Vapor Intrusion Mitigation

What is vapor intrusion?

Vapor intrusion occurs when chemicals in soil or groundwater migrate out of the ground to contaminate indoor air in a structure above. These vapors may include:

• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
• Semi-volatile organic compounds
• Inorganics, such as mercury or hydrogen sulfide
• Methane
• Radon

Typically, vapors enter a structure by way of its foundation, through cracks from settling, gaps around plumbing and utility lines, or even through the pores of the concrete itself.

What’s the danger of vapor Intrusion?

Vapor intrusion poses a risk for anyone breathing the contaminated air. Health risks can be immediate or long term depending on the chemicals, the vapor concentration, the amount of ventilation, and how much time people are exposed. In rare cases, vapor buildup from chemicals such as gasoline can create a risk of explosion.

Because of these dangers, vapor intrusion is a significant environmental issue that has become a matter of concern for regulators as well as real estate developers, insurance carriers, building owners, and structure occupants and residents.

How to mitigate vapor Intrusion

CETCO offers a suite of sub-slab vapor intrusion barrier systems comprised of membranes, geomembranes, geotextile reinforcing, protection layers, drainage, and venting components.

Elements of premier vapor intrusion barrier systems

With over 50 million square feet of successful installations, CETCO vapor intrusion barrier systems are proven protection from dangerous subsurface chemical vapors for hospitals, schools, libraries, high-rise commercial and residential buildings, multi-family housing developments, and major public works projects worldwide.

Critical elements for successful and long-lasting vapor intrusion mitigation include:

• Unique formulation for reliable protection from methane, VOCs, and water vapor
• Fully-adhered system to reduce the risk of uncontrolled gas migration
• Monolithic composition to eliminate potential for seam failures
• Spray application - for numerous advantages over thin-mil and sheet systems, including:
  • Tough and flexible barrier, even at low temperatures
  • Effective penetration sealing
  • No mechanical fastening
  • Installation in a range of climates
  • Lower diffusion properties
  • Superior tensile elongation and bond strengths
  • Economical installation
• Long-term, dependable performance

CETCO Quality Assurance

CETCO is the leader and pioneer in cutting-edge environmental products and solutions. Around the globe, our innovative teams of clay mineralogists, chemists, and polymer scientists transform ordinary minerals into extraordinary technology to solve day-to-day problems worldwide.