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TwitterAccording to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, homeowners must remove certain drywall made in China that can cause corrosion of electrical wiring. This material has been linked to corrosion of metal and wires in homes and elevated levels of hydrogen sulfide, which may cause eye irritation, coughing and sinus infections.
“All of the problem drywall and all of the electric wiring needs to be taken out,” commission Chairman Inez Tenenbaum told reporters today on a conference call to discuss the agency’s latest findings.
About 80 percent of more than 3,000 complaints filed by homeowners were in Florida and Louisiana, where imported drywall was used to rebuild homes after hurricanes in 2004 and 2005. Homeowners should replace the problem drywall, wiring, gas- service piping, sprinkler systems and smoke alarms, according to the report from the Bethesda, Maryland-based consumer agency and the Housing and Urban Development Department. The Consumer Product Safety Commission began receiving complaints in late 2008 about sulfur odors in Florida homes built in 2006 and 2007, according to a November report. Homeowners reported illnesses, air-conditioning failures and visible corrosion of metals such as electrical wires in the walls.
Suphur emitting Chinese drywall causing problems in US homes
The commission said today it is releasing interim recommendations before all studies are completed so consumers can start working on their homes. Further results will be released as they are finished. The guidelines say electrical wiring, outlets, circuit breakers, fire alarm systems, carbon monoxide alarms, fire sprinklers, gas pipes and drywall need to be removed.
“We want families to tear it all out and rebuild the interior of their homes, and they need to start this to get their lives started all over again,” said Inez Tenenbaum, chairwoman of the commission, the federal agency charged with making sure consumer products are safe.
Chinese-made product have been found to emit 100 times as much hydrogen sulfide as drywall made elsewhere. The CPSC is investigating whether wire corrosion may present an elevated risk of fire or electric shock.
The cost of repairs, which may average more than $100,000 a home remains an obstacle, however for the construction companies. Builders who have financial resources are evaluating how much drywall to replace and what portions can be retained.
The interim guidance added that there’s no “scientific basis to believe that emissions from the problem drywall require replacement of nonproblem drywall, wood studs, flooring, cabinetry, or other household components and fixtures that may have been exposed to the drywall emissions.”
It added that, until a good way can be found to identify good versus bad drywall, the suggestion is for “general replacement of drywall in an identified home. If a portion of the drywall in a home can be reasonably identified not to be problem drywall … one option is to leave that drywall in place.”
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