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Chuck, the below links may be of help in finding what you need.

 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/

www.doh.state.fl.us/Environment/com...eline.html

facs.forensica.com/c.128437/site/cl...rywall.htm

I think that the third cite may work and have contacted them.

Actually any information regarding Chinese Drywall and the handling of Chinese Drywall claims, residential and commercial, will be appreciated.

Just some things I found by googling.

It might be good to use somebody who has tested a lot of other drywall already, rather than a local testing lab that hasn't.

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GAINESVILLE, Fla., April 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Spiderman Mulholland, one of the country's leading forensic experts on building envelope water intrusion and toxic mold, is conducting investigations and working with environmental organizations and legal experts regarding the Chinese drywall issues that have impacted homes and buildings in more than 41 states. "The evidence we have uncovered to date points to sulfur emissions that corrode wires, air conditioners, electrical appliances and metal fixtures,"
said Mulholland. "Some home and property owners have also complained about health issues."......Mulholland's company, USBCI, performs inspections and has an accredited testing facility that can determine if there is a toxic-drywall problem. To learn more about Spiderman Mulholland and USBCI, go online tohttp://www.usbcinc.com....

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Posted by Tom Irmiter
Wednesday, March 25, 2009 6:29 PM EST We have a number of cases unrelated to the drywall issue with Lennar in Minnesota. We are a Forensic Testing and inspection Engineering company. (651) 222 6509. WE also do IAQ testing.
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Paul Davis Restoration has developed the following link for those in Florida who need help with the defective Chinese drywall. There are 29 Florida offices that can help provide you some direction. Just send a question and you will receive advice within a day or two.
http://restorationofbroward.com/cm/...ywall.html

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http://www.lawyersandsettlements.co...china.html

Derry suggests homeowners first contact their builder if they suspect their home is built with Chinese drywall. If they can't help, there are a few simple steps you can take:

If you are handy enough to look for yourself, outside of the rotten egg smell, get into the attic and push some insulation around to expose the backside of the drywall. Look for a stamp (China or Knauf). Look for copper turning black; appliances and equipment failing prematurely, even TV's and cable boxes and personal jewelry turning black. Remove a switch plate cover off a light switch, get a flashlight and look at the site of the light switch to see if the copper wire is blackened—don't touch it though!

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MAS, a world leader in forensic construction materials analysis, has developed a proprietary analytical methodology for identification of sulfur gas producing Chinese drywall. Unique to this method is the submission of small 2" x 2" drywall samples (resulting in less damage, quicker sampling and easier repairs). With minimum invasive sampling, one can detect corrosion causing drywall and pin-point its location inside an impacted home - vastly reducing the need for unnecessary demolition.

Extensive testing of in-situ control samples at MAS has resulted in a method which conclusively distinguishes sulfur gas producing Chinese drywall based on the emission of carbon disulfide (CS2). CS2 is produced by all types of problematic drywall materials utilizing a proprietary procedure developed at MAS for the testing of suspect problematic drywall. Costly tear-outs are not required to confirm the link between household corrosion, reported occupant symptoms, and the presence of the sulfur gases producing Chinese drywall.

MAS 3945 Lakefield Court | Suwanee, GA 30024
Locations
phone 800-421-8451 or 770-866-3200
fax 770-866-3259

My thought is that an extensive investigation is needed and in a building that suffered wind and flood damage in the past it may be necessary to determine the origin of the drywall in several areas. Certainly I would want to know the history of the upper wall, lower wall and ceiling drywall. I am also interested to know the claim history, what drywall was scoped, estimated and paid for compared to the drywall actually replaced.

I would think there coud be some kind of spectrometer which compares signatures of known sulfur emissions to that on site to see if the smell correlates. This may be what MAS above uses. See link below...  You may be able to have this or a similar company identify someone who has one of these in the area to see if they can apply it for sulfur or other questionable emissions.

www.ahurascientific.com/chemical-ex.../index.php

 

If watching NCIS or CSI is any guide there should be companies that can take submitted samples of drywall and create a graph/fingerprint which could then be used to differentiate between types of drywall and could be used to provide information as to the country of origin.

More than likely somebody has already subjected both American made drywall and Chinese drywall to testing

I need help finding the tester and the reports.

Chuck,

Check this guy out, he has done work for me for 20+ years. He may be able to give you some guidance.

http://www.aflab.com/

I wonder if a test kit could be assembled for use during your scope of the drywall materials.
I know that in soil or water, PH can be measured by using PH paper (litmus). Alkali increases PH and sulfer Decreases PH.
Sulfer appears to be the main issue with Chinese drywall.
Since sampled PH paper is compared to a color chart to determine the PH of the soil or water, I should be able to differentiate the PH in Drywall materials, if the only thing you are looking for is sulfer.
It may be a long shot, but the answer to testing may be that simple. What do you think?

I love conspiracy therories! Why not make the insurance industry pony up the $dough like they did with the war damaged office buildings in New York City about 8 years ago? To paraphrase that endearing line from the movie, 'Treasure of the Sierra Madres' in 1948, "Contracts??? We don need no stinkin contracts!!!"

Ol' Ghost

Tom,

In years gone by I handled defective faucet claims for the insuror for a faucet mfg., somewhere over seas. It seems like it is coming back to me if you are a foreign mfg importing into the USA there is some treaty or something that says you have to have insurance certificates on file with our gubmint. Does anyone know just what it is I am trying to say?

We all know that once a claim, a first party claim, is presented under an all risk except as excluded/open perils policy it becomes the insurance companies duty to show that the claim is not covered by the terms and conditions of the policy and that the insured is entitled to a competent investigation. Claims handling must be conducted in accord with applicable state law. For example a Reservation of Rights should be issued before any investigation or the insured may assert that the investigation constitutes acceptance of the claim. In Louisiana, by law, handling should start within 14 days of receipt of notice.

Coverage can be created by mistakes in handling.

My understanding is that at least some of the "Chinese Drywall" came into the United State through a German company and most likely the German company has insurance and resources.

As is predictable politicians have jumped into the fray and are starting to attempt to direct the conduct of both private and public insurance companies.

Disney stole it. The line is when el Bandidos try to steal the gold from the four Gringo miners up on the mountain. One Gringo is killed, then the Federales come charging to the rescue.

Ol' Ghost

I was pulling your proverbial leg. If you only knew the collection of movies I have accumulating in storage and in the house (and nary a Pixar among them)! And The Treasure of the Sierra Madre is one of my favorites. I rewatch it about once every two years. I enjoy pointing out to people the appearance of a very young Robert Blake playing a Mexican kid. Tongue in cheek isn't easy to convey in a written forum.

We are planning a "Bad Movie Night" at my place in the near future. We'll have a bunch of Jennifer's friends over, stock up on the domestic brew, order a pizza, and watch something by John Waters or Ed Wood with attendant trailers for offerings by Something Wierd Video. And we'll lift a glass or seven to Jennifer, who would have loved the party (but probably not the movie).