RISMEDIA, April 8, 2010—The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently issued interim remediation guidance to help homeowners struggling to rid their properties of problem drywall linked to corrosion of metal in their homes such as electrical components.

Earlier this year, HUD and CPSC issued a protocol to help identify problem drywall in the home. This interim remediation guidance is being released in recognition that many homeowners want to begin remediating their homes and offers a next step to homeowners whose homes have been determined to have problem drywall.

“This guidance, based on the CPSC’s ongoing scientific research, is critical to ensuring that homeowners and contractors have confidence that they are making the appropriate repairs to rid their homes of problem drywall,” said Jon Gant, Director of HUD’s Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control. “The remediation guidance is the latest step in an ongoing process that the Intergovernmental Task Force on Problem Drywall has undertaken to address this problem directly. We will continue to work with our Congressional, State and local partners as they seek policy solutions based on our guidance and the CPSC’s scientific findings.”

Based on scientific study of the problem to date, HUD and CPSC recommend consumers remove all possible problem drywall from their homes, and replace electrical components and wiring, gas service piping, fire suppression sprinkler systems, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms. Taking these steps should help eliminate both the source of the problem drywall and corrosion-damaged components that might cause a safety problem in the home.

“Our investigations now show a clear path forward,” said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. “We have shared with affected families that hydrogen sulfide is causing the corrosion. Based on the scientific work to date, removing the problem drywall is the best solution currently available to homeowners. Our scientific investigation now provides a strong foundation for Congress as they consider their policy options and explore relief for affected homeowners.”

This interim remediation protocol is being released before all ongoing scientific studies on problem drywall are completed so that homeowners can begin remediating their homes. CPSC will continue to release its scientific studies as they are completed.

Completed studies show a connection between certain Chinese drywall and corrosion in homes. CPSC is continuing to look at long term health and safety implications.

CPSC is releasing a staff report on preliminary data from a study by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) that measured chemical emissions from samples of drywall obtained as part of the federal investigation for CPSC.

The top ten reactive sulfur-emitting drywall samples were all produced in China. Certain Chinese samples had emission rates of hydrogen sulfide 100 times greater than non-Chinese drywall samples. The patterns of reactive sulfur compounds emitted from drywall samples show a clear distinction between the certain Chinese drywall samples manufactured in 2005/2006 and non-Chinese drywall samples. Some Chinese drywall samples were similar to non-Chinese samples. Finally, several Chinese samples manufactured in 2009 demonstrate a marked decrease in sulfur emissions as compared to the 2005/2006 Chinese samples.

CPSC is also releasing a study by its contractor, Environmental Health & Engineering Inc., that tested whether sulfur-reducing bacteria are present in Chinese drywall. Eight out of ten drywall samples tested showed no bacterial growth including Chinese samples that emitted high levels of hydrogen sulfide in the LBNL study. One sample of Chinese drywall and one sample of U.S. drywall showed very low levels of sulfur-reducing bacterial growth.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns consumers to exercise caution in hiring contractors who claim to be experts in testing for and removing problem drywall. In a December 2009 Consumer Alert, the FTC recommends that homeowners confirm a contractor’s references, qualifications and background before agreeing to hire them.

Also in December, HUD announced to cities, counties and states that the funds they receive from HUD’s Community Development Block Grant program may be a resource to help local communities combat the problem drywall. These Block Grant funds are given to communities which decide how to spend them, within the requirements of the law that set up the grant program. Homeowners should contact their city or county to see if they have programs that can help.

In addition, HUD has encouraged its FHA mortgage lenders nationwide to consider extending temporary relief to allow families experiencing problems paying their mortgages because of problem drywall, to allow the homeowner time to repair their homes. Families with FHA-insured loans should contact their mortgage lenders directly. HUD also is encouraging non-FHA lenders to give affected families the same consideration.

For more information, visit www.hud.gov.

Critical information about Chinese Dry Wall

 

 

 

Americas Watchdog’s Homeowners Consumer Center is launching a nationwide investigation into U.S. homebuilders using Chinese made sheet rock or dry wall in new home construction in 2005 and 2006. The group has numerous concerns about sheet rock made in China including possible healthcare issues, environmental quality and the ability it resell the home, if it is discovered that Chinese made sheet rock poses a health or economic risk to the affected homeowners. While the product has been discovered in Florida, the Homeowners Consumer Center thinks in all likelihood the Chinese made dry wall products were sold nationwide.

According to the Homeowners Consumer Center, “In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina there was a severe shortage of sheet rock throughout the U.S. We lived in New Orleans before, during, and after Katrina, and specifically recall being told there was no sheet rock nationwide, or that it was now selling for triple what it was before.”

Homeowners in Florida, or nationwide who purchased a new home between 2005 and 2007 should call the Homeowners Consumer Center, if their home or condominium unit has a sulfur or a rotten egg type smell at  866-714-6466  866-714-6466 or contact them via their Web site at http://HomeownersConsumerCenter.com.

Background on the Chinese drywall issue:

On January 21, 2009, the South Florida Business Journal reported: “Miami-based homebuilder Lennar Corp. said it has identified about 80 homes in Southwest Florida that are believed to have been built using Chinese drywall. The issue is a concern because the drywall apparently emits chemicals that purportedly cause health concerns. Many homeowners have complained about a sulfur odor. The homes were built in 2005 and 2006, during the real estate boom years. Lennar discovered the drywall issue through routine monitoring of home repair requests. “When we noticed that a number of our homes in Southwest Florida were experiencing problems with air-conditioning systems, we began taking a closer look,” the company said in a news release.

At this time the Homeowners Consumer Center’s investigation is limited to U.S. homes or condominiums, that were built between 2005 and 2006 in Florida, or in any other State with Chinese sheet rock, dry wall or gypsum board. Any homeowner in Florida or in any other State should contact the Homeowners Consumers Center if they have detected the following issues with their new home:

• The homeowner knows that Chinese made sheet rock or dry wall was used in their home.
• The home or condominium has a noticeable smell of sulfur or rotten eggs.
• If a homeowner in a home built between 2005 & 2007 has developed respiratory issues.
• If the homeowner has noticed air conditioning issues, or an odd smell, when the air conditioning, or HVAC is on.
• Any homeowner in Florida or any other State with these issues should contact the Homeowners Consumer Center at  866-714-6466  866-714-6466 , or contact them via their Web site at http://HomeownersConsumerCenter.com