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 Mobile ViewELECTRICAL INSPECTION, DIAGNOSIS, REPAIR AFCIs ARC FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTERS ALUMINUM SECs & WIRING ALUMINUM WIRING HAZARDS AMPS & VOLTS DETERMINATION AMPACITY - the LIMITING FACTOR APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY RATINGS BACKUP ELECTRICAL GENERATORS Cadet & Encore Heater Recall CIRCUIT BREAKER FAILURE CIRCUIT BREAKER SIZE for A/C or HEAT PUMP CIRCUIT BREAKER SIZE for A/C or HEAT PUMP Classified CIRCUIT BREAKER WARNING CUTLER HAMMER PANEL FIRE CONDUIT, ELECTRICAL CORROSION in ELECTRICAL PANELS CORROSION & MOISTURE SOURCES in PANELS DEFINITIONS of ELECTRICAL TERMS DIRECTORY OF ELECTRICIANS DIRECTORY OF ELECTRICIANS - Aluminum Wiring DIRECTORY OF ELECTRICIANS - FPE Zinsco ELECTRIC HEAT ELECTRIC METERS & METER BASES ELECTRIC MOTOR DIAGNOSTIC GUIDE ELECTRIC MOTOR OVERLOAD RESET SWITCH ELECTRIC PANEL AMPACITY ELECTRIC PANEL INSPECTION ELECTRIC PANEL MOISTURE Electric Power Frequency Table ELECTRICAL BASICS EMF RF FIELD & FREQUENCY DEFINITIONS ENERGY SAVINGS in buildings ELECTRICAL GENERATORS ELECTRICAL GROUND SYSTEM INSPECTION FEDERAL PACIFIC FPE HAZARDS FEDERAL PACIFIC FPE HAZARD SUMMARY FPE FAILURE REPORTS FPE FIRE & FAILURE PHOTOS FPE FAILURE FIELD REPORTS FPE HAZARD ARTICLES, STUDIES Summary of the FPE Stab-Lok Hazard FPE Fraud - Press Release FPE Fraud Stab-Lok SEC report FPE Exxon Scandal Article How to Repair FPE Stab-Lok FPE- Fires Waiting to Happen, Debate Waiting to End FPE Technical Report - Independent Research 2007 FPE Technical Report - Independent Research 2011 New Jersey FPE Class Action 2005 FPE St Louis Seminar 2004 Federal Pioneer Recall 1997 EXXON Buys a Scandal 1980 FPE HISTORIC DATES 1950-Present FPE Pre-1970 STAB-LOKS OK? FPE HISTORY FPE & FP IDENTIFICATION, HOW TO FPE STAB-LOK PANEL COVERS FEDERAL NOARK PANELS FEDERAL ELECTRIC PANELS FEDERAL PIONEER PANELS FPE PANEL DOOR LABELS FPE TOGGLE SWITCH FPE BREAKER ID PHOTOS FPE BREAKER LABELS HOW TO ID FPE IF NO LABELS FPE PANEL BUS DESIGNS FPE PANEL AGE MATTERS? OTHER FPE DEFECTS FPE INCIDENTS, HOW TO REPORT FPE INVESTIGATION CPSC Revised FPE INVESTIGATION CPSC 1982 FPE INVESTIGATION CPSC 1983 FPE IAEI LETTER INACCURATE FPE INVESTIGATION CPSC Revised FPE INVESTIGATION CPSC 1982 FPE INVESTIGATION CPSC 1983 FPE HAZARD IAEI LETTER INACCURATE FPE PANEL ADVICE for HOME BUYERS FPE PANEL INSPECTION REPORTS FP FEDERAL PIONEER in CANADA What Are Federal Pioneer Panel Concerns? Federal Pioneer Warranty Alert Federal Pioneer Electrical Circuit Breaker Recall Field Reports of Federal Pioneer Problems Other Federal Pioneer Concerns Are Recent Federal Pioneer Stab-Loks Safe? FEDERAL PIONEER PANELS FPE REPAIR ELECTRICIANS FPE REPLACEMENT BREAKERS FPE REPLACEMENT PANELS FPE REPLACEMENT PANEL COSTS CAN'T AFFORD A NEW ELECTRIC PANEL? FPE Stab-Lok Panel Test Report FPE PANEL Test Performed FPE PANEL Test Results Photos of FPE Stab-Lok Panel FPE SUB PANELS, RISK ASSESSMENT FPE STAB-LOK: FIRES WAITING TO HAPPEN How Many Stab-Loks Stab-Lok Failure Rate Proper Repair Proving the Hazard Multiwire Circuits Single Pole Breakers Latent Safety Hazard Failure Reports Technical Reports FPE Stab-Lok TECHNICAL REPORT FPE Stab-Lok Circuit Breaker Test Results CPSC Tests FPE Test Results Southwest Research Incorporated Underwriters Laboratories Inc. Recent Testing of Field Samples FPE Stab-Lok Combination Breaker/GFI Non-FPE Stab-Lok Breakers FPE Main Breakers FPE Stab-Lok Panels FPE Stab-Lok Panels with "Rule of Six" Configuration Hazardous Failure - an Example History of the FPE Problem Should FPE Panels be Replaced? FPE Stab-Lok TECHNICAL REPORT-2004 FPE Stab-Lok Panel Test Report FPE PANEL Test Performed FPE PANEL Test Results Photos of FPE Stab-Lok Panel FPE Stab-Lok Hazard Summary Page for Public Use GENERATORS, ELECTRICAL GFCI PROTECTION,Testing GFCIs AFCIs HEATING COST FUEL & BTU Cost Table HEAT, ELECTRIC HEAT TAPE USAGE GUIDE Hertz - Definitions of KHz MHz GHz THz KNOB & TUBE WIRING LIGHTING, EXTERIOR GUIDE LIGHTING, INTERIOR GUIDE LIGHTNING PROTECTION SYSTEMS LOW VOLTAGE BUILDING WIRING MAIN DISCONNECT MAIN DISCONNECT AMPACITY MOISTURE SOURCES in PANELS MULTI-WIRE CIRCUITS MURRAY SIEMENS Recall PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SYSTEMS PUSHMATIC - BULLDOG PANELS REMOTE ELECTRIC POWER, PHOTOVOLTAIC RUST in ELECTRICAL PANELS SAFETY for ELECTRICAL INSPECTORS SE CABLE SIZES vs AMPS SIEMENS MURRAY Recall SQUARE-D RECALLS UNDERGROUND SERVICE LATERALS VOLTAGE MEASUREMENT EQUIPMENT WIND ENERGY SYSTEMS WIND TURBINES & LIGHTNING ZINSCO / SYLVANIA HAZARDS More Information |
