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Lab Tests for Chinese Drywall

Here is a guide of state-of-the-art laboratory testing that you may commission in order to test if your home or the home you intend to purchase has defective Chinese drywall:

Laboratory testing to identify defective Chinese drywall:

There are several tests that can be performed by certified environmental laboratories in order to confirm that your home or prospective home has defective Chinese drywall. Such tests include:

1. Collecting and analyzing indoor air samples close to a wall or in rooms where odor is felt most - certain types of collection bags as well as steel canisters appear to be the most reliable tools for indoor air collection inside potentially affected homes. The samples may be collected over 1 or more days (in general, the fainter the odor the higher should be the collection time). The samples should be analyzed for Volatile Organic Compounds and Main Sulfur gases (including hydrogen sulfide, carbon disulfide, sulfur dioxide, and mercaptans); Please note that such testing may be limited by laboratory ability to detect the concentrations of gases in collected air as well as by the transformation of some instable gases such as hydrogen sulfide between sampling and laboratory testing. Thus, a non-detect result may not necessary means no risk or no problem. Repeated sampling over larger period of time is recommended for reliable results.

2. Collecting and analyzing a small sample of the suspected defective drywall itself is another approach to the problem. A small sample of the drywall can be collected from the home and there are several analysis methods available to detect its elemental and mineralogical composition. The lab should especially test for sulfur, sulfates, sulfur compounds (both organic and inorganic) as well as the presence of pyrite in the drywall samples. Additionally, a large variety of metals (including Pb, Cd, As, Zn, Cr, Cu, Mn, Fe, Ca, Hg, Co, Ba) should also be tested in the drywall itself. Total organic matter should also be tested by the lab since defective Chinese drywalls were repoirted to have higher total organic content. Chinese drywalls test may indicate if a drywall has potential to become defective (i.e., emit toxic gases) even if it is not defective at the time of sampling and regardless of its known brand. The test is based on the observations that drywalls have various trace elements and a distinctive composition based on the raw materials used and the manufacturing process. Additionally, EPA and other recent studies denoted clear differences between defective and non-defective drywalls and could be used as referencing point. For more information about these studies and to obtain a free copy, please.

3. Laboratory testing in controlled chambers for off-gassing potential from a suspected defective drywall – such testing was recently developed by a number of laboratories and may offer an alternative to detecting drywall off-gassing issues, as long as the lab conditions are similar to those within the exposed home. The lab should be provided with a small sample of the suspected defective Chinese drywall (lab people may come to collect such sample). The lab will use enclosed chambers to test for any off-gassing from the collected sample. Such testing has the advantage of speeding up the potential off-gassing in controlled conditions, but may not be entirely representative for your home conditions

4. Jar test to confirm corrosively is another example of a test developed to evaluate defective Chinese drywall in controlled laboratory conditions. The goal is to documenting copper corrosion in controlled conditions, which is the other main effect from defective Chinese drywalls except the odors. This test is offered by several U.S. laboratories across the country.

Please contact environmental pollution centers for more information and laboratory recommendations. You may also check the Yellow Pages directory for your city or you may check with the Department of Health, DTSC (Department of Toxic Substances Control) or other state regulatory agency for help and testing guidance.