Went looking at new trailers at LAZY DAYS (in Tampa FL)Sat. The weather was warm and very sunny. The trailers were not hooked to any power. The air inside was terrible in many of them. There did not seem to be any relationship to smell and manufacturer. Some were bad and others right next door were ok. NONE were FEMA trailers. My conclusion is that the Fema trailers were probably allowed to sit for too long without ventilation in the hot southern sun. Airing them out in hot humid conditions will probably slow down the results. My opinion is that none (including Fema) are exempt and all can be fixed.
I do know when looking for a new TT could not go in some for eyes hurting. new homes may have some fumes but not like the TT.I can not imagine living in one of these TT. I tried to look at.We bought a new trail cruiser no problems with fumes.DW has allergy's and could not have camped in some we looked at.
I recently took a HAZWOPER course taught interestingly enough by a gentleman who worked for Homeland Security and was a primary person involved with Katrina relief efforts. The class asked him about very this issue, I'll do my best to recount his response. The gentleman has an advanced degree in chemestry so he spoke with knowledge.
When the decision was made to use TT to house victims, the US supply of TTs was consumed very quickly. Manufactures ramped up production. As we all know pressboard is used heavily in most TTs. Part of making pressboard involves formaldehyde, which under US regulations is "Baked" out before use in construction. With the massive increase in production, the US supply of pressboard was very quickly consumed, and manufactures began scrambling to find it from anyplace they could, including overseas countries who do not have regulations about treating and baking their pressboard. So untreated unbaked pressboard began showing up in FEMA trailers.
When this problem became known, the instructor actually wrote a procedure to for FEMA to "bake" the trailers to make them safe. All it really involved was closing them up during the hottest part of the day and then blowing them out at night. Repeat a few times and formaldehyde would be below the safe limits. However the process required FEMA workers to wear respirators to protect themselvs while working on the trailers, and FEMA decided this was too much effort and would take too long.
All the FEMA trailers could be made safe pretty easily, and they are all probably baked out at this point, but FEMA does not want the liability.
Production run TT that we purchace are required to be constructed with baked pressboard and do not pose any formaldehyde threat. That is not to say they don't outgass, or may cause irritation to some people, but that they meet the safe exposure requirements.
Hope this sheds a little light
Daniel
2007 Expedition EL 4x4 Tow pkg
2006 Pioneer 180CK (No more pucampin!)
Nights in 07 : 4 (But our new kitchen, is SO nice!)
Nights in 08 : 6 (Gotta change that!)
Me DW
DD 6/14/06 DS 11/27/07
OMG!! We're WHAT?! DD 11/26/08
Beginning a sentence with "FACT" doesn't automatically make it a fact. And I am referring to the original post.
And THAT is a Fact.
LOL
I think it's going to be a long debate and end in litigation.
And higher prices for RV's.
BTW, did you know your house has the same fumes when new??
And it WAS the hastily assembled FEMA trailers, the ones without holding tanks, from the dealers.
Those of us who hauled them knew about the short "drying time" on the components used in them.
Life could be easier,
But there will ALWAYS be a fearmonger, a lawyer, and a lowlife lookin for a quick buck.
Not sure where some of these "facts" are originating but the RV industry currently has no standards in place that requires the plywood be "baked".
When I recently worked for a MH manufacturer, the plywood came from local suppliers that gave the best pricing.
And, you can read any industry magazine and a good number of the Rv's that the general public buys do have problems with formaldyhide.
In fact, I was dissapointed when one manufacturer, that has been brought into question regarding the issue, was the manufacturer of one of my RV's, a 2007 model.
The Gallant people have a very informative report about the fomaldyhide issue in OUR Rv's (Not just FEMA) in the latest Trailer Life issue.
Take a look HERE and read how Forest River actually sprays formaldehyde on all of their products.
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Steve
2007 Springdale 291RKL
2003 F150 King Ranch
2001 Dodge Van w/Wheelchair Ramp
1991 Palomino Mustang PUP
Eureka Timberline Tent
Yamaha IF2400isc
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: 4 (But our new kitchen, is SO nice!)
