A New Fear: Chinese Drywall

There is a new fear here is SW Florida about Chinese Drywall.  You may have heard about it, it's all over the news.  Rest assured that there are more homes than not WITHOUT Chinese drywall.  Read below about some on the many inspections and things you can do to make sure your home is safe and to relieve that fear.   

The following is taken from the Radon and Mold Professionals newsletter dated May 2009.

 

Chinese Drywall Inspections

"Chinese Drywall" inspections are now part of the Indoor Air Quality services offered by Radon and Mold Professionals board Certified Indoor Environmentalists.
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On the Florida Dept. of Health website under "Frequently Asked Questions" is the following:
How do I know if I have "Chinese drywall"?
Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to this question. The most definitive method to date is finding a "made in China" marking on the back of sheet of drywall. DOH observed some drywall in several homes with no discernable markings. The origin of the unmarked drywall is unknown. DOH observed that homes with marked Chinese drywall also contained drywall marked as made in USA. Remember that we do not know how many sheets of the suspect drywall can cause problems. DOH did observe at least one home with marked Chinese drywall with none of the associated corrosion or odor problems. The bottom line is we think the question should really be "Does my house have corrosion problems?"
http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Environment/community/indoor-air/drywallFAQ.html

 
Our "Chinese Drywall" inspection is as FL. DOH suggests.  The question we can answer for you, without expensive and inconclusive testing is:

 Does your home have a corrosion problem?  
The following criteria are currently used by the FL. DOH to determine whether or not existing conditions in your home meet the case definition of the presence of Chinese/odorous drywall in your home:  
1) Black or charcoal corrosion on copper wiring  
2) Black or charcoal corrosion on copper refrigerant lines and coils in the HVAC system  
3) A drywall stamp indicating country of origin and/or the manufacturer    
4) Black or charcoal corrosion on copper plumbing lines  
5) Expensive repair or replacement of the air conditioner's evaporator coils due to breakdown 
6) Sulfur like odor in one or more rooms in the home that is known to be not sourced in the water

 For homes built after January 1st, 2004, the FL. DOH states that if you answered yes to two or more of these conditions, your home meets the case definition.  If built before January 1st, 2004 and you answered yes to three or more of these conditions, you meet the case definition.

Of the 62 inspections we have performed in the last month, twenty three met the case definition of having "Chinese drywall" present in their home.

http://www.radonmoldhelp.com/id118.html

  

 Chinese Drywall Inspections

An American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH) "Certified Industrial Hygienist" or a AmIAQC board "Certified Indoor Environmentalist" (CIE) is qualified to perform a Chinese Drywall assessment.

The Inspector should have Errors & Omissions Insurance for "Chinese Drywall"
 
Your Home Inspectors "Standard of Practice" does not cover "Chinese Drywall"  example: http://www.nachi.org/sop.htm

 Your Home Inspectors E&O does NOT cover "Chinese Drywall" inspections.

 

 

Why would you hire an inspector without E&O? 

May 7, 2009

"The lawyer for environmental professionals stressed repeatedly that the inspector should / must have Errors and Omissions insurance that covers Odorous / Chinese drywall assessment."  (Indoor Air Quality Seminar at Atlantic Coast University)
 http://www.radonmoldhelp.com/id118.html

  

Chinese Drywall cause for leaving home:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/05/06/florida.chinese.drywall.family/index.html

"PARKLAND, Florida (CNN) -- Yorelle Haroush fled a million-dollar South Florida home this week, chased out, she said, by drywall made in China that's emitting vapors that smell like rotten eggs.

"I said, 'you can't stay there anymore, because you're sick every minute,'" the family's longtime physician, Dr. Ross Nochimson, told CNN. "They're sick on a weekly basis. Ear aches, sore throat. I give them something, and they're sick again."

Other News: 

Is Your Mold Inspector Really "Certified"?

http://www.naplesmoldinspection.com/id47.html

Washington D.C. ..... New American National Standard 1100 (IAQ certifications)approved by the American National Standard Institute (ANSI) March 9, 2009

                                                       Radon & Mold Professionals

Office: (239) 498-4619     toll free: (800) 881-3837

www.radonmoldhelp.com

www.naplesmoldinspection.com

 

John Cosgrove, CIE, CRMI  Senior Inspector 

Doug Wall, CIE, CRMI

Rob Martin, CIE

3 AmIAQC Board Certified Indoor Environmentalists

$1,000,000 Liability
Professional Liability: $1,000,000 / $1,000,000 limit /claims made
Microbial Consulting Coverage: $1,000,000 / $1,000,000 limit /claims made
 

Note:
Professional Liability, E&O that covers Chinese Drywall assessments and Preliminary mold inspections / testing.
Microbial Consulting Coverage, E&O that covers MOLD Post remediation inspection/testing (Clearance).

Mold inspections - Mold Tests - Radon Tests - Allergen Screening -

  VOC Testing - "Chinese" Odorous Drywall Inspections