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We recommend that residential FPE Stab-Lok electrical panels be replaced entirely or the entire panel bus assembly be replaced entirely, regardless of model number or year of manufacture. We recommend against replacing individual FPE Stab-lok circuit breakers. We do not sell circuit breakers nor any other products. For more information see FPE REPLACEMENT PANELS and FPE REPLACEMENT BREAKERS. This page assists in identifying Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok electrical panels and circuit breakers. More FPE information is in the links at page left.

This document describes how to identify Federal Pacific Stab-Lok Electric Panels in buildings. It is information for building inspectors, home buyers, home owners, electricians exploring the background of possible hazards associated with Federal Pacific Electric Stab-lok circuit breakers and service panels. © Copyright 2010 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

AGE MATTERS? - Does the age of Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok Electric Panels make a difference in the safety concerns?

The following is a personal opinion by the website author: From my knowledge of the history, pattern, and nature of FPE manufacturing and management difficulties, I suspect the entire product line may have had defects, labeling errors, safety, or other performance issues for both commercial and residential equipment, where circuit breakers and panels are concerned. (I don't have similar criticism of the older FUSE equipment).

However we have test data only for the FPE Stab-Lok series of residential electrical panels and circuit breakers. The "Stab-Lok" product involves a specific electrical panel, bus, and circuit breaker design. Therefore the FPE Stab-Lok Panel Website only includes research and warnings for this specific product line.

People write to ask if their Federal Pacific Electric equipment is "OK" based on a particular age of their house and presumably of the panel. "Year" criteria is not useful in evaluating risk as there is no data that demonstrates that FPE Stab-Lok equipment is better or worse after specific dates.

Furthermore, the age of a piece of equipment installed in a house can be older or newer than the age of the house itself.

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Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

FPE Stab Lok IDENTIFICATION
FPE STAB-LOK PANEL COVERS
FEDERAL NOARK PANELS
FEDERAL ELECTRIC PANELS
FEDERAL PIONEER PANELS
FPE PANEL DOOR LABELS
FPE TOGGLE SWITCH
FPE BREAKER LABELS
HOW TO ID FPE IF NO LABELS
FPE PANEL BUS DESIGNS
FPE PANEL AGE MATTERS?
FPE HISTORIC DATES
OTHER FPE DEFECTS

• Timothy Hemm, Yucala, CA, contributed the photographs of FPE equipment installed in California buildings. Mr. Hemm can be contacted at TimHemm@yahoo.com
• Arlene Puentes, an ASHI home inspector in Kingston, NY, contributed the page top and example photograph of a bank of FPE adjacent electrical panels. Ms. Puentes can be contacted at ap@octoberhome.com
• Jon Bolton, a home inspector, the Inspectigator, FL, contributed the "camouflage" breaker. Mr. Bolton can be contacted at teamattitude@hotmail.com
• Mary DeMuth, a property owner, contributed the Texas Federal Pacific Electric Load Center photos, May 2006.
• Thomas M. Pino, a professional home inspector, contributed photos of the 100A Texas FPE panel used in a condo. www.sweetwaterhomeinspection.com. Mr. Pino can be contacted at sweetinspect@houston.rr.com or at sweetwaterhomeinspection@yahoo.com
• The remaining photographs on this page were made by the web author

More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs

• The Federal Pacific Stab-Lok Electric Panel Hazard Website Safety Information for Consumers. 2009
• Home Inspection Reporting Language for FPE Stab-Lok electric panels and circuit breakers
• Schneider Canada Federal Pioneer circuit breaker recall
• How to Identify Federal Pacific Electric Panels Stab Lok Breakers & History of the Federal Pacific Electric Stab Lok Hazard
• FPE FIRES: Failures continue: FPE breaker fails, results in fires: field reports
• Replacement Electric Panels: Federal Pacific Electric Panel Replacements two cost and method options for FPE panel replacement.
• Federal Pacific Electric Fires Waiting to Happen, Debate Waiting to Be Ended, detailed article
• 1983 CPSC Investigation of FPE Circuit Breakers Safety Information for Consumers
• 1982 Reliance Electric Co. SEC Quarterly Report: Note C. reports litigation between Reliance and UV Liquidating Trust and contends that "... improper and deceptive practices were employed for many years to secure UL listings for Federal Pacific's circuit protective products..."
• 1980 Reliance Electric Co. Press Release: improper practices improper practices used to obtain UL Listing for most of FPE's circuit breakers and notes testing which indicates "possible defects." 1980, Reliance Electric Co.
• 1980 FPE - Exxon Buys A Scandal Along With A Company improper practices improper practices used to obtain UL Listing for most of FPE's circuit breakers and notes testing which indicates "possible defects." 1980, Reliance Electric Co.
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