Resources

While IBHS does not endorse any aspect of the report, in January 2010, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a guidance document for identifying homes with problem Chinese-made drywall. According to the CPSC, proper identification begins with a two–step process: 1) determine whether the drywall was installed between 2001 and 2008; and, 2) conduct a visual inspection – specifically looking for metal corrosion, such as blackening of copper electrical wiring and/or air conditioning evaporator coils. (The full CPSC report can be found here: http://www.cpsc.gov/info/drywall/InterimIDGuidance012810.pdf.) In December 2010, The Federal Trade Commission issued an FTC Consumer Alert entitled “Defective Imported Drywall: Don’t Get Nailed by Bogus Tests and Treatments which can be found at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt164.shtm .

If a homeowner suspects they have Chinese drywall installed in their home, a trained professional should use their expertise, training and professional judgment to establish the inspection procedures. Homeowners should require that anyone claiming expertise in the area of drywall evaluation provide them with current professional references, evidence of appropriate licenses, and evidence of relevant experience and training. Professional home inspectors (including those certified by the American Society of Homes Inspectors ) should be qualified to perform these inspections.

Confirmation or elimination of drywall as a direct cause of corrosion is critical. Professionals may advise testing by Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTLS). While IBHS does not endorse any laboratory, for your convenience, a list of such labs can be found on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration website at http://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/index.html#nrtls, in addition to other places. The list of NRTLS as of April 15, 2010 follows:

• Canadian Standards Association (CSA) (also known as CSA International)
• Communication Certification Laboratory, Inc. (CCL)
• Curtis-Straus LLC (CSL)
• FM Approvals LLC (FM) (formerly Factory Mutual Research Corporation)
• Intertek Testing Services NA, Inc. (ITSNA) (formerly ETL)
• MET Laboratories, Inc. (MET)
• NSF International (NSF)
• National Technical Systems, Inc. (NTS)
• SGS U.S. Testing Company, Inc. (SGSUS) (formerly UST-CA)
• Southwest Research Institute (SWRI)
• TÜV SÜD America, Inc. (TUVAM)
• TÜV SÜD Product Services GmbH (TUVPSG)
• TUV Rheinland of North America, Inc. (TUV)
• Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL)
• Wyle Laboratories, Inc. (WL)

Individuals wishing to submit samples for testing should contact individual labs to determine availability, cost and other protocols followed by that facility.