There is some progress to report in the ongoing issue of creating some recognition of the legitimacy of this issue in homes mostly in the Southeast US, in particular Florida. As I have posted before, I bear witness to the fact that these homes are not liveable with the sulfer gas being emitted. I have found myself nauseated after just a few minutes of being in one. Yet, there has been a reluctance for any public agency to actually acknowledge a criterian for defining a home with defective drywall. I have speculated this has been an effort to control the inevitable flow of class action lawsuits once this issue is clearly defined.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still studying the effects of exposure to the drywall as well as what should be done about it. In January the CPSC issued an update report that did not really have much in the way of news, but offered reassurance that the issue was still being researched. The CPSC indicates they have 2,822 incidents of this defective drywall reported across 37 states. From the numbers I have read in Florida alone, I believe a lot of people are not reporting this issue due to the fear that some insurance companies have reportedly dropped coverage when learning of this issue.
More significantly, HUD and the CPSC announded new guidelines guidelines on how to identify the presence of metal corrosion, as well as other indicators of problem drywall in homes. The guidance takes into account visual signs of metal corrosion, evidence of drywall installation in the relevant time period, and the identification of other corroborating evidence or characteristics. Click here to review the entire press release.
HUD and the CPSC’s two-step guidance requires a visual inspection that must show blackening of copper electrical wiring and/or air conditioning evaporator coils; and the installation of new drywall (for new construction or renovations) between 2001 and 2008. To view the full text of this guidance, click here.
Homeowners who believe they may have problem drywall should immediately report to the CPSC by calling 800-638-2772 or logging on to www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/drywall.aspx. For further information on defective drywall please visit the CPSC’s Drywall Information Center.
This is progress. Standards had to be established. Upon review, these seem fair and appropriate. We are closer to admitting there is a problem. How to solve it? A year and half ago I felt ultimately some type of class action suit would produce a fund that would be controlled by government and funded by private industry. I still think this approach is likely but the potential biggest culprit is a company from China. I do not think they will participate. Why should they other than a concern for what is right. I do not anticipate that to be relevant in their decision making…do you?
Tags: Chinese Drywall, Defective Drywall
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