to Section Set-Up Mode).

Appendix 1 Thermal Printer 94

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 A1.1.5 Push Buttons
FEED Button:
Momentarily press the FEED button to advance the paper. Press and hold down to feed
paper continuously.
is button in conjunction with the ON/OFF switch is used to start the printer’s self test
function (refer to the Self Test section).
When the printer is in its set-up mode, this button is used to modify the selected printer
parameter (refer to the Set-Up Mode section).
SEL Button:
Used in conjunction with the ON/OFF switch to place the printer into its set-up mode
(refer to the Set-Up Mode section).
With the printer in its set-up mode, use this button to select the desired printer parameter.

A1.1.6 Sensors
Paper Out: When the paper roll becomes empty, the printer is disabled to prevent damage
to the print head. is condition is indicated by the Error LED ashing red.
Infrared Sensor: Located at the front of the printer, this sensor receives the infrared output
of an external instrument. e RAD8 does not utilize this sensor. Instead, the printer is
connected to the RAD8 with the included data cable.

Appendix 1 Thermal Printer 95

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 Thermal Printer Component Locations and Functions

Appendix 1 Thermal Printer 96

 A1.2 Thermal Printer Operation

A1.2.1 Precautions
To ensure the proper operation of the printer and prevent the possibility of voiding the
warranty, be sure to observe the following precautions:
• Avoid dirty or dusty locations, or those with excessive heat or humidity
• Choose a stable level surface to place the printer
• Use only alkaline batteries
• Use only the appropriate thermal paper

A1.2.2 Self-Test
e self-test mode checks the printer’s control circuit functions, setup parameters,
so ware version, and printer quality.
Before conducting the self test, make sure there is su cient paper (18" [46 cm]); the paper
cover is closed; and that the printer is switched OFF.
With the printer initially switched OFF, press and hold down the FEED pushbutton, and
then switch ON the printer to begin the test. Note: e test can be aborted by switching
OFF the printer.
e following typical information is printed, followed by the printer’s complete character
set:
Version: x.xx
Data bit: 8 bit
Parity: None
Baud rate: 9600bps
Handshaking: DTR
Country: U.S.A.
Print Mode: Text (upright)
Paper: Normal paper
Density: 100%
IrDA: IrDA-SIR
Buffer Size: 7000Byte
Head volt: 6.0V
Head temp.: 25°C

A1.2.3 Setup Mode

e printer has been set up at the factory with the following default parameters:
Baud rate: 9600bps
Handshaking: DTR
Country: U.S.A.
Print Mode: Text (upright)
Paper: Normal paper
Density: 100%
IrDA: IrDA-SIR

Appendix 1 Thermal Printer 97

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 If necessary, the default parameters can be changed as follows:
1. With the printer initially switched OFF, press and hold down the SEL pushbutton; and
then switch ON the printer.
2. e printer now goes into its set-up mode as indicated by the red LED ashing. At this
time all of the printer’s current parameter settings are printed, followed by the rst
parameter that can be modi ed.
Note that if no button is pressed within 15 seconds, the set-up mode is automatically
terminated without changing the original parameters.
3. IrDA is the rst parameter printed. Pressing the FEED button causes the value of that
parameter to change in the sequence shown in the following table.

Table A1.2.3 Sel and Feed Functions

SEL Button FEED Button

Baud Rate 300-115,200 bps
Handshaking DTR, X-on/X-off
Country U.S.A., Korea, Cyrillic, Denmark2, Norway, Japanese, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Denmark1,
U.K., Germany, France
Print Mode Text (upright), Data (inverted)
Paper Normal Paper, Reprint Paper
Density 50-150% in 5% steps
IrDA IrDA-Off, IrDA-SIR, HP-Ir

4. Press the SEL button to print the next parameter, and then use the FEED button to
change that parameter to the desired value.
5. Repeat Step 4 as necessary to change all desired parameters.
6. Once all parameters have been set, press and hold down the SEL button, and then press
the FEED button to save the new settings; a er which the message “Data Keeping,
Setting mode END !!” should be printed.

Appendix 1 Thermal Printer 98

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 A1.2.4 Using the Printer
Turn the printer ON and observe that the Power LED should glow green. Connect the
printer to the RAD8 with the included data cable. Choose a RAD8 print command to
initiate printing.
If the printer does not print, or if random characters are printed, check that the baud rate
of the printer is set to the correct value.
To see examples of the printed output that can be generated at the completion of Cycles
and Tests, see Section 2.6.4.

