The building sciences department at FunGuy Inspection & Consulting LLC is proficient at Chinese drywall and lab analysis. by Robert Santanastasio
Looking for additional information on drywall testing and lab analysis? Call Fun Guy Inspection & Consulting LLC 866.674.7541.
Occupants living in the Southeast portion of the United States have concerns arising from the smells and possible toxicity originating from Chinese drywall. The chemicals of concern are iron, stronium and sulfur.
Several complaints have been filed by the consumer in this regard to various regulatory authorities such as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Center for Disease Control (CDC) and other organizations." Pure Air Control Services
These common chemicals found in the drywall have caused several different problems within the household.
- Blacking & deteriorating plumbing fixtures, copper fittings, air conditioning coils.
- "Rotten Egg" Smell
- Early Failure of appliances - microwaves, refrigerators, televisions and computers
- Faulty - flickering lights
The department of Urban Housing (HUD) has determined a two step approach at diagnosing the presence of Chinese drywall. 1. Visual inspection for the logos and stamps on the surface of the drywall. 2. Chemical testing and analysis of the indoor environments.
The visual inspection can be performed by inspecting components for electrical components for black corrosion.
The differences between the drywall are noted by the USEPA:
- Sulfur containing compounds were observed in the Chinese drywall and not in four American drywall brands.
- Stronium was detected in amounts 2 to 10 times that of American made drywall.
- Iron was detected in amounts comparable to the that found in the United Estates. Additional testing has been scheduled to determine if the presence is an oxide, sulfide, or sulfate.
The professional building sciences department at Pure Air Control Services offers Chinese drywall inspections and lab analysis.
Tampa, FL -- Today people spend 90% of their time indoors. Indoor environments must be free from potentially unsafe materials, which may influence the health of the occupants and the hygiene of the environments. Recently, homeowners especially from within the Southeast United States, started complaining of odors and ailments. Several complaints have been filed by the consumer in this regard to various regulatory authorities such as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Center for Disease Control (CDC) and other organizations. It has been suggested that the presence of Sulfur, Strontium and/or Iron in Chinese made drywall in homes may be responsible for health related symptoms.
Common damages and complaints in affected homes or buildings have included:
- “Rotten Egg” Smell
- Blackening/Corrosion of Metal Items, including Jewelry, and Lighting and Plumbing Fixtures
- Corrosion and/or Blackening of Copper Wiring and Evaporator Coils
- Failure of Common Appliances including Air Conditioners, Televisions, Refrigerators, Microwaves, Computers
- Faulty or Flickering Lights
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and CPSC recently issued an advisory to help property owners and contractors to determine whether their home has Chinese drywall. These agencies suggested a two-fold approach, visual inspection and chemical analysis, to confirm the presence of Chinese drywall in the home.
As part of a visual inspection it is recommended to look for corrosion or blackening of metals; copper, aluminum, and silver. Some examples of these are copper wiring in light switches and electrical outlets; air conditioning cooling coils and silver objects including jewelry. The installation time of the drywall, between the years 2003 and 2008, and is estimated that hundreds of thousands of homes built in the U.S. contain the defective Chinese drywall.
The chemical analysis of the drywall is suggested to determine and compare the elemental composition and physiochemical nature of the subject drywall to that of domestic drywall. The USEPA published a report based on the chemical analysis of the drywall made in China with that of the local/domestic US manufactured drywall. Following is a summary of the test results from that report:
- Sulfur was detected at 83 parts per millions (ppm) and 119 ppm in the Chinese drywall samples. Sulfur was not detected in the four US-manufactured drywall samples.
- Strontium was detected at 2,570 ppm and 2,670 ppm in the Chinese drywall samples. Strontium was detected in the US-manufactured drywall at 244 ppm to 1,130 ppm. Total acid soluble sulfides were not detected in any samples.
- Iron concentrations of 1,390 ppm and 1,630 ppm were detected in the Chinese drywall samples and in the range of 841 ppm to 3,210 ppm for the US-manufactured drywall samples. Additional drywall samples will be tested to determine whether the iron is present as oxide, sulfide or sulfate.
About Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory (EDLab):
The Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory (EDLab) (established in 1992) at Pure Air Control Services (PACS) is an AIHA accredited environmental lab # EMLAP 102795 offering complete and comprehensive indoor environmental microbiology laboratory services. They include: microbiology, aerobiology, allergen assays, microscopy and chemistry (partner lab)designed to meet all your indoor air needs. EDLab supports IAQ investigations by assisting with strategic sampling plan development and supplying media collection equipment while performing a wide range of environmental analyses.
The company’s expanding client roster includes the General Services Administration (GSA); US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Allstate Insurance; Carrier Air Conditioning; US Naval Air Warfare Center, Orlando; and Naval Air Station - King's Bay, Georgia, and many other Fortune 500 companies, school boards, and city, state, and county governments, making Pure Air Control Services/EDLab the reliable industry leader in IAQ.
Source: http://www.imakenews.com/pureaircontrols/e_article001782274.cfm?x=bh2KMS1,b2jjT6lG
