Workers must take care not to damage the paper backing on drywall.
Drywall is a building material used in many homes and businesses to create walls and ceilings. In its manufactured state, it is harmless. If something crushes the outer layer of drywall, tiny particles of crystalline silica, which is a known carcinogen, may break off and spread through the air. This is one of the many reasons there are a variety of drywall regulations in place throughout the country.
Drywall Installation Hazards
Drywall not only contains silica, but talc, calcite, mica and gypsum, all of which are irritants to the respiratory system. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) established the safe limit of particulate dust at 5 milligrams per cubic meter. The particulate dust from drywall is often 10 times that limit. Drywall manufacturers recommend wet-sanding or sanding in areas with good ventilation, but that doesn't often happen. Workers may wear respiratory masks incorrectly. Vacuum-sanding systems and pole sanders are the tools recommended by OSHA.
Chinese Drywall
In recent years, reports of asbestos in drywall have appeared in drywall imported from China. Initial problems with Chinese drywall concerned claims of a foul odor and corrosion of the metal plumbing it touched. Upon closer investigation, asbestos was found in the material. Many cities, counties and states are now enacting drywall regulations that call for the removal of the defective product from buildings.
Drywall Removal
You cannot start swinging your sledgehammer to remove drywall. Any time the outer layer of paper is broken, the particulate matter is released into the air. Care must be taken to remove drywall in large chunks whenever possible. Any drywall removed from a construction site must go to a landfill approved to accept construction waste. Some drywall products have special purposes, such as those that are lead-lined. This type of drywall is used to build medical facilities that operate X-ray machines. Not only are there drywall regulations in place for building this type of room, but construction workers must take special care to follow local regulations regarding the removal and disposal of lead-lined drywall. When handling this type of product, only workers with special training in its handling should go near it.
Drywall Recycling
Some cities and states are looking into drywall recycling options. Approximately 12 percent of drywall material is wasted during construction. Huge amounts of the product wind up in landfills as a result of remodeling projects. With regulated options in place, old drywall can find new life as filler for cement products. When ground into fine particles, drywall works as soil amendments for landscapers. Animal producers are finding that recycled drywall helps reduce odors. Each recycling option requires that no undesirable element, such as asbestos, be introduced into the recycled product. This means it's necessary to carefully monitor the recycled drywall products during processing.
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