A1.3 Thermal Printer Maintenance

A1.3.1 Battery Installation

e printer requires four AA alkaline batteries. To install or replace the batteries, rst turn
the printer OFF. Next, unlatch and remove the battery cover. Remove any old batteries and
dispose of them properly. en insert four new AA alkaline batteries, observing the
polarity marked inside the battery compartment. Finally, replace the battery cover.

A1.3.2 Paper Installation

When the printer runs out of paper as indicated by the front panel red LED ashing,
install a new paper roll as follows:
1. Li up the paper cover latch, and then open the paper cover as illustrated on the
following page.
2. Remove the spent paper core and dispose of it.
3. Drop in a new paper roll so that it will rotate in the direction shown in the
illustration.
4. Close the paper cover so that the paper is pinched between the roller and the print
head. Remove any slack by pulling out about 1⁄2 inch of paper from the printer.
Note: If there was unprinted data in the memory when the printer ran out of paper, and
the printer was not shut OFF, then the printer will automatically print the remaining data
5 seconds a er closing the paper cover.

Appendix 1 Thermal Printer 99

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 Thermal Printer Maintenance

A1.3.3 Cleaning the Printer

External surfaces of the printer may be kept clean by simply wiping with a damp cloth. Do
not use any solvents that may attack the plastic case. Be sure that the inside surfaces are
kept dry at all times.

A1.3.4 Cleaning the Print Head

To maintain a good print quality, it is recommended that the print head be cleaned at least
once a year or up to once a month if the printer is used heavily. e print head should be
cleaned immediately, however, if the print becomes visibly fainter due to contamination of
the print head. e cleaning procedure requires isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs, and
should be completed as follows:
1. Switch the printer OFF, and allow the print head to cool before cleaning, otherwise
damage to the print head may occur.
2. Open the paper cover and remove the paper roll.

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 3. Using a cotton swab dampened with alcohol, wipe the heating dots of the print head.
Be careful not to touch the heating dots with your ngers.
4. Allow the alcohol to dry.
5. Reload the paper and close the paper cover.

A1.4 Thermal Printer Speci cations

e following table contains the physical and technical speci cations for the thermal printer. ese
speci cations apply to the Omniprint OM1000 printer and to the Chamjin I&C New Handy printer, model
700-BT. ese printers are similar to the now-discontinued HP 82240B printer, except that the HP printer
had to have external 12V power supplied in order to stay awake for more than 10 minutes between
printouts. e newer printer models run on battery power only.

Table A1.4 Thermal Printer Speci cations

Printing Method Direct thermal

Number of Columns 32, 48 columns, 384 dots/line
Character Size 0.06 x 0.12 in. (1.5 x 3.0 mm)
Line Pitch 0.1 in (4.0 mm)
Paper Type 2.25 in. (57.5 mm). Thermal paper required.
Interface IrDA and Serial (RS-232C)
Protocol IrDA-SIR, HP-Ir, IrDA-Off
International Characters U.S.A., France, U.K., Denmark, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Japan, Norway, Korea
Buffer 7 kB
Baud Rate 300-115,200 bps, IrDA: 9,600-115,200 bps
Power 4 AA Alkaline Batteries
Weight with batteries 0.8 lb. (0.4 kg)
Dimensions 3.2” W x 5.6” L x 1.6” H (81 x 142 x 41mm)

Appendix 1 Thermal Printer 101

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Appendix 2: RAD8 Specifications
The following tables detail the functional, technical, and physical specifications of the RAD8.

Table A2.1 Functional Specifications

Analysis Modes • Rapid: Quick response and rapid recovery radon measurement
• Precise: High sensitivity radon measurement
• Auto: Automatic switch from Rapid to Precise Analysis Mode after three hours
• Radon source options include Air and Water
Thoron Measurement Built-in Sniff Protocol: Maximum flow rate for enhanced thoron sensitivity
Control Panel Touchscreen or physical button controls
Waterproof and dustproof with case open or closed (IP67)
Data Storage 16 GB storage for millions of records, each with full sensor and spectrum data
Sample Pumping Built-in pump draws sample from chosen sampling point
Flow rate typically 0.6 L/min
Sensors 3 temperature sensors, RH sensor, barometer, accelerometer
Connectivity Wi-Fi, 2 USB ports, COM port, Accessory port
Audio Output Multiple audio output options for real-time communication of detection events
Tamper Resistance Password-protected lock screen secures RAD8 against tampering
RAD8 case securable with padlocks

