Total Control: Radon Monitoring with SARAD's ROOMS Software

Introduction

Radon, an odorless and radioactive gas, is a vital geological tracer used in fields such as earthquake research, water transportation studies, and radiation safety. Its presence in buildings and workplaces poses health risks, especially in enclosed areas where it can accumulate to dangerous levels. Continuous radon monitoring is crucial for safety and compliance with radiation protection laws. Modern radon measuring devices not only detect radon but also distinguish it from other gases like thoron, enabling precise and reliable readings. This is where SARAD's innovative monitoring systems, equipped with advanced software like ROOMS, come into play. ROOMS complements SARAD’s Data radon data analysis software Radon Vision. If you haven’t checked out our blog pos ton Radon Vision, you can find it here

Advanced Measurement Techniques

Accurate radon measurement is critical for a variety of applications, from geological research to maintaining safe indoor environments. Radon monitors play a vital role in tracking radon levels continuously and over extended periods. SARAD offers several devices, each tailored to specific needs. Some of the SARAD suite of devices is listed at the end of this post.

About ROOMS

SARAD’s Radon Online Monitoring Software (ROOMS) is designed to complement their state-of-the-art radon measuring devices, providing users with an intuitive yet powerful tool for managing radon data across various applications.

ROOMS offers:

• A highly secure platform because no cloud service is required – owner remains in control of all data.

• A bidirectional communication - the network connection can also be used by the Radon Vision software for remote control and configuration of hardware as well as data download.

• Plug & play installation - within a local network (or VPN). No network administration is required.

To connect ROOMS to the instruments the instrument computer or a SARAD IP-Box can be used. ROOMS periodically polls the measurement results and present the data clearly and in large numbers on the screen. The number of instruments within the network is only limited by the resolution and size of the screen.

SARAD's IP Box, a mini computer with Radon Vision installed. It is a plug and play system to connect your Rn instruments to.

 ROOMS is based on already available networks (LAN, WiFi) making it easy to install. The software integrates seamlessly with devices like the Radon Scout Professional, Radon Scout Home, and RTM 1688-2, allowing users to continuously monitor radon levels and receive real-time alerts when concentrations exceed safe thresholds. The safety thresholds used by ROOMS can be adjusted to meet regulatory guidelines.

For dose management in workplaces, ROOMS supports instruments like the EQF3200 and EQF3220, which measure both radon and its decay products to provide a comprehensive view of worker exposure. The software's detailed reporting tools help companies comply with new radiation protection laws by continuously tracking radon levels and providing data for dose calculations.

SARAD's Radon Online Monitoring System, ROOMS

Summary

With its versatile and user-friendly design, SARAD’s ROOMS software simplifies the process of radon monitoring, ensuring that users can maintain safe environments, whether they’re conducting research, managing building ventilation, or ensuring radiation protection in industrial settings.

Radon Scout Home

Ideal for long-term indoor monitoring. It provides reliable readings using a silicon detector with a sensitivity of 0.092 cpm/1000 Bq/m³. This device is designed for home environments where continuous radon monitoring is essential for health and safety.

Radon Scout Professional

This is a highly sensitive instrument with a sensitivity of ≥ 3.3 cpm/1000 Bq/m³, equipped with a Lucas Cell + SiPM detector. This model is suited for environments where low radon concentrations need to be measured accurately, such as workplaces and scientific research. The Radon Scout Professional measurements are not affected by Humidity temperature changes or external vibrations. This is the perfect instrument for workplaces requiring high quality Rn data.

Radon Scout Plus

This instrument offers similar features to the Radon Scout, with diffusion sampling and a Si + HV detector, making it suitable for both indoor and short-term monitoring. Its compact design and ease of use make it an excellent choice for professionals conducting periodic radon checks.

Radon Scout Expert

For the most advanced applications, the Radon Scout Expert P stands out with a sensitivity of ≥ 25 cpm/1000 Bq/m³, making it one of the most precise radon measuring devices available. With its multiple Lucas Cells and real alpha-spectroscopy capabilities, it is the instrument of choice for those requiring high-resolution data over short periods. This model is perfect for scientific studies and environments where immediate response to radon fluctuations is critical.

These advanced instruments ensure that users can monitor radon levels with confidence, whether at home, in the workplace, or in specialized research environments. Their integration with SARAD’s ROOMS software enhances the capability for continuous, accurate radon tracking and data analysis. ​

Radon Vision 8: The Ultimate Radon Control Software

Instrument Data Screen in Radon Vision

Radon Vision is your ultimate companion when it comes to reliable radon measurements using SARAD’s radon and thoron monitoring devices. Radon Vision allows you to control the devices and their settings, as well as calculate doses with adjustable dose conversion and equilibrium factors. Radon Vision interfaces with the following SARAD instruments:

DOSEman Family

DOSEman

DOSEman PRO

Radon Scout Family

Radon Scout 1 and 2

Radon Scout PLUS

Radon Scout Home (P, CO2)

Radon Scout Professional (P, CO2)

Smart Radon Sensor

Other Devices

Thoron Scout

RTM 1688

RTM 1688-2

Analog Radon Sensor

Analog Progeny Sensor

Indoor Air Sensor

Mean Radon Concentration

Whether you are measuring Rn concentrations in a home or workplace, Radon Vision 8 gives you the tools to measure and extract meaningful Rn measurements. Obtaining a mean and the statistical errors over a whole measurement campaign can be done easily and without interrupting the measurement. The data can be downloaded while a measurement is taking place by connecting the instrument to the computer, starting Radon Vision 7 and pressing CTRL+G. After the data is downloaded, the whole measurement curve can be selected with SHIFT+double-click. This automatically shows the mean and error for the measurement. A report can be generated directly from here and exported to the Excel format.

Radon Vision With Selected Measurement Windows For Calculating Rn Mean and Statistical Errors

Selecting Measurement Periods by Room Use

If you are measuring Rn concentrations in a workplace or school environment, then chances are you will want to only measure radon concentrations relevant to the time the site is in use. Selecting recurring subsets of the measurement campaign can be easily done using Outlook, Gmail, Thunderbird calendars or any other app capable of exporting .ics files. Using a school and Outlook as an example, the school calendar can be populated using the recurring meeting function in Outlook and setting the days and times of recurrence. Exporting these meeting times as a .ics file they can then be loaded into Radon Vision 7 to have the software automatically select the relevant times and days in the measurement campaign. The software will then calculate the radon concentration mean and errors only from the selected areas, giving an accurate picture of the exposure to staff and students.

Adding an iCal file to Create Complex Measurement Windows Specific To Site Use Case

Open and Evaluate Multiple Data Files

Radon Vision 7 allows you to open multiple files from the same instrument making it possible to calculate exposure even if different measurement campaigns are performed. The combined measurements can then be saved as a single file that Radon Vision 7 can subsequently open and evaluate again if necessary. This feature is useful if data is acquired in several measurement lots (e.g. monthly read-outs over a year).

Summary

Radon Vision is a versatile software that makes radon exposure calculations easy even under complex measurement circumstances. With the ability to import calendar entries to set measurement windows, even the most complex exposure scenarios are made easy. If you want to know how to connect and monitor multiple detectors from the one software then take a look at our blog post on ROOMS, SARAD’s new software dedicated to bringing together multiple instrument readouts.