This page contains a closing statement regarding a CPSC Investigation of FPE Circuit Breakers and additional safety information for consumers. © Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website. Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Panels - CPSC LetterClick your browser's "back" button to return to the previous page or use links at the page bottom. NOTICE: be sure to see FPE INVESTIGATION CPSC Revised for critical information updated by the US CPSC about how to interpret the letter given below. FOR RELEASE: MARCH 3, 1983 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission CLOSES INVESTIGATION OF FPE CIRCUIT BREAKERS AND PROVIDES SAFETY INFORMATION FOR CONSUMERS WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced today that it is closing its two year investigation into Federal Pacific Electric Stab-lok type residential circuit breakers. This action was taken because the data currently available to the Commission does not establish that the circuit breakers present a serious risk of injury to consumers. The Commission investigation into Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) circuit breakers began in June, 1980, when Reliance Electric Co., a subsidiary of Exxon Corporation and the parent to FPE, reported to the Commission that many FPE circuit breakers did not fully comply with Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) requirements. Commission testing confirmed that these breakers fail under certain UL calibration test requirements. The Commission investigation focused primarily on 2-pole residential circuit breakers manufactured before Reliance acquired FPE in 1979. To meet UL standards, residential circuit breakers must pass a number of so-called "calibration tests." The purpose of these tests is to determine whether the circuit breakers will hold the current for which they are rated and also automatically open or "trip" (shut off the current) within the specified time limits if over-loading of the circuit breakers causes current levels in excess of the breaker's amperage rating. (Overloading can occur because a consumer plugs too many products into a circuit or due to the failure of a product or component connected to that circuit.) While the Commission is concerned about the failure of these FPE breakers to meet UL calibration requirements, the Commission is unable at this time to link these failures to the development of a hazardous situation. According to Reliance, failure of these FPE breakers to comply with certain UL calibration requirements do not create a hazard in the household environment. It is Reliance's position that FPE breakers will trip reliably at most overload levels unless the breakers have been operated in a repetitive, abusive manner that should not occur during residential use. Reliance maintains that, at those few overload levels where FPE breakers may fail to trip under realistic use conditions, currents will be too low to generate hazardous temperatures in household wiring. Reliance believes that its position in this regard is supported by test data that is provided to the Commission. The Commission staff believes that it currently has insufficient data to accept or refute Reliance's position. The Commission staff estimates that it would cost several million dollars to gather the data necessary to assess fully whether those circuit breakers which are installed in homes but which may fail UL calibration tests present a risk to the public. Based on the Commission's limited budget ($34 million for fiscal year 1983), the known hazards the Commission has identified and must address (involving products of other manufacturers) and the uncertainty of the results of such a costly investigation, the Commission has decided not to commit further resources to its investigation of FPE's circuit breakers. However, despite its decision to close this particular investigation, the Commission will continue its investigation of circuit breakers generally. The Commission can reopen its investigation of FPE breakers if further information warrants. The Commission advises consumers to take certain safety precautions with all circuit breakers and fuses. Consumers should: -Know your electrical circuit. Know which outlets and products are connected to each circuit. -Never overload any electrical circuit by connecting too many products to the circuit. Be particularly careful not to connect several products that demand high current (such as heating appliances) to a low amperage circuit. -Comply with local building codes in wiring or adding electrical circuits. Make sure the wiring and devices used in the circuit are connected to a circuit breaker or fuse of the -Immediately disconnect any electrical product if problems develop. Have the product examined by a competent repair person. -Investigate to determine why a fuse blows or circuit breaker trips. Do not simply replace the fuse or reset the breaker. If a fuse blows or breaker trips, it is often a warning that the circuit is overloaded. Check the circuit for causes of overloading (for example, too many appliances plugged in, a malfunctioning product, a short circuit). When in doubt, consult a licensed electrician. Consumers who have questions concerning circuit breakers, or who wish to report information relating to their safety, may call the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's toll-free safety hotline at 800-638-CPSC, teletypewriter for the hearing impaired at 800-638-8270 (Maryland only 800-492-8104). Questions & Answers regarding this article. Ask a Question or Search InspectAPediaHTML Comment Box is loading comments...
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