Federal Pacific Electrical Panel Fire Hazard

A federal pacific electric fpe circuit breaker panel can appear to be working properly for years.

Federal pacific electrical panel fire hazard.

The panel was well known in the building community as a cheaper alternative to some of the more recognizable panel companies such as general electric i t e and square d. Federal pacific electric stab lok service panels and breakers are dangerous and can fail leading to electrical fires. 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. 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.

An estimated 2 800 fires. Federal pacific panels also known as fpe panels were a popular residential electrical panel choice in the mid to late 20th century. Fpe panels may not meet today s updated safety codes. 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.

Federal pacific electric panels were produced from the mid 1950s well into the 1980s. Over 100 million of them were installed in the usa and canada.