Chinese Drywall Update: Consumer Products Safety Commission Says Gut the Homes & Federal Judge Awards Families $2.6 Million
Some good news this week for those living in anguish with their homes constructed out of Chinese Drywall. First, both HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development) and CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) issued guidance regarding the method owners of these homes should undertake to rid themselves of the hazards of Chinese Drywall. The corrosion that is occurring to appliances and electrical outlets in these homes is being caused by hydrogen sulfide in the drywall. The hydrogen sulfide emitted from the Chinese Drywall is 100 times greater than drywall made elsewhere. The CPSC is still looking into whether there are long term health and safety issues caused by the Chinese Drywall.
With regard to fixing houses with Chinese Drywall, all possible drywall must be removed from the home and all electrical components and wiring, gas service piping, fire suppression sprinkler systems, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms must be replaced. For a more extensive discussion of the recommendations for remediation of these homes, see here.
As discussed in the Consumer Reports Safety Blog, what's left to be determined is how this extensive work will be paid for. This leads to the next story which happened only today. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that a federal judge in New Orleans awarded 7 families in Virginia with Chinese Drywall $2.6 million to pay for removal of the Chinese Drywall in their homes. Its a start. Problem is the defendant is a Chinese company which has not responded to lawsuits. Therefore, there will clearly be a problem collecting on this judgment. No doubt though this is a step in the right direction and a beginning to the anguish and heartache the affected consumers have had to deal with.
