Electrical
FEDERAL PACIFIC PANELS can be found in Florida Homes
There has been a lot of talk about the safety of Federal Pacific "Stab-Lok" circuit breaker panels and the fact that they may have inherent defects. The result of the defect has linked them to numerous electrical fires. Federal Pacific Panels can be found in Florida homes.
There is no supporting evidence from any government agency or regulatory authority stating that these FPE panels are unsafe and should be replaced.
There has not been a recall by the consumer product safety commission. If you have one of these FPE panels or intend to purchase a home that has one of these FPE panels, we suggest that you talk with your electrician and decide what is right for you and your family
As a Home Inspector, this information puts us in a very difficult situation when we perform a whole house Home Inspection. These FPE breaker panels do "perform their intended function" when performing a visual inspection. The panel does not "initiate" an unsafe condition, which leaves us in the precarious position of knowing that a latent problem may exist in a breaker panel that we check off as "performing intended function".
The following has been said about Federal Pacific Electric ‘Stab-Lok" panels:
That these panels pose a latent threat and could be a hazard. The circuit breakers may fail to trip in the case of an overload or short-circuit. A circuit breaker that fails to trip could cause a fire or personal injury.
The problem with these panels is that some double pole 220volt circuit breakers and some single pole 120volt circuit breakers may not operate as intended if overloaded. A good breaker trips (turning off the power to that circuit) Federal Pacific breakers appear not to trip every time which could result in a fire.
Published reports of tests conducted on FPE two pole 220volt circuit breakers indicate that under certain conditions one leg/pole may attempt to trip the breaker. The result is a circuit that stays live, and a circuit breaker that has been compromised and when reset will not trip again under any excessive load.
In some instances the breakers have been known to fall out when the cover is removed. Loose contacts can also cause arcing which would result in a fire.
These panels appear to work perfectly during normal operation allowing electricity to flow without any problems or symptoms. The real question is what will your panel do if it has an overload?
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) did conduct product testing of these FPE breakers and found that their failure rates were significant.
The CPSC’s advice concerning these panels is for consumers to avoid overloading circuits as well as to turn off and have examined any devices that are causing the circuit breakers to trip. (This is easier said than done and defeats the whole point for having the breaker.)
Federal Pacific electric’s statement in response to this problem is cautious in tone:
"FPE breakers will trip reliably at most overload levels."
It should be noted that Federal Pacific is no longer in business. Aftermarket breakers are available for these panels. Most of these panels are large and had a lot of circuits and the cost of replacing all the breakers is often more than the cost of installing a new panel.
Update March 2005
There has been a class action law suite initiated for residents in the state of New Jersey. For further information contact the class consul at 973-535-8840
Based on the above information and in the interests of safety we recommend our clients consult with a qualified electrician and discuss the possible replacement of these panels. Additional information regarding Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) panels
Remember to find a Tampa Certified ASHI Home Inspector prior to closing on your new Tampa area home. Links to other Independent Home Inspectors in Florida, and outside the state, can be found from our home page.
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