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Chinese
Sheetrock
2010
Defective
Chinese Drywall - Updated 2011
"MLC
Inspections has found very few definitive and truthful website
sources for the issue of Chinese or Tainted Drywall...this
one is fact based only resourcing FHA-CPSC and local actually
resouces."
If
the status quo is not enough, someone throws a wrench into
the gears.
Starting
in 2001 drywall was imported from the Republic of China. There
is no qualify control here or there and the rock is made with
high amounts of sulfides.
The
hope (without confirmation) is that no such drywall has entered
the U.S. since 2007.
Sulfides
emit hydrogen sulfide gases which are very corrosive and toxic.
When installed they can affect everything from copper wiring
to air conditioning coils, essentially corroding them into
powder. This gas also provides the initial indication of a
problem…the smell. Somewhere between rotten eggs and
burnt wiring.
Health
effects are unknown completely but, as you might imagine,
are suspect also. Known health effects range from running
noses to asthma…so far. All testing is very preliminary.
CPSC
reports the follows health issues depending on concentration
and exposure time;
..irritated and itchy eyes and skin, difficulty in breathing,
persistent cough, bloody noses, runny noses, recurrent headaches,
sinus infection, and asthma attacks
Once
installed, there is very little to tell if the sheetrock is
Chinese or not except on the back of the drywall board where
"made in China" and other stamps can be seen. Other
indicators do not manifest for 6 months to a year.
Chinese
drywall, so far, was only produced in ½ inch sizes,
this means that the garage ceiling rock is likely not going
to have the stamps because it is 5/8 inches due to firewall
requirements.
As
this writing, this is an evolving story, the EPA/CPSC has
the premier website on this issue and have taken point on
this. They indicate a potential for 200,000 affected homes
in the U.S.
http://www.CPSC.gov/info/drywall/index.html
Originally
the real lead was been taken by the Florida Department of
Health where the problem was first identified.
http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/indoorair/drywall.html
Not
all drywall is tainted. At this time, no US made drywall has
been tested as tainted and not all Chinese drywall is tainted.
This
problem is so new that there are no certifications for inspection
or remediation. There are, however, many lawsuits in process.
I am already hearing about systems to remediate without material
removal. Please be very wary, there are no approved systems
and certainly are no tested systems.
In
May of this year 2010, HUD did establish protocols for both
identification and remediation. These are initial and evolving.
The remediation involves removal of materials only, then replacement.
The remediation efforts thus far are to take the house back
to the frame stage. All gas absorbent materials and metals
are removed. Remediation involves removal of:
Sheetrock
Insulation
Wood products
Wiring and fixtures
Entire A/C system including ducts
Metal plumbing system components
Fire suppressions systems
Smoke alarms
Gas lines, components and appliances using gas
The
first step is to achieve a THRESHOLD identification inspection.
If this is positive, it is followed by sampling and laboratory
testing.
Affected
homes are not just new homes but also rehabilitated homes.
Hurricane damaged homes are also subject to this problem.
Habitat for Humanity just announced that they believe that
Katrina homes, that they built in New Orleans, are affected.
CPSC
says that all states are affected. Thus far the following
reporting tells where the bulk has been found.
In
May 2010 the manufacturer's were identified but thus far one
have come forward to partially compensate one builder for
the restoration of the affected homes nor have they showed
up in court cases which are in progress. The companies apparently
do not feel subject to U.S. laws and suits.
The
Texas Professional Real Estate Inspectors Association has
been following this issue closely. As of this writing, Threshold
Inspections have confirmed 9 such homes in all parts of the
greater Houston area and the 9 counties surrounding. The direction
certainly points to more affected homes.
While
Texas only reports 12 homes involved, you should remember
that reporting also involves reporter liability and devaluation
of the confirmed properties. My sense is that reporting is
going to lag way behind actual identification.
If
you believe that you might have an issue with Chinese Drywall,
the first step is the Threshold inspection. If this proves
to be positive, I can guide you to the next step which is
laboratory testing thru sampling.
You
are most welcome to call and discuss your suspicions and how
to proceed.
Whether
you use MLC or another inspector, please remember that not
all inspectors know of or understand the identification protocols.
Mike
http://www.chinesedrywall.com/
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/03/18/chinese.drywall/
http://www.nbc-2.com/Articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=24416&z=3
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CHINESE SHEETROCK
The introduction of Chinese sheetrock into the United States
came about as a result of the need for drywall in many states
affected by storm damage and the growth of the new housing
market in the boom years of 2004 - 2007. The inability of
Mexico and Canada to keep pace with the need for drywall in
the US led some leading suppliers to look to China to fill
the shortfall.
Unfortunately,
drywall from China is not made from traditional gypsum but
from fly ash, a waste product from coal-fired plants introduced
into the air through chimneys. These toxic sulfur compounds
when made into drywall emit corrosive agents with potential
health risks.
It
is believed that almost 60% of Chinese drywall has been installed
in homes built in Florida. Most of the remaining installations
have been in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Virginia, Wisconsin,
California, Ohio, Arizona, Washington, Wyoming, Tennessee
and Washington DC. There have been complaints about the installation
of Chinese drywall in Texas, North and South Carolina, New
Jersey, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico.
Since
2006, and estimated 550 million pounds of Chinese drywall
has been exported to the United States. Sulfurous acids in
the form of gases, smelling like rotten eggs, are emitted
when Chinese drywall comes into contact with moisture, heat
and humidity. The toxic sulfur compounds can cause extensive
damage by corroding copper wiring, air conditioners and other
electrical appliances. Exposure to the sulfur-based gases
can cause adverse health conditions such as eye irritation,
headaches, bloody nose, respiratory problems and other conditions
similar to bronchitis and asthma.
So
during your inspections be on the lookout for:
1) A smell or odor similar to rotten eggs? It is important
to pay attention to what you smell the moment you enter the
inspection site.
2) The corrosion of copper, so check the copper in electrical
outlets, AC and refrigerator coils for black corrosion. If
the copper is black, then Chinese sheetrock is likely present.
3) The words China, Knceuf or Tainjin on the back of un-insulated
sheetrock walls. Kncuef and Tainjin are manufacturers of Chinese
sheetrock. Use a borescope to check the back of the sheetrock
and if your borescope has a camera screen, you can photograph
the screen for verification if any of the identifying words
are found. Your suspicions can be verified by laboratory testing
for sulfides.
by: Linda Lauver
AQ Testing Services, LLC
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