WASHINGTON, D.C. - Chinese drywall poses no hazard to home electrical systems so electrical writing shouldn't be removed from affected homes, the government said Friday.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development released the study by Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico. It simulated long-term exposure of wiring and other electrical components to hydrogen sulfide gas, which is associated with problem drywall.
“After simulating more than 40 years of corrosive conditions that could exist in problem drywall homes, Sandia staff did not observe any acute or long-term electrical safety events, such as smoking or fire. Corrosion and blackening of the exposed electrical components did occur and was observed to be consistent with the characteristic corrosion reported to CPSC by thousands of consumers,” officials said in a press release.
This change in the government's protocol may reduce the cost of remediation for many homes, officials also said.
The government is still calling for the replace of all problem drywall, fire safety alarm devices, including smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, electrical distribution components, including receptacles, switches and circuit breakers and gas service piping and fire suppression sprinkler systems.