Table A2.2 Technical Specifications

Principle of Operation Electrostatic collection with silicon detector and alpha spectrometry
Rapid Analysis Mode counts 218Po decays
Precise Analysis Mode counts both 218Po and 214Po decays
Built-In Air Pump 0.6 L/min flow rate with bypass option for external pumping or flows
Measurement Accuracy ± 5% absolute accuracy, 0% - 100% RH
Nominal Sensitivity Rapid Analysis Mode, 0.40 cpm/(pCi/L), 0.011 cpm/(Bq/m3)
Precise Analysis Mode, 0.82 cpm/(pCi/L), 0.022 cpm/(Bq/m3)
Radon Range 0 - 270,000 pCi/L (0 - 10M Bq/m3)
Intrinsic Background 0.004 pCi/L (0.15 Bq/m3) or less, for the life of the instrument
Recovery Time Residual activity in Rapid Analysis Mode drops by factor of 1,000 in 30 minutes
Operating Ranges Temperature: 0° - 50°C
Humidity: 0% - 100%, non-condensing
Cycle Range User controllable number of Cycles, from 1 to unlimited, per Test
User controllable Cycle Time, from 5 minutes to 24 hours
Capture Software • Compatible with all major versions of Windows and macOS
• Automatic RAD8 connection, data download, and real-time status monitoring
• Graphs radon, thoron, temperature, humidity, and barometric data over time
• Automatic correction for humidity and other factors
• Statistical analysis tools track concentration averages and uncertainties
• Control RAD8 operations from computer via direct or remote connection
• Browse RAD8 data stored on Capture Cloud

Appendix 2 RAD8 Specifications 102

Table A2.3 Physical Speci cations

Dimensions 12.5” x 10.1” x 6” (31.8 x 25.7 x 15.2 cm)

Weight 7.4 pounds (3.35 kg)
LCD Display Output IPS 480 x 272 full color touchscreen, sunlight readable, wide viewing angle
Case Material Indestructible, MIL-SPEC certi ed, IP67
Power Supply 11-15V DC (12V nominal) @ 2A, center pin positive
Battery Rechargeable lithium ion battery provides 3 days continuous operation

Appendix 2 RAD8 Speci cations 103

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 Appendix 3: Glossary of Terms
The following RAD8-related terms appear throughout this manual. It is important for RAD8 users to
understand the meanings of these terms.

Term De nition See Section(s)

Analysis Mode The RAD8’s Analysis Mode determines which Spectrum Window(s) 2.3.5
inform the calculation of radon concentrations. The instrument can 4.9
operate in either “Rapid” or “Precise” Analysis Mode. With Rapid
Analysis Mode, calculations involve Spectrum Window A (the “new
radon” window) exclusively, whereas with Precise Analysis Mode
calculations involve both Window A and Window C (the “old radon”
window). Precise Analysis Mode achieves a factor of 2 higher count
rate for a given radon activity concentration, improving statistical
precision, but at the cost of a slower response time. Analysis Mode
has no impact on how the RAD8 physically operates, leaving the user
free to switch between Analysis Modes at any time with no effect on
the saved data.
Capture Software Durridge’s software for Windows and macOS, used to obtain and 3.2
analyze data from the RAD8, monitor the RAD8 status, and control the
RAD8. Capture also provides access to Capture Cloud, which is a
cloud-based service for storing, browsing, and sharing RAD8 radon
data.
Concentration Radon and thoron measurements are recorded as activity 2.6.1
concentrations, which may be expressed as Picocuries per liter (pCi/L)
or Becquerels per cubic meter (Bq/m3). Picocurie is the favored unit of
radon activity in the U.S., while Becquerel is the favored unit in the rest
of the world. 1 pCi/L equals 37 Bq/m3.
Cycle A single RAD8 data reading, which is typically represented as a radon 1.4.5
data point on a graph. Cycle lengths are usually between 5 minutes
and several hours in duration, as speci ed by the user. A RAD8 Test
consists of a series of Cycles.
Data Slice An indivisible 5-minute block of RAD8 data. Cycles consist of one or 5.5.2
more Data Slices. For example if a Cycle duration is 20 minutes, the 5.5.11
Cycle will consist of four 5-minute Data Slices. Each 5-minute period
of RAD8 operation normally involves 2 minutes of pump run time,
followed by 3 minutes of pump idle time. Data Slices can be
recombined using Capture to adjust the spacing between graph data
points, to better facilitate data analysis.
ID (Inner Diameter) An ID speci cation indicates the inner diameter of a tube. Each tubing 1.4.1
connector requires a tube with a particular ID. When measuring 1.5
thoron, a small ID is desirable, since it increases the speed at which
the air sample reaches the RAD8’s measurement chamber, minimizing
decay in transit.
Live When the RAD8 is Live it is conducting a Test and recording data. 2.4
When the RAD8 is not conducting a Test it is Idle.

