Federal Pioneer / Federal Pacific NC015 and NC015CP Circuit Breakers Circuit Breaker Warrant Alert

Recall of Federal Pioneer NC015 and NC015CP Circuit Breakers in Canada
Questions & Answers about the recall of Federal Pioneer electrical equipment: circuit breakers NC015 series
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This article discusses and identifies Federal Pioneer circuit breakers that have been recalled. Federal Pioneer is the Canadian brand name for electrical panels and circuit breakers of same design and history of origin as Federal Pacific Electric (FPE-Stab-Lok® ) equipment sold in the U.S.

1996-1997 Recall of NC015 and NC015CP Federal Pioneer Circuit Breakers in Canada - Some Federal Pacific Products renamed Federal Pioneer

In May 1999 we (DJF) learned from Schneider Canada that Federal pioneer circuit breakers sold by that company are re-named from Federal Pacific circuit breakers and that two 15-amp single-pole models NC015 and NC015CP made between August 1, 1996 and June 11, 1997 have been recalled.

The Federal Pioneer electrical panel recall notice is available here. We asked the company to determine if Federal Pioneer and Federal Pacific components sold in Canada were made in the U.S. or if tooling used to produce them was identical with that used in the U.S

. If this is the case (as one might expect based on economies of production) one should consider the possibility that other defects reported in the U.S. may also appear in Canadian installations. As of the latest date of this web page (see page bottom) no reply has been received.

The Federal Pioneer electric panel Warranty Alert was issued by the Ontario New Home Warranty program in October 1997 and provides for circuit breaker replacement. Schneider Canada is an electrical supplier whose product lines combine those previously marketed under the names Federal Pacific Electric, Federal Pioneer, Square-D, Tele Mechanique, Modicon, and Merlin Gerin.

Comparing the Canadian Warranty Alert for Federal Pioneer NC015/NC015CP circuit breakers and US CPSC and Industry Response to the performance of FPE Stab-Lok® circuit breakers in the U.S. we comment:

This was a limited (to manufacturing date and breaker type) recall issued in Canada. But we emphasize the point that is made in the recall notice, as it expresses a safety concern that applies to users of FPE Stab-Lok® equipment in the US. The recall notice states "If the circuit breaker does not perform as intended, there is a potential for property damage and/or personal injury". That is what FPE denied, and a charge for which the U.S. CPSC did not have the resources to gather the evidence required to prevail in court.That statement is the most important part of the recall notice.

Consumers whose properties receive electrical power supplied through an American-made FPE Stab-Lok® panel should ask why it is that Stab-Lok® breakers that don't trip properly in Canada pose a risk of property damage and/or injury, but Stab-Lok® breakers that don't trip properly in the USA do not? Do we have less aggressive electrons in the USA.

Photos to assist in identification of Federal Pioneer electrical equipment are at FEDERAL PIONEER PANELS

The following Warranty Alert was issued by the Ontario New Home Warranty Program on October 14, 1997.

Warranty Alert - Ontario New Home Warranty Program

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Schneider Canada NC015/NC015P Circuit Breaker Recall
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IMPORTANT PRODUCT RECALL INFORMATION FOR BUILDERS

The Ontario New Home Warranty Program (ONHWP) wants to pass along important product recall information to all registered builders/ vendors from Schneider Canada.

Schneider Canada was recently made aware of a potential problem with their Federal Pioneer brand NC015 and NC015CP circuit breakers manufactured between August 1, 1996 and June 11, 1997.

In some circumstances these breakers may not trip. In other cases, the breakers will continue to protect anticipated overloads and short circuit currents. If the circuit breaker does not perform as intended, there is potential for property damage and/or personal injury. There have been no reports of injuries or fires as a result of the potential problem.

Schneider Canada is determined to make every effort to locate and replace these circuit breakers. Their plan is to notify homeowners in a number of ways, including utility bill stuffers, advertising and through channel and contractor notification. They expect to receive calls from concerned homeowners requesting replacement of their circuit breakers. Here is a summary of the process Schneider Canada has set up:

* There is a toll free call centre at 1-888-519- 5536 or 416-234-6407 (Metro Toronto) that homeowners can telephone for more information about the program and register their home for breaker replacement.

* The call centre has a list of authorized contractors and will refer up to three local contractors for the homeowner to call.

* Homeowners select one of the contractors and call to arrange a suitable date and time to visit and replace the breakers.

* The contractor makes a service call to remove and replace the affected breakers, invoices Schneider Canada for a service call and returns the circuit breakers to an authorized Schneider Canada distributor.

WHAT TO DO - Canadian FPE - Stab Lok Federal Pioneer Stab-Lok® Equipment in Canada

Because Schneider Canada is taking charge of this product recall ONHWP does not expect to be involved.

You may want to check with your electrical contractor to determine if your homes and homeowners are affected.

