Federal pacific electric fpe circuit breaker panels were one of the most common electrical panels installed in u. A federal pacific electrical panel is dangerous does your. He indicated that it was a fire hazard, and should be. Inspecting and evaluating federal pacific electrical panels millions of electrical panels manufactured by federal pacific were sold and installed from the 1950s through the 1980s. Federal pacific electrical panels have a well documented history of causing electrical fires. Details about the safety issues can be found by searching the internet under this brand name. They are guaranteed to work as well as the originals. A residual potential fire hazard involving federal pacific electric fpe stablok residential circuit panels and breakers. The churchs insurance company did an inspection and told us to have the federal pacific circuit breaker boxes inspected. The federal pacific electric fpe stablok panel circuit. Despite previous safety concerns, this circuit breaker is.
Jul 26, 2009 this an example of the dangers of a federal pacific panel. Electricians, home inspectors and fire inspectors began to notice that the panels were failing, causing fires. Danger federal pacific fuse mountings in conjunction with appropriate. Federal pacific fpe retrofit kits at utility relay company.
Federal pacific electric panels may not meet todays updated safety codes. Federal pacific stablok panels omaha home inspection. They are produced on blanks from an aftermarket supplier and are not stamped with the key number. Our b123a replacement keys operate the trim locks on federal pacific circuit breaker panelboards.
Experts warn of fire danger with certain electric boxes. Aug 26, 2019 federal pacific electric panels fpe, aka breaker boxes or circuit panels, were installed in millions of homes mostly mobile homes from the 1950s through the 1980s. Jul 08, 2010 to read more detailed and technical information regarding federal pacific stablok panels, please click on the pdf file from cpscs march 18, 2008 meeting where the subject was. Inspecting federal pacific electrical panels amerispec home. Sep 11, 2017 what makes federal pacific breaker panels a home inspection defect. Federal pacific electric panels an accident waiting to. Experts report that federal pacific electric fpe circuit breaker panels may have three major faults that could pose a danger. Based in new jersey, their products were very popular throughout the counry, and some communities have fpe panels inalmost every home. This is an older home in very good condition but it has a federal pacific electrical panel, will this pass fha inspection, if not, do you know what the average cost would be to replace this electrical panel. Federal pacific electric has been out of business for many years, but the danger and damage caused by their negligence continues. Many still exist today, and are still causing problems, according to amerispec omaha and lincolns inspectors.
Federal pacific offers pld padmounted switchgear to provide an additional switchgear equipment choice for implementing underground distribution systems. Federal pacific electric stablok service panels and breakers are dangerous and can fail, leading to electrical fires. An estimated 2,800 fires each year directly result from federal pacific panel breaker malfunction. A federal pacific electrical breaker box works like other home electrical panels. Federal pacific panels and associated danger us inspect marketing, september 14, 2009. Information on the federal pacific electrical panel. Experts warn of fire danger with certain electric boxes federal pacific panels commonly installed in 60s80s sometimes do not properly work. May 03, 2017 if potentially faulty electric equipment existed in your home that could case a fire, you would want to know about it. Acpro trip unit retrofit conversion kits are available for all vintages of federal pacific and fpe circuit breakers. The words stablok will generally be stamped on the face of the panel behind the door, or on the door itself. Federal electric later known as federal pacific electric fpe was a popular manufacturer of panels and breakers from the mid1950s until the early 1980s. Heimer engineering will not be performing prepurchase home inspections until it can do so without risk to the public. How federal pacific electrical panels or breaker boxes work. The most dangerous part of fpe panels is that they work fine for years, but after a single overcurrent or short circuit, they may melt and become hazardous.
Oct 15, 2011 federal pacific electric stablok panels have a long history of problems. The breaker overheated and the breaker did not trip. My home has a federal pacific panel but no outward markings of being a stab lok model, the breakers cannot be identified as i havent opened the panel cover yet. Problem analysis and explanation for home inspection, home buyers, home owners. Federal pacific electrical panel fire hazards allen electrical. Our replacement keys are precut, in stock and available for immediate delivery. Federal pacific electric will likely be written on the cover of your breaker box. Reinforced sections of the building may be required for heavier transformers.
The federal pacific stablok electric panel hazard website safety information for consumers. Sep 11, 2012 good afternoon, we are purchasing our first home via fha loan. Get free 2day shipping on qualified federal pacific products or buy products today with buy online pick up in store. Some of the circuit breakers in a federal pacific electrical panel dont trip when overloaded. Ask the electrician what they know about these panels and if all you get is a blank stare in return, that would be a pretty good sign to find a more knowledgable electician. Pacific electric fpe was a popular man ufacturer of panels and breakers from. Fpe stablok breakers do not meet code requirements.
Does having a federal pacific panel mean that i certainly have fp breakers as well. John curtin home inspector electric federal pacific panel box. Federal pacific stablok circuitbreakers and associated safety hazards. Early vintage low voltage circuit breakers, including the fp, fm, pp and dmb styles air circuit beakers were all manufactured with electromechanical series. If you have one of these electric panels in your home or youre buying a home with one of these panels, you should have. Internal operation of a federal pacific 15a breaker. Inside, look for the name stabloc the brand name of the circuit breakers.
