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Can radon come through a concrete floor?

Yes. Radon enters buildings through cracks, joints, service penetrations and gaps in the floor construction, and concrete alone is not an effective radon barrier. That is why a dedicated radon-resisting membrane, fully sealed at all penetrations, is specified under Part C rather than relying on the slab itself.

Soil gas moves into buildings because the inside of a heated house is usually at slightly lower pressure than the ground beneath it. That pressure difference draws air through any available path: shrinkage cracks in the slab, the joint between floor and wall, gaps around pipes and cables, and openings around service ducts.

A concrete slab reduces but does not stop this flow. Effective protection depends on a continuous radon-resisting membrane properly lapped and sealed, combined where necessary with sub-floor depressurisation using a sump.

Common radon entry points

  • Cracks and construction joints in the floor slab
  • The junction between the floor and the external wall
  • Service entries for water, drainage, electricity and telecoms
  • Gaps around ducts and around suspended floor voids
  • Unsealed access hatches and sumps

Sources

Last reviewed 25 August 2026. General information only — not legal or planning advice.

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