RRNC that actually passes: rough-ins built to Iowa City's radon code, and fans on the stubs builders left passive.
Code-compliant RRNC rough-ins for builders, and passive-to-active conversions for owners of new homes that still test high.
From $650 · Activated systems carry the same below-4.0 post-test guarantee as every install.
The problem
Iowa City's building code requires radon-resistant new construction — a distinction shared by only about 11 jurisdictions in the entire country. But 'radon-resistant' means a passive pipe, not a working system.
A passive stub with no fan on it moves almost no air. We routinely test 2-year-old homes in Tiffin and North Liberty — gas-tight envelopes, code-compliant stub in the utility closet — at 6 to 12 pCi/L. New does not mean safe; it means the hard part is already plumbed.
For builders: we install the sub-slab loop, sealed membrane penetrations, and vertical stack correctly the first time, coordinated with your slab pour. For owners: we put a fan and gauge on your existing stub, seal the pit, and post-test — usually the cheapest mitigation install we do, because the builder already ran the pipe.
What’s included
- Builder rough-ins: perforated sub-slab loop or soil-gas mat, sealed vapor-barrier penetrations, labeled vertical stack
- Coordination with your concrete and framing schedule — no trade delays
- Post-occupancy activation: inline fan, u-tube gauge, attic or exterior mount
- 48-hour post-activation verification test
- Documentation for the City of Iowa City inspection file
Our process
- 1Builders: we scope the rough-in off your foundation plan and quote per lot
- 2Rough-in installed ahead of the slab pour; stack run during framing
- 3After occupancy (or a high test), we activate: fan, gauge, sealing
- 4Post-test confirms below 4.0 pCi/L — same written guarantee as a retrofit
Transparent pricing
| Builder RRNC rough-in (per lot, at slab stage) | from $650 |
| Passive-to-active conversion (fan + gauge on existing stub) | from $800 |
| Rough-in + activation package (single contract, one warranty) | from $1,350 |
Frequently asked questions
My home is brand new and has 'a radon system.' Am I done?
Probably not. If there's no fan and no u-tube gauge on the pipe, you have a passive stub — required by Iowa City code, but rarely enough on its own. Test first ($150); if you're over 4.0, activating the stub is typically our least expensive install because the routing already exists.
Does Coralville or North Liberty require RRNC too?
Iowa City's requirement is the notable one — it's among roughly 11 jurisdictions nationwide with radon-resistant new construction in code. Requirements elsewhere in Johnson County vary by year built and jurisdiction, which is exactly why we test new homes everywhere in the county regardless of what's in the wall.