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Provisions for buildings and workplaces

Symbol of radon regulations Radon regulations

Protection from radon and its risks for health are regulated in Radiation Protection Act and in the Radiation Protection Ordinance.

Their aim is to prevent as far as possible or to significantly impair the entry of radon into buildings, in particular in areas where a high radon concentration can be expected in many buildings. Protection provisions apply in these areas and these are different for residential buildings and workplaces.

Under Radiation Protection Act, a reference value of 300 becquerels per cubic meter of room air provides a standard for the suitability of protection measures.

Legal protection against radon

Legal regulations for the protection against radon

Protection against radon is regulated in the Radiation Protection Act. The Act provides for various measures to protect human health in areas with high occurrence of radon. The measures affect both residential buildings and workplaces.

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Radon precautionary areas

Since 2021, radon precautionary areas are subject to special radon-protection regulations that go beyond the nationwide rules. The federal states were required to designate areas as radon precautionary areas by the end of 2020 if a high concentration of radon is to be expected in many buildings in the area. This decision must be regularly reviewed. The decisions of the federal states are based on radon measurement data and predictions. When evaluating the data, the federal states can request support from the BfS, among other bodies.

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Radon action plan of Federal Environment Ministry

In order to improve the protection of the population against radon, the Federal Environment Ministry – with the participation of the Federal States and the BfS – has drawn up a radon action plan. It is intended to inform both experts and interested citizens about the measures to reduce radon levels in common areas and workplaces planned by the Federal Government and the Federal States.

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300 becquerel per cubic metre

Reference value

As a standard for testing the suitability of measures to protect against radon, radiation protection act stipulates a reference value of 300 becquerels per cubic metre. A reference value is not a limit value that must not be exceeded. The definition of "reference value" is different around the world. Common to all definitions is that action should not be left until after the reference value has been exceeded – protection measures are sensible in advance too.

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Drawing of a workplace equipment

Radon at the workplace

To reduce the radon long-term risks at workplaces in Germany, the averaged annual radon concentration at workplaces should be below 300 Becquerels per cubic metre. If the radon concentration is higher, protective measures must be taken for the workers at these workplaces. At certain workplaces measurements employers are legally obligated to measure the radon concentration. A graduated procedure will help to minimise costs for employers.

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