Drywall safety issues: Now an Issue for Domestic Manufacturers and Insurers
A federal investigation into tainted Chinese drywall has recently expanded after homeowners reported similar problems from American-made drywall. The probe, under the auspices of lead agency the Consumer Products Safety Commission, has investigated reports alleging health effects such as respiratory irritation and corrosion of copper materials such as air conditioner evaporator coils. Recent reports from the CPSC, however, indicate that not all of these complaints originate from homes with imported drywall, and in a recent press release, the agency indicates "CPSC is investigating drywall from other sources that may mimic the problems found with Chinese drywall."
The CPSC has received over 2,000 drywall-related complaints from homeowners in thirty-one states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The cases stem from a shortage of domestic building materials following the unprecedented damage and destruction arising from the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons in the United States. In 2008, homeowners with recently built or renovated homes (2001-2007 timeframe) began complaining of sulfurous smells and corroded pipes and wiring.
The Interagency Task Force led by the CPSC released preliminary study results back in October showing elevated elemental sulfur in Chinese drywall as compared to domestic drywall. The Task Force reported on laboratory chamber analyses that resulted in elevated emissions of volatile sulfur compounds from Chinese drywall samples under conditions of extreme heat (average temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
On November 23, 2009, the Task Force reported updated study results including a 51-home study focusing on indoor and outdoor air quality and signs of corrosion in the affected test homes. While still preliminary, the results of this study appear to be more discriminatory than those reported earlier by the Task Force with relation to in-home air quality. The 51-home study resulted in preliminary findings from the Task Force that hydrogen sulfide gas is somehow – the mechanism is yet unknown – being created in homes built with Chinese drywall. The hydrogen sulfide gas was identified as the primary source of corrosion in affected test homes. The study also noted the observation of formaldehyde levels in the air of affected test homes. The concentrations, however, were consistent with unaffected control homes and typical of new construction or renovation. The Task Force reported that observed levels of hydrogen sulfide and formaldehyde in test homes were below thresholds known to be associated with irritant effects such as those reported by affected homeowners. The Task Force cautioned, however, that “…the additive or synergistic effects of these and other compounds in the subject homes could cause irritant effects evident in the homes.”
This news from the CPSC provides a word of caution for domestic manufactures of drywall and other building materials, as well as insurers of residential and commercial properties. Manufacturers and insurers alike would be well advised to assume a proactive position in evaluating potential liabilities associated with this drywall-related phenomenon.
For additional information regarding this article and related topics, contact Dr. Jamie Coleman in the Cardno Cardno ENTRIX West Chester, Ohio office (phone: 513-860-0946) or Dr. Frank Mink in the Cardno Cardno ENTRIX Lake Orion, Michigan office (phone: 248-431-8241).