Federal pacific electric company fpe was one of the most common manufacturers of circuit breaker panels in north america from the 1950s to the 1980s. In addition to providing fpe circuit breakers and other electrical equipment, we have an extensive inventory of replacement parts for this equipment. Federal pacific panels jmc bay area building inspection. Investigation finds decades of danger if your home was built before 1990, it may have a faulty federal pacific circuit breaker and could be a fire risk. If so, this panel has the undersized screwandpost busbartoclip connections and is likely to pose a fire hazard in the. Federal pacific electric circuit breaker replacement alert. Federal pacific electric products we provide we do not provide stablok breakers, panels, heating systems, or parts for residential applications. Zinsco is now defunct, but many homes still have these panels. Federal pacific had lost its ul rating due to faulty breakers not tripped during excessive loads. Federal pacific electric panels should be inspected periodically and if the circuit breakers are experiencing a problem then they should be properly replaced. Federal pacific electric stablok panels have a long history of problems.
Daniel friedmans inspectapedia website also has a slew of useful information and. Federal pacific stablok electrical service panels can be. Should you upgrade a federal pacific stab lok panel. An electrical engineer, with his pe, inspected the electrical equipment and sent us a written report. Fires waiting to happen, debate waiting to be ended. Nov 26, 2017 other names for a federal pacific electrical panel include federal pacific electrical breaker box or fpe stablok breaker. This issue was highlighted during a 7 can help report on ketv in omaha in september 2016. Oct 23, 2012 inspected home today with screw in type fuses in a federal pacific breaker panel. Federal pacific electric panels were produced from the mid1950s well into the 1980s. 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 and to anyone buying your property at a later stage, it still has a federal pacific defective panel.
Federal pacific electric panels in portland mr electric of. By ica on september 11, 2017 in continuing education although many of them have long since been removed, federal pacific electric fpe breaker panels with stablok breakers still exist in homes across america. Fires waiting to happen, debate waitingto be ended. The federal pacific electric stablok circuit breaker, a commonly installed electric panel component, was identified in the 1980s as a fire threat because some of the breakers proved defective. The following only applies to federal pacific stablok panels as there are many federal pacific panels that were not stablok models and have no history of being problematic. Fpe panels are a hazard, and that home inspectors making that claim. Ask most home inspectors or electrical contractors about federal pacific panels and you will hear about all the dangers of their breakers not tripping off, and the potential for electrocution and fires. Fpe stablok circuit breaker panels should be replaced unless the occupants are informed and willing to live with the resulting increased risk. My question is whether federal pacific products, as a whole, should be proactively replaced.
Federal pacific electric panels potentially could fail to provide proper safety and protection for homes. Interlocks for federal pacific panels click thumbnail above to enlarge due to safety concerns with many old federal pacific breaker panels we do not sell any interlocks for this brand panel. Federal pacific electric fpe circuit breakers and electrical panels. It should be noted however, that not all electricians are familiar with the problems associated with federal pacific panels. Danger support to insure a minimum of vibration transmission through the structure. Performing home inspections at this time risks spreading covid19 and places people at risk. Why federal pacific electrical panels are dangerous.
Loosen shipping bolts between transformer mounting feet and enclosure base to relieve pressure. Hazardous fpe circuit breakers and panels information for homeowners, inspectors, and electricians updated november 10, 2017 fpe and replacement brands of stablok circuit breakers have a high defect rate. Hazardous fpe circuit breakers and panels, american society of home inspectors by j. If your house was built during this period, it probably has a federal pacific electrical panel. During the 1950s1980s a federal pacific electrical panel was one of the most popular brands in the united states. Aronstein, consulting engineer february 21, 2004 3. They do not provide the level of circuit protection required by the nec national electrical code. Why do federal pacific electrical panels have a bad. Between the 1950s and 1980s, home installed millions of these panels. Jul 04, 2016 if there is a federal pacific electric fpe brand panel box in a home you are considering purchasing your insurance company may require you to replace it before they will write an insurance policy. Due to lack of funding the cpsc was unsuccessful in continuing their investigation to obtain enough. Sep 10, 2009 information on the federal pacific electrical panel danger of fire or electrocution. Federal pacific panels and associated danger us inspect marketing, september 14, 2009 corrective action the recommended method of repair is the complete replacement of the entire. Federal pacific electric company manufactured stablok circuit breakers from.
Aftermarket breakers are available for these panels. Doug hansen, contributing author of code check series, fpe panels hazard or hype. It has been published in the magazine for the california real estate inspection association and in other technical journals. Post a question or comment about fire and notrip hazards involving fpe stablok electrical panels and circuit. Federal pacific breakers and panels are no longer due to their 80% faulty rating.
Federal pacifics stablok breaker panels were found by independent investigators to be unreliable and a fire hazard. Fpe stablok electric panels dont need to be inspected. Good afternoon, we are purchasing our first home via fha. Additionally, stablok panels can also have interconnection problems that can lead to a higher risk of overheating. Federal pacific electrical panels are something we see a lot of in. Federal pacific panel problems pacific crest inspections. If the fpe panel has suffered damage then it would be best to replace the panel with a new panel that has a good performance history. While their intentions may be good, their comments about federal pacific panels are inaccurate. When this happens, neither the panel nor the homes wiring are protected. I know about the problems with the federal pacific breakers, but havent herd any problems with the fuse type and how does the jumpers off the main look. Home breaker list federal pacific fpe federal pacific fpe.
Thus, fpe breakers present a high risk for an electrical fire. The history of federal pacific electrical panels in dfw homes. Most federal pacific fpe stablok circuit breakers and panels manufactured before 1980 are. What makes federal pacific breaker panels a home inspection. Why do federal pacific electric panels malfunction. A federal pacific electrical panel is dangerous does. You should be aware of federal pacific electrical panel fire hazards. Zinsco or gtesylvania panels were popular electrical panels installed in homes throughout the 1970s.