Bill Brodhead

WPB Enterprises Inc

Radon & Vapor Intrusion
Consultant - Researcher - Instructor
Website Information Provider

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WPB Radon & Vapor Intrusion
Mitigation Fan Testing

All fans are tested under identical conditions. Each fan is connected to 10 feet of PVC piping. Airflow, pressure & wattage are then measured as resistance is applied to the intake.

WPB Home Page        Choosing best Fan to use        Reducing System Noise

Pipe & Fitting Pressure Drop        Elevation & Fan Performance        All Information

Measuring airflow in pipes        Resistance Location        Piping Pressure Drop

Fan Testing method        Fan Operating Cost

FanTech:

FR100 FR150 HP190 HP220 HP2133 HP2190 FR250-8 REC10XL HP190SL RN4-4

RadonAway:

GP201    GP301    GP401    GP501    RP145    RP140    RP260
   2-RP145's   XP151    XP201    XR261    RP265    RP380
   All RadonAway Fans    HS2000    HS5000    SF180

Festa AMG:

Spirit Maverick Legend Hawk Force Prowler Eagle
Fury Fury I vs II All AMGs

Obar GBR:

GBR45 GBR45XL GBR76 SOE GBR76 UD
GBR76 UD 120 vs 240 GBR89 HA&MA

Comparisons:

GP fans    Low Watt    High Vacuum    High Airflow    Mid Range1
   Box Fans    Mid Range2    Fan Wattages    All Fantech fans
   2 HP220-4    2 HP220-6    Large Fans

Ram/Gam & Elicent, SunCourt, Fan Max:

Ram II AXC100A TF104W TF106 Fan Max

High Vacuum Radial Fans

40/75 GBR76 SOE GBR76 HO GBR89 HA&MA

Tjernlund

Radon Vac RMS160 RMS160 Exhaust FPM
RMS160 Exhaust Testing

Choosing the Best Fan to Use

There is no best fan but there can be the best fan for your situation.

Generally fans can be broken into Four categories:

Low Wattage Fans - good sub-slab gravel and slab sealing.

Mid Range Fans - less than optimal sub-slab aggregate and/or slab leakage

High Flow Fans - Lots of slab leaks or very porous soil or multiple foundations to treat

High Vacuum Fans - Packed dirt under the slab with likely low system airflow.

Sometimes the mitigation system has both characteristics such as compacted soil under a slab and high airflow sub-membrane suction in a crawl space. The High Flow fans will generally take care of this situation but there is a noise and energy use penalty.

It is also wise to always choose the lowest wattage fan that will accomplish the job. Lower wattage fans are almost always quieter and their long term energy costs can be significant.

Pipe size limits the maximum airflow that can be achieved. In the chart below the 20 watt RP140 with 4" pipe moves as much free air as a 120 watt HP220 can move with 3" pipe. If you need to move air you must have a large enough pipe.

FanTech FR100