National Legislation
Legislative Decree 101/2020: Complete Guide to Radon Regulations in Italy
In-depth analysis of Legislative Decree July 31, 2020 n. 101. Measurement obligations, reference levels, sanctions, and operating procedures for employers and professionals.
What is Legislative Decree 101/2020?
Implementation of European Directive 2013/59/Euratom
Regulatory References
Consult the official text published in the Official Gazette.
Official GazetteDownload the text of D.Lgs 101/2020 in PDF format.
Download PDF (7.0 MB)Consolidated Law on Radiation Protection
The Legislative Decree July 31, 2020, n. 101 represents the Italian consolidated text regarding protection against dangers arising from exposure to ionizing radiation. This decree, commonly abbreviated as D.Lgs 101/2020, has completely reformed the radiation protection discipline in our country, repealing previous fragmented regulations (D.Lgs 230/95, D.Lgs 241/2000) and introducing for the first time an organic approach to managing Radon gas risk.
The decree transposes into Italian law the European Directive 2013/59/Euratom, which establishes basic safety standards regarding protection against dangers arising from exposure to ionizing radiation. With this regulatory instrument, Italy aligns with the most advanced European standards in protecting the health of workers and the general population.
Radon Risk Recognition
The most innovative aspect of D.Lgs 101/2020 lies in the formal recognition of Radon as a priority public health risk factor. Radon gas, classified by the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) as a specific Group 1 carcinogen, is now managed through a system of mandatory obligations involving: identification of risk areas, systematic monitoring, remediation interventions, and a sanctions system for non-compliant parties.
Radon is the second cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking and the leading cause for non-smokers. In Italy, approximately 3,200 deaths per year are estimated to be attributable to exposure to this radioactive gas. Learn more about health risks →
The Corrective Decree D.Lgs 203/2022
The Legislative Decree November 25, 2022, n. 203, which entered into force on January 18, 2023, made significant changes to D.Lgs 101/2020, implementing comments from the European Commission and resolving critical issues that emerged in the initial implementation phase. Key novelties include: definition of underground premises (environment with at least three walls below ground level), confirmation of reference levels (300 Bq/m³ for existing buildings, 200 Bq/m³ for new constructions from 2025), deadlines (first measurement within 24 months from start of activity or identification of Priority Areas), training (periodicity from 3 to 5 years for managers and workers), and coordination with PNAR (National Radon Action Plan 2023-2032, approved by DPCM on January 11, 2024).
Who is Obliged to Measure Radon?
Art. 16-17: Scope of application and obligations
Underground Workplaces (National Obligation)
The obligation to measure radon concentration applies to all workplaces located in underground premises, regardless of geographic zone. There are no exemptions based on regional classification or type of activity: if a room is located, even partially, below ground level and workers are present, the employer is required to perform the radon risk assessment according to Art. 17.
Priority Areas: Ground Floors and Basements
For workplaces located in semi-basements or on the ground floor, the measurement obligation applies if the building is located in a municipality classified as a "Priority Area" by the competent Region. An area is defined as priority when it is estimated that at least 15% of buildings have concentrations exceeding 300 Bq/m³. Italian Regions are progressively publishing Priority Area maps based on monitoring campaigns coordinated with ARPA and local health authorities.
Schools, Hospitals, and Sensitive Structures (Annex II)
Annex II of D.Lgs 101/2020 identifies specific types of activities subject to mandatory monitoring, regardless of geographic classification: nurseries and kindergartens, primary and secondary schools of all levels, healthcare facilities (hospitals, clinics, nursing homes), thermal spas. For these structures, the measurement obligation also applies to premises located on the ground floor, where there is prolonged presence of people.
Reference Levels (Art. 12)
Annual average concentration thresholds beyond which intervention is mandatory
300 Bq/m³ - Existing Buildings
For workplaces and already constructed homes (existing building stock), the reference level is set at 300 Becquerels per cubic meter (Bq/m³). This value represents the annual average radon concentration in air, calculated over a measurement period of at least 12 months. Exceeding this threshold does not automatically result in a penalty, but triggers the obligation for the person responsible for the activity (typically the employer) to implement corrective measures aimed at reducing the concentration within the terms established by the law (24 months).
200 Bq/m³ - New Constructions
For newly constructed buildings, i.e., those whose projects were submitted after December 31, 2024, the reference level is more stringent: 200 Bq/m³. This legislative choice reflects the desire to build a future building stock that is intrinsically safer. Designers and construction companies are required to integrate preventive construction measures from the design phase: ventilated or isolated crawl spaces, anti-radon membranes and sheaths, preparation for soil depressurization systems, sealing of plant penetrations.
What does "Reference Level" mean?
It is fundamental to understand the terminological distinction: the legislator does not speak of absolute "limits", but of "reference levels". Unlike an insurmountable value (hard limit), the reference level represents a threshold beyond which it is mandatory to intervene to reduce exposure. In exceptional situations, and pending dose assessment, a higher concentration may be temporarily tolerated for the time strictly necessary for remediation interventions. This approach reflects the ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) principle adopted internationally: reduce exposure as much as possible taking into account technical, economic, and social factors.
