This is not a mechanical engineering problem. It is a product liability problem.
In hot and wet environments, chinese made drywall may off gas into hydrogen sulfide, carbon disulfide, and carbonyl sulfide and contaminate a structure’s air supply.
The first step is to determine if you have a problem. Analytical testing laboratories have now come up with a low cost ($100) test method to determine if you have problem drywall:
When CPSC tested drywall, all but one of the Chinese drywall samples had detectible levels of elemental sulfur. No U.S. made drywall samples had detectible levels of elemental sulfur.
The Florida Department of Health removeed drywall from structures that were constructed with drywall from three Chinese manufacturers and published the findings. They found “a distinct difference in drywall that was manufactured in the United States and those that were manufactured in China.” The Chinese samples contained traces of strontium sulfide and emitted a sulfur odor when exposed to moisture and intense heat, while the American made samples did not.
Most of the drywall problems are reported in Florida and other southern states, likely due to the high levels of heat and humidity in that region. Most of the affected homes were built during the housing boom between 2004 and 2007, especially in the wake of Hurricane Katrina when domestic building materials were in short supply. An estimated 250,000 tons of drywall were imported from China during that time period because it was cheap and plentiful.
A home inspection can use the following tips to identify if a structure is contaminated:
The house has a strong sulfur smell reminiscent of rotten eggs.
Exposed copper wiring appears dark and corroded. Silver jewelry and silverware can become similarly corroded and discolored after several months of exposure.
A manufacturer’s label on the back of the drywall can be used to link it with manufacturers that are known to have used contaminated materials. One way to look for this is to enter the attic and remove some of the insulation.
Contaminated drywall cannot be repaired. The drywall must be replaced entirely, a procedure which can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Some insurance companies are refusing to pay for drywall replacement. Class-action lawsuits have been filed against homebuilders, suppliers, and importers of contaminated Chinese drywall. Some large manufacturers named in these lawsuits are Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin, Knauf Gips, and Taishan Gypsum.
Like all product liability cases, the lawyers will flock to sue those with the deepest pockets. The lawsuits will drag on for years, the lawyers will then retain a large share of the recovered funds, and in the end, the injured will probably receive a small fraction of their claims.
