If your home was built between 1950 and 1990, you may have a Federal Pacific Electric circuit breaker panel. Many of these panels contain Stab-Lok circuit breakers and can cause a failure leading to a fire.
Federal Pacific was one of the most common manufacturers of circuit breaker panels during this time-frame. However, they have also been found to be increasingly dangerous and present a safety issue to homeowners. Federal Pacific has long been out of business, but their panels are still present in homes throughout the country.
Your electrical panel and the breakers inside the panel are designed to protect your home by preventing circuit overload, short circuits, and outside power surges from coming into your home. When these electrical faults are present, the breaker automatically disconnects from the effected circuit. If a breaker fails to disconnect, or “trip”, electricity is allowed to flow uncontrolled and can quickly cause permanent damage to equipment. In these cases, the panel can also overheat and catch fire, causing serious damage to your home and possibly your family. In most cases, Federal Pacific panels can operate properly for years before they fail but when they do, a disaster could occur. In fact, an estimated 2,800 fires each year are the direct result from a Federal Pacific panel breaker malfunctions.
Federal Pacific was involved in a class action lawsuit in NJ where the New Jersey State Court ruled that they had “violated the Consumer Fraud Act because FPE knowingly and purposefully distributed circuit breakers which were not tested to meet UL standards.” In other test, some Federal Pacific Electrical panels failed to operate properly as much as 60% of the time!
Many Homeowners Insurance companies will not insure homes with Federal Pacific panels and most Home inspectors will note that you have a Federal Pacific panel on the inspection report.
Additional information available at:
https://inspectapedia.com/fpe/FPE_Stab_Lok_Hazards.php
Don’t wait until your panel looks like this, call Innovative Electric today to replace your panel now!
