Federal Pacific Electric Panel Fire Hazard

Federal pacific panels also known as fpe panels were a popular residential electrical panel choice in the mid to late 20th century.

Federal pacific electric panel fire hazard. Experts warn of fire danger with certain electric boxes federal pacific panels commonly installed in 60s 80s sometimes do not properly work by scott friedman published february 28 2011. But experts warn that if a federal pacific electric panel experiences an overcurrent or short circuit it may not keep the electrical circuits from overheating and could possibly pose a fire hazard. Here we explain the fire and shock hazards associated with federal pacific electric stab lok circuit breakers and service panels provides a complete history of the fpe hazard and we provide and cite independent unbiased research on fpe failures and recommends replacement of the panels. In 1983 the consumer product safety commission closed its two year investigation and felt it impossible to create a product recall at the time because of budget issues even as federal pacific panels and breakers continued to be installed in millions of homes that to this day still run the risk of an electrical fire.

Fpe federal pacific electric stab lok electrical panel circuit breaker hazards home page. The story behind federal pacific electrical panels. 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. And canadian homes were built with circuit breaker panels that one expert has questioned as a potential fire hazard.

Federal pacific electric stab lok service panels and breakers are dangerous and can fail leading to electrical fires. Federal pacific electric panels are a fire hazard from the 1950s to the 1980s one of the most popular brands of circuit breaker was stab lok manufactured by federal pacific electric fpe. An estimated 2 800 fires. This document explains the latent electric shock and fire hazards associated with federal pacific electric stab lok electric panels and circuit breakers and in challenger electrical panels and circuit breakers.

A federal pacific electric fpe circuit breaker panel can appear to be working properly for years. Over 100 million of them were installed in the usa and canada.