Appendix 3 Glossary of Terms 104

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 Protocol A RAD8 Protocol is a speci c combination of Test parameters, 2.3.2
determining the Test duration, pump behavior, and other Test
attributes. The RAD8 contains several built-in Protocols, and it is also
possible to create custom User Protocols.
Run Synonymous with Test (as described below), but used exclusively in N/A
reference to RAD7 data, not RAD8 data.
Sensitivity The RAD8’s responsiveness to radon and thoron, typically denoted in 4.5.1
counts per minute per picocurie per liter, which is abbreviated as cpm/
(pCi/L). A higher sensitivity allows the RAD8 to achieve a statistically
meaningful measurement more rapidly. Each RAD8 is programmed
with separate sensitivity gures for Rapid and Precise Analysis Modes,
as determined by radon calibration. By default, thoron sensitivity is set
to a xed fraction of Rapid Analysis Mode sensitivity. For a small extra
fee, Durridge can perform a dedicated thoron calibration using
uncerti ed calibration materials, and program the RAD8 with the
measured sensitivity.
Spectrum The RAD8 detects radon by registering the energies of alpha particles 4.6
emitted through the decay of radon progeny that have been produced
inside the measurement chamber from the decay of radon. These
energies populate a scale called the Spectrum. The Spectrum is
depicted as a histogram ranging from 0 MeV to 10 MeV, and it typically
contains prominent peaks representing the accumulation of radon and
thoron detection events.
Spectrum Window The spectrum peaks described above appear in four consecutive 4.7
segments of the spectrum energy scale, which are called the A, B, C,
and D Windows. These represent new radon, new thoron, old radon,
and old thoron, respectively. If, for example, a peak forms in the B
Window, it is evident that the RAD8 has detected new thoron.
Spill Factor The portion of a spectrum peak that occupies a neighboring spectrum 4.5.1
window. For example, a small percentage of the total counts in the C 5.5.3
Window peak fall in a low-energy tail that extends downward into the 7.4.2
B Window. Likewise, the tail of the B Window peak extends downward
slightly into the A Window, and the tail of the D Window peak extends
downward slightly into the C Window. We call these the CB, BA, and
DC Spill Factors, respectively. These phenomena are accounted for
automatically by the RAD8 rmware when calculating reported radon
and thoron concentrations.
Test A RAD8 Test consists of all the data that is recorded between the time 1.4.5
the instrument is started and when it is stopped. A test consists of
multiple Cycles, each of which may be between 5 minutes and several
hours in duration.
Uncertainty When the RAD8 reports radon and thoron concentrations, the 1.5
concentration value is accompanied by an additional value indicating 4.11.3
the 2-sigma (k=2) statistical uncertainty (as distinguished from 8.2.2
systematic uncertainty). This is based on a 95% con dence interval,
meaning the true concentration will fall within the speci ed uncertainty
range 95% of the time. Large uncertainty values are often the product
of the fact that it is impossible to measure low radon concentrations
quickly. This can be avoided by increasing the Cycle Time.

Appendix 3 Glossary of Terms 105

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© Copyright 2022 Durridge Company Inc. All rights reserved.

Durridge, the Durridge logo, and the Works with the Durridge logo are trademarks of Durridge Company
Inc., registered in the U.S.

Note: Durridge frequently updates its product manuals with new information. The latest version of this
manual can be downloaded in PDF format from the following location:
http://durridge.com/support/product-manuals/

Revision 2022-12-14

Appendix 3 Glossary of Terms 106