Territorial Insights
Regional Regulations on Radon Gas
In Italy, Regions are progressively issuing local regulations that integrate and anticipate D.Lgs 101/2020 regarding protection from Radon gas. Some Regions, such as Puglia and Campania, introduced specific obligations even before the national decree, while others are completing the mapping of Priority Areas and publishing operating guidelines for citizens and businesses.
Lombardia
L.R. 3/2022 of March 3, 2022. First Italian region to fully implement D.Lgs 101/2020, introducing specific obligations for public buildings, workplaces, and new constructions. Priority Areas defined based on ARPA Lombardia data.
Discover Lombardia regulationsPuglia
L.R. 30/2016 and subsequent amendments (L.R. 36/2017). Pioneer region in radon regulation since 2016, with measuring obligations for schools, kindergartens, and healthcare facilities. Includes technical specifications for anti-radon design in new constructions.
Discover Puglia regulationsCampania
L.R. 13/2019 of July 8, 2019. Provides for measurement obligations for public buildings, schools, and new constructions. Particular attention to volcanic areas of Vesuvius and Phlegraean Fields, historically at high radon risk.
Discover Campania regulationsVeneto
DGR and ARPAV Guidelines. The Region is completing the mapping of Priority Areas in collaboration with ARPAV. Operating guidelines available for measurement and remediation techniques in existing buildings.
Discover Veneto regulationsFriuli Venezia Giulia
DGR and Regional Radon Plan. Region with historic attention to radon due to particular alpine and karst geology. Monitoring campaigns active since the 90s with ARPA FVG data. Regulation integrated into the regional prevention plan.
Discover FVG regulationsToscana
ARPAT Guidelines. Particular focus on volcanic areas of Mount Amiata and geothermal zones, historically characterized by elevated radon concentrations. Continuous monitoring in collaboration with local health authorities.
Discover Toscana regulationsMeasurement Procedure: What to Do
The operational process provided by Art. 17
Phase 1: Lab Assignment
The first step is to assign the radon measurement task to an accredited laboratory or a dosimetry service recognized according to the UNI ISO 11665 standard. Only a qualified analysis laboratory can issue test reports with legal validity for regulatory purposes. Discover our measurement service →
Phase 2: 12-Month Measurement
The measurement must cover a full calendar year (typically two consecutive semesters) to account for seasonal variations in radon concentration. Passive dosimeters (nuclear track CR-39) are positioned in rooms representative of workers' exposure.
Phase 3: Report and DVR
At the end of the measurement, the laboratory issues a test report. The employer must draft a technical report, integrate the assessment into the company DVR, keep the documentation for at least 8 years, and communicate the results to the workers concerned.
Phase 4: Possible Remediation
In case of exceeding the reference level (300 Bq/m³), the employer is obliged to implement corrective measures within 24 months, making use of a Radon Remediation Expert for the design and verification of interventions. The risk to workers' health requires timely interventions. Discover remediation solutions →
The Remediation Expert (Art. 15)
Legislative Decree 101/2020 introduces and regulates a new professional figure: the Radon Remediation Expert. This figure, governed by Article 15, is essential to guarantee the effectiveness and compliance of mitigation interventions. The Expert must be a technical professional (Engineer, Architect, Surveyor) registered with a professional association, who has obtained a specific qualification through a training course of at least 60 hours on radon diagnosis and mitigation techniques. Their involvement is mandatory when concentration exceeds reference levels.
The National Radon Action Plan (PNAR)
Article 10 of D.Lgs 101/2020 provides for the adoption of a National Radon Action Plan, a long-term strategic tool (2023-2032) aimed at coordinating prevention policies at the national level. The PNAR, approved by Decree of the President of the Council of Ministers, defines: reduction targets for population exposure, criteria for the identification of Priority Areas by Regions, guidelines for information and awareness campaigns, and the creation of a national measurement database (managed by ISIN).
Sanctions for Non-Compliance
Title XVI D.Lgs 101/2020 - Sanctioning apparatus
Sanctions Table
| Violation | Sanction |
|---|---|
| Omitted radon measurement (Art. 17, c.1) | Arrest 1-6 months or fine €2,000 - €15,000 |
| Failure to implement corrective measures (Art. 17, c.4) | Arrest 6 months - 1 year or fine €5,000 - €20,000 |
| Failure to communicate to workers (Art. 18) | Administrative pecuniary sanction |
Criminal Relevance of Violations
Title XVI of D.Lgs 101/2020 provides for a rigorous sanctioning apparatus for measurement and remediation obligations. It is important to emphasize that violations in radiation protection have criminal relevance (misdemeanor nature): convictions are entered in the offender's criminal record. Sanctions mainly hit the employer or business operator. The competent supervisory body (local ASL/SPISAL) has direct inspection and sanctioning power, being able to proceed ex officio to contest violations.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions on Radon Regulations
Answers to the most common doubts about D.Lgs 101/2020, measurement obligations, deadlines, sanctions, and operating procedures for employers and professionals.