Posts Tagged ‘Chinese drywall’
American-Made Drywall Emerges as Potential Danger – ProPublica
Ninety-seven homeowners in four states have joined lawsuits against U.S. drywall manufacturers in the past year, claiming that their drywall is releasing enough sulfur gas to corrode wiring and appliances and cause headaches, nosebleeds, labored breathing and irritated eyes—complaints that until now have been mostly associated with Chinese drywall. Many families have abandoned their homes, fearing long-term health problems. Some are facing foreclosure, or even bankruptcy.
via American-Made Drywall Emerges as Potential Danger – ProPublica.
Judge awards families $2.6M over Chinese drywall
(AP) NEW ORLEANS — A federal judge in New Orleans has awarded seven Virginia families $2.6 million in damages to pay for the removal of sulfur-emitting drywall made in China that has been linked to corrosion and possible health effects.
via The Associated Press: Judge awards families $2.6M over Chinese drywall.
Federal guidelines issued for identifying corrosive drywall
From the Consumer Product Safety Commission:
HUD and CPSC’s two-step guidance requires a visual inspection that must show blackening of copper electrical wiring and/or air conditioning evaporator coils; and the installation of new drywall (for new construction or renovations) between 2001 and 2008. To view the full text of this guidance, visit HUD’s website or CPSC’s website (both documents PDF).
The guidance also describes obtaining additional corroborating evidence of problem drywall, since it is possible that corrosion of metal in homes can occur for other reasons. For example, homes with new drywall installed between 2005 and 2008 … must meet at least two additional criteria related to: the chemical analysis of metal corrosion in the home; elemental markers in the drywall; markings on the drywall; or specific chemical emissions from the drywall. Homes with new drywall installed between 2001 and 2004 must meet a total of at least four of those criteria. Collecting evidence of these corroborating conditions may require professional assistance and analysis.
Be sure to check the timeline on the right side of this site for more gypsum-related events and news.
Celebrity brings attention to class action case
The big news today in the world of gypsum is the start of the class action lawsuit against drywall manufacturer Knauf Plasterboard Tainjin Co. Ltd. New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton has been named as the lead plaintiff in the suit, giving the case a sheen of celebrity. The full text of the complaint can be found here (pdf). It’s 591 pages long.
Could domestic drywall be a culprit?
This week the media have picked up on a story launched by CBS News claiming that corrosive wallboard may come from domestic producers as well as from China. According to the AP:
Of roughly 2,100 complaints received by the commission, about 25 involve homeowners who reported issues with American wallboard, [Scott] Wolfson [of the Consumer Product Safety Commission] said. That is not enough data to make a determination.
A University of Florida study conducted for CBS News tested new samples of U.S. drywall, new samples of the Chinese material and Chinese wallboard from problem homes.
The scientists found that most of the new U.S. samples released sulfur fumes, but at a lower level than the Chinese product taken from homes. However, the study also found that some American product had higher emissions than some of the new Chinese material.
Gypsum news: Corrosive drywall and giant crystals
Articles on corrosive drywall imports from China and their effects on homeowners throughout Florida and the Gulf Coast region continue to pile up. A trickle of occasional reports has turned into a flood; local newspapers are now covering it on a daily basis, and national papers are picking up the story as well.
Typical of recent stories is this from the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel (11/13/09): “Homeowners feel abandoned by builders who used Chinese drywall.” The reporter characterizes the current situation as “a stalemate” between homeowners who are seeking to be made whole and the various parties trying to apportion financial responsibility for the problem. It took a couple of years and a few hurricanes to get into this mess; looks like it’s going to take a lot longer for everyone involved to get out.
At the other end of the calcium sulfate spectrum, the National Geographic Channel will begin its Expedition Series this week. On Sunday, November 22, they will be airing “Giant Crystal Cave.” According to NGC, the giant gypsum crystals of Naica, Mexico, are up to 36 feet long, weigh as much as 55 tons, and are perhaps half a million years old. Wouldn’t you love to see these beauties?
