Addressing Intentional Misinformation Spread by RadonAway
To Our Valued Customers and Radon Mitigation Professionals,
We are disappointed to have to address the unethical untruths spread by our competitor regarding the UL 507 standard impacting radon fans in the industry. Please read the entirety of this letter to learn the truth about our product’s compliance and understand the tactics of our competitors.
You may have heard rumors spread by Spruce Environmental Technologies, Inc., or read Spruce’s CEO David Kapturowski’s fallacious “Product News” article in the April 2025 edition of the Indoor Environments Radon Reporter that claimed ASD system fans installed in exterior installations are considered to be located in an unattended area. Per the current specific language of UL STD. 507 178.1, fans are considered fans for use in unattended areas if they are “built into or within the building structure” (UL STD. 507 178.1). ASD fans installed on the exterior of a building are not considered “built into or within the building structure” and are therefore compliant. Intertek, a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory, which certifies our fans to UL STD. 507 has confirmed that these fans meet the current standards for outdoor installation. Currently, our AC motor fans are fully compliant with exterior ASD system installations.
“178.1 In addition to any other motor requirement specified in this standard, the
requirements specified in Sections 178 and 179A apply to any motor used in fan products which are built into or within the building structure and which operate unattended or in situations in which the operator may not detect or be notified of a locked rotor condition.” (UL STD. 507 178.1)
Recently, the UL Standards Technical Committee responsible for UL STD. 507 issued a formal interpretation (initiated and paid for by David Kapturowski) that ASD system fans installed on exterior installations should be considered fans for use in unattended areas; however, the actual standard (UL STD. 507 178.1) cited above has not been updated to conform to this interpretation. The UL STD. 507 may be updated and a formal revision published in the future, but this formal interpretation does not affect products manufactured before a formal revision of the UL STD 507 standard is published. If the revision is adopted (which even the disclaimer contained on the Formal Interpretation asserts is not guaranteed), the revision must go through a separate formal process that generally takes 12-18 months before approved and published. The Formal Interpretation alone does not adjust the UL STD 507. Nothing has changed from the standard present before the interpretation was issued.
The Formal Interpretation in question was requested by the same David Kapturowski who authored the contradictory statements found in the Radon Reporter. Furthermore, the Formal Interpretation request contains the following disclaimer “ULSE in performing in accordance with its objectives, does not guarantee or warrant the correctness of Formal Interpretations it may issue or guarantee that they will be recognized or adopted by anyone. ULSE shall not be responsible to anyone for the use or reliance upon Formal Interpretations by anyone. ULSE shall not incur any obligation or liability for damages, including consequential damages, arising out of or in connection with the use or reliance upon Formal Interpretations.” (Formal Interpretation of a UL Standard, April 4, 2025. Standard Number: UL 507, Edition Date: Nov 9, 2017, Edition Number: 10). This disclaimer is clear that the Formal Interpretation is not official or enforceable. David Kapturowski claimed in the Radon Reporter that the Formal Interpretation is ‘effective immediately’ and stated that fans could be ‘subject to tear out orders’. Both of these claims are intentional, demonstrably false lies intended to manipulate the readers.
Additionally, David Kapturowski pens "On March 3, 2025 the Consumer Product Safety Commission provided a letter to UL in support that an exterior mounted radon fan should be suitable for “Unattended Areas” as the occupant may not detect or be notified of a locked rotor condition." However, in the very letter he is referencing from CPSD, staff assessed that as the standard is currently written, ASD system fans installed in exterior installations are not required to comply with the requirements in Section 178 as they are not within the building structure.
We are disappointed yet not surprised that our competitors have resorted to such unethical and unbecoming business practices. Their tactics are characterized by a pattern of dishonesty, using fraud, lies, deceit, and intentional misrepresentation to manipulate the market and compensate for their eroding position in the industry. David Kapturowski of Spruce has deliberately lied to radon mitigation professionals using an Indoor Environments Association publication to add credibility to his attempt to dishonestly obtain your radon fan business. This deliberate misuse of the UL Formal Interpretation in an industry publication is totally unacceptable and we are seeking immediate rectifications in the form of a retraction of the article and a public apology.
We are outraged on behalf of the radon mitigation professionals who are subjected to such subversive and dishonest practices. You don’t deserve to deal with the panic, strife and confusion that comes with such damaging lies.
Rest assured that we work closely with NRTL Intertek and will always offer products that are fully compliant with UL STD. 507. Recalls or tear out orders are not a concern as our products are, have been, and will continue to be fully certified by our NRTL Intertek and fully compliant with the UL standards. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
The Festa Radon Team