FOR MORE INFORMATION on Canadian FPE Federal Pioneer Recall

More detailed information is available by calling your local Schneider Canada office or you can visit their website at www.schneider.ca

OFFICES OF THE ONTARIO NEW HOME WARRANTY PROGRAM

Head Office
5160 Yonge St. 6th Floor
North York ON M2N 6L9
(416) 229-9200
Toll Free 1-800-668-0124
E-Mail info@newhome.on.ca

Note: other Ontario New Home Warranty Program office addresses included in the above notice have been deleted for brevity. Otherwise the notice is quoted directly and verbatim from a copy faxed to me by Carson Dunlop & Associates in Toronto on 10/27/97 and verified by telephone call to Schneider Canada on 5/25/99.

Here is a copy of the original recall notice of Federal Pioneer NC015 and NC015CP circuit breakers for NC015 and NC015CP

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Technical Reviewers & References

Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.

Note: as we didn't add this reviewers list until 2007, this list of technical reviewers is incomplete; we have received comments and suggestions regarding this topic, edits and remarks included, from engineers and management from the US CPSC, electricians (many listed at our page on field reports of FPE failures), home inspectors, licensed electricians, and electrical engineers, and even a few attorneys and real estate agents, since 1986. Technical review, critique, content suggestions, questions, or clarifications are invited and where a contributor wishes, credit and links will be provided to that source. Contact us to provide feedback.
Dr. Jess Aronstein, electrical engineer, Poughkeepsie, NY, forensic engineering services, independent laboratory testing for various agencies protune@aol.com (independent electrical panel testing, including FPE Stab-Lok® panels, to April 2010)
David Carrier, electrical engineer, 53 Henmond Blvd., Poughkeepsie, NY 12603 845-430-7527 davidwcarrier@earthlink.net (independent electrical panel testing, including FPE Stab-Lok® panels, beginning 2010)
Alan Carson, Carson Dunlop, Associates, Toronto, Ontario. Mr. Carson is a home inspection professional, educator, researcher, writer, and a principal of Carson Dunlop Associates, a Toronto home inspection and education firm. Mr. Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors
Mark Cramer Inspection Services Mark Cramer, Tampa Florida, Mr. Cramer is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors and is a Florida home inspector and home inspection educator. (727) 595-4211 mark@BestTampaInspector.com 11/06
Carl Grasso, Esq., Herzfeld & Rubin, New York, NY. Mr. Grasso is an attorney who managed a plaintiff's class action litigation against Federal Pacific Electric in New Jersey.
William King, US CPSC Director of Electrical Engineering (Ret).
Licensed Electricians: FPE Fire and Failure Reports includes electricians who have provided cases and photographs of field failures of FPE equipment at this website.
Homeowners, Home Inspectors, Electricians: Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Panel Fires and other Failures includes anecdotal field reports provided by a range of contributors including electricians (and some home owners or home inspectors) who have provided cases and photographs of field failures of FPE equipment at this website.

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The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.

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Building inspection education & report writing systems from Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd

Aluminum Wiring Information Website Aluminum Electrical Wiring Hazards and Repairs: in-depth authoritative info, photos, documents including selection of proper vs. ineffective repair methods. E.g.: Ideal 65 "Twister" purple connector fails in field and lab testing with aluminum wire.
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Electrical Panels, How to Inspect in buildings, safety for electrical inspectors, electrical panel, fusing, wiring defects, defective products. Inspection Class Presentation

The Federal Pacific Stab-Lok® Electric Panel Hazard Website Safety Information for Consumers.
2007 FPE Stab-Lok® TECHNICAL REPORT - an updated test report of independent testing (a large 1.2MB PDF file) using a larger pool of FPE Stab-Lok® circuit breakers than the older CPSC and Wright Malta tests found significantly higher failure rates of FPE Stab-Lok® circuit breakers, including a look at critical safety failures (breaker failed to trip at 200% of rated current or jammed) which found up to 80% failure rate for FPE Stab-Lok® GFCI circuit breakers (n=4), 12% failure rate for double pole FPE Stab-Lok® circuit breakers (n=120), and a 1% failure rate for FPE Stab-Lok® single pole circuit breakers (n=345).
FPE FIRES: Failures continue: FPE breaker fails, results in fires: field reports
Federal Pacific Electric Fires Waiting to Happen, Debate Waiting to Be Ended, detailed article
Home Inspection Reporting Language and discussion for FPE panels
Home Inspection Reporting Language and discussion for FPE panels
How to Identify FPE Federal Pacific Stab-Lok® Electric Panels - is yours one of these? ALSO: A History of the FPE Stab-Lok® Issue.
Federal Pacific Electric Panels: Fires Waiting to Happen, Debate Waiting to Be Ended
How to Identify Federal Pacific Electric Panels Stab Lok Breakers & History of the Federal Pacific Electric Stab Lok Hazard
Replacement Circuit Breakers for FPE Stab-Lok® Electric Panels? are not recommended
Replacement Panels for FPE Stab-Lok® load centers - options include conventional complete panel replacement and a less costly replacement of the panel interior load center/bus assembly
Schneider Canada Federal Pioneer circuit breaker recall
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 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 used to obtain UL Listing for most of FPE's circuit breakers and notes testing which indicates "possible defects." 1980, Reliance Electric Co.
Safety Hazards and Safe Inspection Procedures for Electrical and Home Inspectors at Residential Electric Panels
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