Stabil Concrete Pavers house repair and building materials

The reports, as CPSC published them

1. No one hurt

   Made Sep 10, 2015 · , sent to the company Dec 3, 2015 · , published by CPSC Dec 17, 2015

   The product, in the report: Pool Coping Stones & Concrete Paving Stones

   Re: Possible Unsafe Products- Stabil Concrete Pavers, LLC-Sarasota, Florida To Whom It May Concern: By way of this communication and Its attachments, I respectfully request the review and possible intervention of the commission. My concerns specifically relate to products which were and continue to be produced by STABIL CONCRETE PAVERS, LLC of Sarasota, Florida. As a point of Information, I am a retired forensic construction defect/product defect consultant with over 35 years of forensic experience. 1 am degreed in the four (4} major engineering disciplines of civil, mechanical, electrical and chemical engineering as well as having been exposed to the commission’s interventions in the past. The products of which I have concern are swimming pool coping stones and concrete paving stones. My initial exposure to the defective products were when coping stones were installed on my pool circa March 2014. At that time, the stones exhibited excessive edge chipping. The forensic signatures were quite clear that I may be dealing with a substandard production product. But, hoping that I was dealing with an anomaly, I approached the manufacturer with a warranty claim. Though they attempted to offer what was, in their view, a fair settlement position. In my view, their offer fell short of being equitable. The recalcitrant nature of both the manufacturer as well as their attorney urged me to utilize the forensic skills God chose to entrust to my care. The new question was whether the defective products installed at my pool were just an isolated situation or, in the alternative, evidence of a more pervasive production problem. If the defects were pervasive, they could pose a threat to the health and welfare of the public totally beyond aesthetic appearance issues. Based upon the need to be objective, I temporarily ignored the coping stones installed on my pool. I sought out and obtained standard supply chain samples, maintaining as normal a chain of custody as possible for my initial forensic investigations. Initial forensic research indicated that the manufacturer claimed to “ .•. MEET OR EXCEED THE REQUIREMENTS OF ASTM C-936”. This standard has specific production requirements including, but not limited to, requirements for compressive strength and absorption. The supply chain samples were subjected to test procedures defined in the referenced ASTM standard by an independent laboratory with extensive experience with matters of this type. ASTM C-936 references test protocols defined In ASTM C-140/140M. The test results for the limited number of samples tested were devastating though quite dispositive. The supply chain samples tested failed to even come close to the ASTM standards for compressive strength and absorption which the manufacturer claimed to “MEET OR EXCEED”. More importantly, the test results profile a product which could potentially pose a threat to the health and welfare of the public. The test results clearly explain the edge chipping found In the coping stones Installed on my pool. Of greater interest to the commission is that the Initial test results support a theory that the standard supply chain production products of this manufacturer could be unsafe for use by the public. Please consider that the absence of the published compressive strength could have significant consequences. 1) It could cause ongoing chipping of pool coping stones which would create sharp edges with the potential of being a cut/abrasion hazard to pool users. 2) A relatively minor impact could cause a brittle fracture of the pool copings in cases where the stones are installed In a cantilever fashion on the pool shell top edge (Typical installation). This event would expose a “Cutting Edge” to the pool users with the associated cut/abrasion hazard. 3) Lack of published compressive strength could also cause a compressive failure (Pulverization) of the pool coping stones and paver units if exposed to loads equal to or even less than their claimed capacity but above their actual tested compressive strength (Claimed Strength-8000 psi, Actual Test Data-approx. 2000 psi). If Stabil’s products fall in walkways, driveways or any other ambulation surface installation where their claimed strength Is assumed, the deformed stones would present a significant trip and fall hazard. Also, please consider the high absorption rates found in the test results. Obviously, they exceed the ASTM standard claimed by the manufacturer and provides a clear reason why the manufacturer needs to exclude efflorescence from their warranty. Of greater Interest to the commission should be the fact that high absorption rates will negatively affect the existing inadequacies In compressive strength over time. This alone could further compromise the strength of Stabil’s production products since the high absorption rates could lower their already poor compressive strength values. To assist the commission In the investigation and possible recall of the involved products, I have enclosed the following: 1) “File A Report’’ form-OMB Control Number 3041-0146 with relevant sections completed and referencing this correspondence as appropriate. 2) Copies of the Manufacturer’s published limited Warranty as well as their published tutorial on Efflorescence. Their warranty specifically references conformity to ASTM C-936 and specifically excludes Efflorescence as a valid warranty Issue. The tutorial document basically attempts to exculpate the manufacturer from blame regarding efflorescence Issues. In my opinion, it is an affirmative effort to “short circuit” valid claims caused by the high absorption rates of their standard production products. 3) ASTM C-936/C-936M titled “Standard Specification for Solid Concrete Interlocking Paving Units” 4) ASTM C-140/C-140M titled “Standard Test Methods for Sampling and Testing Concrete Masonry Units and Related Units” 5) FORENSIC TESTING REPORT prepared by J.A. FREZZA & ASSOCIATES, LLC of Flemington, NJ. dated July 24, 2015. If there are any open questions, I can be reached at (Home) [REDACTED]and (Cell) [REDACTED] Since I have both a personal as well as professional interest In this matter, any Information that the commission can share with me regarding any Investigation and/or conclusion would be greatly appreciated. My professional skills are offered to the commission as a courtesy, if needed.

   Model

   Pool Coping Stones & Concrete Paving Stones

   Where

   Parrish, Florida: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Unspecified

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Unspecified

   As this report names them

   Brand Stabil Concrete Pavers, made or sold by Stabil Concrete Pavers, LLC

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Incident, No Injury

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources