Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Stab-Lok庐 breakers and panelboards
Federal Pacific Electric Company (FPE) manufactured many electrical products while in business, including a panelboard and breaker line called Stab-Lok庐. The Stab-Lok庐 products are no longer manufactured, but millions had been installed in residential and commercial buildings between 1950 and 1985.
The purpose of the breaker is to protect the building from fire in the event of an electrical circuit abnormality.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) investigated many reports in 1982 of Stab-Lok庐 breakers failing to trip as required by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) testing standards. The CPSC did not have the funding to further investigate this problem or arrive at a definitive conclusion.
Tests by CPSC and independent consulting engineers concluded that certain Stab-Lok庐 breakers do not trip according to UL requirements and, in some cases, can jam in the "on" position. In addition, overheating problems have been found within the panelboard internal bus connections.
Unfortunately, this information surfaced after many Stab-Lok庐 installations were completed and had been in service for years.
In 2002, a New Jersey class-action lawsuit鹿 decided that the manufacturer of the Stab-Lok庐 breakers committed fraud over many years in issuing UL labels to products they knew did not meet the UL testing requirements.
The National Electrical Code requires that all installed products must be listed and labeled by an independent testing agency to be acceptable for the intended use.
Due to the fraudulent UL testing, the original Stab-Lok庐 panelboards and breakers were never verified as suitable for the intended use. This is because they did not pass the UL tests at the time.
A licensed electrical contractor should confirm whether Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok庐 breakers and panelboards are currently in use.
Based on these issues, when a Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok庐 installation is discovered, the safest course of action is to replace it with a completely new panelboard and breaker installation.
For a detailed review of the FPE Stab-Lok庐 problem and equipment identification refer to:
鹿Partial Summary Judgement decision dated 8/15/02 by Judge Bryan D. Garruto, J.S.C., Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division: Middlesex County, Docket No. L-2904-97.
Copyright 漏2014, Hartford Steam Boiler
This material is provided for informational purposes only and does not provide any coverage or guarantee loss prevention. The examples in this material are provided as hypothetical and for illustration purposes only. 华体会 Insurance Company and its affiliates and subsidiaries (鈥溁寤徕€�) specifically disclaim any warranty or representation that acceptance of any recommendations contained herein will make any premises, or operation safe or in compliance with any law or regulation. By providing this information to you. 华体会 does not assume (and specifically disclaims) any duty, undertaking or responsibility to you. The decision to accept or implement any recommendation(s) or advice contained in this material must be made by you.
LC FEB 2019 2014-368
171-1140 (1/19)
Related resources
Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Stab-Lok庐 breakers and panelboards
Federal Pacific Electric Company (FPE) manufactured many electrical products while in business, including a panelboard and breaker line called Stab-Lok庐. The Stab-Lok庐 products are no longer manufactured, but millions had been installed in residential and commercial buildings between 1950 and 1985.
The purpose of the breaker is to protect the building from fire in the event of an electrical circuit abnormality.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) investigated many reports in 1982 of Stab-Lok庐 breakers failing to trip as required by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) testing standards. The CPSC did not have the funding to further investigate this problem or arrive at a definitive conclusion.
Tests by CPSC and independent consulting engineers concluded that certain Stab-Lok庐 breakers do not trip according to UL requirements and, in some cases, can jam in the "on" position. In addition, overheating problems have been found within the panelboard internal bus connections.
Unfortunately, this information surfaced after many Stab-Lok庐 installations were completed and had been in service for years.
In 2002, a New Jersey class-action lawsuit鹿 decided that the manufacturer of the Stab-Lok庐 breakers committed fraud over many years in issuing UL labels to products they knew did not meet the UL testing requirements.
The National Electrical Code requires that all installed products must be listed and labeled by an independent testing agency to be acceptable for the intended use.
Due to the fraudulent UL testing, the original Stab-Lok庐 panelboards and breakers were never verified as suitable for the intended use. This is because they did not pass the UL tests at the time.
A licensed electrical contractor should confirm whether Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok庐 breakers and panelboards are currently in use.
Based on these issues, when a Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok庐 installation is discovered, the safest course of action is to replace it with a completely new panelboard and breaker installation.
For a detailed review of the FPE Stab-Lok庐 problem and equipment identification refer to:
鹿Partial Summary Judgement decision dated 8/15/02 by Judge Bryan D. Garruto, J.S.C., Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division: Middlesex County, Docket No. L-2904-97.
Copyright 漏2014, Hartford Steam Boiler
This material is provided for informational purposes only and does not provide any coverage or guarantee loss prevention. The examples in this material are provided as hypothetical and for illustration purposes only. 华体会 Insurance Company and its affiliates and subsidiaries (鈥溁寤徕€�) specifically disclaim any warranty or representation that acceptance of any recommendations contained herein will make any premises, or operation safe or in compliance with any law or regulation. By providing this information to you. 华体会 does not assume (and specifically disclaims) any duty, undertaking or responsibility to you. The decision to accept or implement any recommendation(s) or advice contained in this material must be made by you.
LC FEB 2019 2014-368
171-1140 (1/19)
Related resources
Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Stab-Lok庐 breakers and panelboards
Federal Pacific Electric Company (FPE) manufactured many electrical products while in business, including a panelboard and breaker line called Stab-Lok庐. The Stab-Lok庐 products are no longer manufactured, but millions had been installed in residential and commercial buildings between 1950 and 1985.
The purpose of the breaker is to protect the building from fire in the event of an electrical circuit abnormality.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) investigated many reports in 1982 of Stab-Lok庐 breakers failing to trip as required by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) testing standards. The CPSC did not have the funding to further investigate this problem or arrive at a definitive conclusion.
Tests by CPSC and independent consulting engineers concluded that certain Stab-Lok庐 breakers do not trip according to UL requirements and, in some cases, can jam in the "on" position. In addition, overheating problems have been found within the panelboard internal bus connections.
Unfortunately, this information surfaced after many Stab-Lok庐 installations were completed and had been in service for years.
In 2002, a New Jersey class-action lawsuit鹿 decided that the manufacturer of the Stab-Lok庐 breakers committed fraud over many years in issuing UL labels to products they knew did not meet the UL testing requirements.
The National Electrical Code requires that all installed products must be listed and labeled by an independent testing agency to be acceptable for the intended use.
Due to the fraudulent UL testing, the original Stab-Lok庐 panelboards and breakers were never verified as suitable for the intended use. This is because they did not pass the UL tests at the time.
A licensed electrical contractor should confirm whether Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok庐 breakers and panelboards are currently in use.
Based on these issues, when a Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok庐 installation is discovered, the safest course of action is to replace it with a completely new panelboard and breaker installation.
For a detailed review of the FPE Stab-Lok庐 problem and equipment identification refer to:
鹿Partial Summary Judgement decision dated 8/15/02 by Judge Bryan D. Garruto, J.S.C., Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division: Middlesex County, Docket No. L-2904-97.
Copyright 漏2014, Hartford Steam Boiler
This material is provided for informational purposes only and does not provide any coverage or guarantee loss prevention. The examples in this material are provided as hypothetical and for illustration purposes only. 华体会 Insurance Company and its affiliates and subsidiaries (鈥溁寤徕€�) specifically disclaim any warranty or representation that acceptance of any recommendations contained herein will make any premises, or operation safe or in compliance with any law or regulation. By providing this information to you. 华体会 does not assume (and specifically disclaims) any duty, undertaking or responsibility to you. The decision to accept or implement any recommendation(s) or advice contained in this material must be made by you.
LC FEB 2019 2014-368
171-1140 (1/19)
Related resources
Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Stab-Lok庐 breakers and panelboards
Federal Pacific Electric Company (FPE) manufactured many electrical products while in business, including a panelboard and breaker line called Stab-Lok庐. The Stab-Lok庐 products are no longer manufactured, but millions had been installed in residential and commercial buildings between 1950 and 1985.
The purpose of the breaker is to protect the building from fire in the event of an electrical circuit abnormality.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) investigated many reports in 1982 of Stab-Lok庐 breakers failing to trip as required by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) testing standards. The CPSC did not have the funding to further investigate this problem or arrive at a definitive conclusion.
Tests by CPSC and independent consulting engineers concluded that certain Stab-Lok庐 breakers do not trip according to UL requirements and, in some cases, can jam in the "on" position. In addition, overheating problems have been found within the panelboard internal bus connections.
Unfortunately, this information surfaced after many Stab-Lok庐 installations were completed and had been in service for years.
In 2002, a New Jersey class-action lawsuit鹿 decided that the manufacturer of the Stab-Lok庐 breakers committed fraud over many years in issuing UL labels to products they knew did not meet the UL testing requirements.
The National Electrical Code requires that all installed products must be listed and labeled by an independent testing agency to be acceptable for the intended use.
Due to the fraudulent UL testing, the original Stab-Lok庐 panelboards and breakers were never verified as suitable for the intended use. This is because they did not pass the UL tests at the time.
A licensed electrical contractor should confirm whether Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok庐 breakers and panelboards are currently in use.
Based on these issues, when a Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok庐 installation is discovered, the safest course of action is to replace it with a completely new panelboard and breaker installation.
For a detailed review of the FPE Stab-Lok庐 problem and equipment identification refer to:
鹿Partial Summary Judgement decision dated 8/15/02 by Judge Bryan D. Garruto, J.S.C., Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division: Middlesex County, Docket No. L-2904-97.
Copyright 漏2014, Hartford Steam Boiler
This material is provided for informational purposes only and does not provide any coverage or guarantee loss prevention. The examples in this material are provided as hypothetical and for illustration purposes only. 华体会 Insurance Company and its affiliates and subsidiaries (鈥溁寤徕€�) specifically disclaim any warranty or representation that acceptance of any recommendations contained herein will make any premises, or operation safe or in compliance with any law or regulation. By providing this information to you. 华体会 does not assume (and specifically disclaims) any duty, undertaking or responsibility to you. The decision to accept or implement any recommendation(s) or advice contained in this material must be made by you.
LC FEB 2019 2014-368
171-1140 (1/19)