Metallurgical Investigations Into Corrosion Damage in Homes Constructed With Problem Drywall

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has received thousands of consumer reports of a particular type of drywall causing problems in homes in the United States. Many of these consumer reports blamed the presence of this malodorous "problem drywall" on corrosion failures in their heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) systems, appliances, consumer electronics, and lighting fixtures. In response, the CPSC, Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) collaborated to investigate how corrosion accelerated by the presence of problem drywall could influence the reliability and functionality of fire safety systems in these homes. This report covers the metallurgical examinations associated with this investigation conducted by the Metallurgy Division of NIST.