Federal Authorities Recommend Removing Corrosive Chinese Drywall

WEBWIRE – Thursday, October 7, 2010

The environmental professionals at Clark Seif Clark (CSC) provide corrosive Chinese drywall and other indoor air quality (IAQ) testing services to protect building occupants and properties from damage.

Since mid 2008 there have been countless media reports about imported Chinese drywall causing unpleasant odors, damaging building materials and making people sick across the country.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has received thousands of reports to date from residents in over 39 states and several U.S. territories regarding imported Chinese drywall. Many people believe the health problems they are suffering, and corrosion of metal objects in their homes, are related to the Chinese drywall.

Most of these homes were constructed or renovated during the last construction boom and after the record 2005 hurricane season. The CPSC, along with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), released a statement earlier this year recommending removal of problem drywall from homes. They specifically stated, “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.”

Clark Seif Clark, a leading provider of IAQ and corrosive Chinese drywall testing services, has been busy helping clients test for and deal with the problematic drywall. “The problems contributable to corrosive Chinese drywall include noxious odors, potential health effects, and damage to a property’s metal contents and building components. The relationship of reported health effects and problem drywall is still under investigation. Building systems failure from hyper-corrosion is of particular concern due to the potential for failures of fire, life and safety systems, water lines, and refrigerant lines,” reported Derrick A. Denis, V.P. Indoor Environmental Quality at CSC. “Corrosive Chinese drywall is still a fledgling issue. As such, the science is rapidly improving and the state-of the-art is frequently changing. To determine if your home or business meets the various case definitions such as Possible, Probable or Confirmed, we recommend you retain an insured, trained and experienced environmental professional to conduct a thorough investigation.”

To learn more about how CSC can help with Chinese drywall issues and IAQ services please visit www.csceng.com, email csc@csceng.com or call (800) 807-1118.

About Clark Seif Clark (CSC)
CSC was established in 1989 to help clients in both the public and private sectors address environmental issues. CSC is a leading provider of these services with multiple offices along the western seaboard and southwest. The company believes in science-based protocols and has a strong background in engineering, making them the preferred environmental consultants to healthcare facilities, architects, schools, builders, contractors, developers and real estate professionals.