Urges to declare Chinese drywall hazard

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Congressional members are asking the top U.S. fire official to declare defective Chinese drywall a fire hazard.

In letters to U.S. Fire Administrator Kelvin Cochran, congressional members from Florida, Virginia and Louisiana said homeowners should be warned about the fire risk associated with the Chinese-made product.

A large quantity of Chinese drywall was imported during the housing boom and after a string of Gulf Coast hurricanes and it has been linked to corrosion in homes and possibly health effects.

On Thursday, the U.S. representatives and senators said they were afraid that smoke and fire alarms and sprinklers would stop working in homes with the drywall and that corrosion would lead to home fires.

They asked the administrator to speak out about the fire hazard and get involved in federal drywall probes.