Radon in Cochrane, Alberta: What to Know and How to Test
By First Choice Radon · Updated November 9, 2026 · 6 min read
Radon is a natural gas you cannot see or smell. A Calgary-area study found Cochrane had the highest average radon of any area it measured. Here is what that means, and how to find out your own level.
Bq/m³, Cochrane’s average in a Calgary-area study. Highest of any area measured.
Bq/m³, Health Canada’s guideline. Reduce radon within a year at or above it.
days is how long a proper radon test runs, so it captures day-to-day swings.
Why Cochrane gets extra attention
Radon is a radioactive gas that forms when uranium in soil and rock slowly breaks down. It rises from the ground and can enter a building through cracks, drains and gaps where the building meets the soil. Breathing it for many years raises the risk of lung cancer. Health Canada calls radon the second leading cause of lung cancer in Canada, and the leading cause among people who have never smoked.
The research
A University of Calgary study tested 2,382 homes in Calgary and surrounding areas from 2013 to 2016. Cochrane had the highest average of any area, at 261 Bq/m³.
A growing town
Cochrane counted 37,011 residents in its 2024 census and has grown about 5% a year since 2011. In the same study, buildings constructed from 1992 onward averaged about 31% higher radon than older ones, so a newer building is no reason to skip a test.
Every building differs
An average describes a group of buildings, not yours. Radon can differ a lot between two buildings side by side. For context, the 2024 Cross-Canada Survey of Radon found 16.7% of Alberta homes at or above 200 Bq/m³.
How testing works, in three steps
The only way to know your level is to test. Health Canada recommends measuring for at least 91 days, because radon rises and falls from day to day and a short test can miss your real average.
We set it up
A C-NRPP certified professional chooses where the detector goes, starting at the lowest level of the building, where radon is usually highest. Any space can be tested.
You carry on
No preparation is needed. Use the building as you normally would and leave the detector where it was placed.
We explain the result
We collect the detector when the test ends and explain your number in plain language.
The test is $99, reimbursed on a mitigation quote if you choose First Choice Radon. A short-term test of a few days is available for sales, followed by the 91-day test.
What your result means
Below 200 Bq/m³
No action is required, though lower is always better. 200 Bq/m³ is the same as 5.4 pCi/L.
200 Bq/m³ or more
Health Canada recommends reducing radon within one year. We provide a written mitigation quote.
Well above 200
Act sooner. A higher level calls for a faster fix, but it is still not an emergency.
How radon is lowered
Mitigation stops the building from drawing in soil gas and vents it outside. Most systems use sub-slab depressurization, and a C-NRPP certified professional designs and installs each one.
Communication test
We check how far suction spreads under the floor, which tells us how many suction points are needed.
Suction point
We core a hole through the floor, form a small pit beneath it and run a vent pipe.
Fan and pipe
The fan is mounted inside on the pipe, usually right above the hole. The pipe exits through the side of the building, clear of windows, doors and air intakes.
A small gauge called a manometer shows the fan is working, and most installations take about a day. Some buildings need extras: a sealed membrane over exposed crawlspace soil, an airtight lid on a sump pit, or a fan added to a capped rough-in pipe. Mitigation starts from $1,799 and is quoted in writing first. After installation we retest to confirm your level has dropped. In most homes a system can reduce radon by up to 95%, and Health Canada advises retesting after installation and every five years after that.
Cochrane radon questions
Do I need to test if my building is new?
Yes. Newer buildings are not exempt. In the University of Calgary study, buildings constructed from 1992 onward averaged about 31% higher radon than older ones. Alberta’s building code requires a capped rough-in pipe in newly built homes, but the pipe only makes a fix easier later. It is not a working radon system until a fan is added, and only a test shows your level.
Where in Cochrane can you test for radon?
We test anywhere in Cochrane and the surrounding area, including Bearspaw, Springbank, Bragg Creek and Rocky View County. We choose where the detector goes, usually starting at the lowest level of the building, and any space can be tested.
How long does a radon test take in Cochrane?
A proper test runs at least 91 days, because radon changes from day to day. We set up the detector, collect it when the test ends and explain your result. A short-term test of a few days is available when you need a quick snapshot, such as during a sale, and a 91-day test follows.
What does radon testing and mitigation cost in Cochrane?
A 91-day radon test is $99, reimbursed on a mitigation quote if you choose First Choice Radon. Mitigation starts from $1,799. It depends on the building, so it is quoted in writing before any work begins.
Is a high radon result in Cochrane an emergency?
No. The risk builds over years of breathing radon, so there is time to act. Health Canada recommends reducing radon within one year if your long-term average is 200 Bq/m³ or more, and sooner if it is higher.
Test your Cochrane property
First Choice Radon is based in Cochrane and serves nearby Bearspaw, Springbank, Bragg Creek, Rocky View County and Calgary. See our Cochrane radon testing and mitigation page, or book below.
Sources: Health Canada, radon; University of Calgary study, 2013 to 2016; 2024 Cross-Canada Survey of Radon; Town of Cochrane, 2024 census.
More radon guides
Radon Mitigation Cost in Alberta (2026 Guide)
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October 14, 2026Radon Test Results Explained: Bq/m³ and pCi/L
What your radon number means, the 200 Bq/m³ guideline, and what to do next.
September 30, 2026Radon Testing When Buying or Selling a Home in Alberta
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