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Photograph of this recalled Square D GFCI circuit breakerSquare-D GFCI Circuit Breaker Recall

Original: 1988 Updated: 2006

Reports on CPSC Notices Regarding Square-D Breakers issued in 1986 & updated in 2006.

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1988 & 2006 US CPSC Notice Square-D Circuit Breaker Recall

NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Originally issued April 13, 1988

Revised June 26, 2006

Release # 88-022
Note: Phone Number Change.
Square D Company Offers Free Replacement Program

WASHINGTON, DC -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Square D Company of Palatine, Illinois is voluntarily offering free replacement of its 15 through 30 ampere size Series 1 two-pole ground fault interrupting (GFCI) circuit breakers.

Ground fault circuit breakers are safety devices which provide protection against electrocution in addition to the normal circuit breaker overload protection function. Two-pole GFCI circuit breakers are often used on 240 volt circuits serving hot tubs/spas, swimming pool equipment, pumps and fountain equipment, and other applications where electrical failure of the protected equipment could pose a risk of electrocution.

Square D Company is taking this action because it has discovered that early failure of an electronic component may disable the electric shock protection provided by this product.

The involved Square D GFCI circuit breakers have a yellow "Push-To-Test" button and are two-pole units which are physically twice the size of most branch circuit breakers. Persons who believe they may have such a unit or who have questions should telephone Square D Company at (877) 202-9046 between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday for information concerning Square D's free replacement program.

Square D GFCI circuit breakers which display the Square D trademark near the circuit breaker handle are not subject to this problem. Also, circuit breakers without the yellow "Push-To-Test" button are not GFCI devices and are not subject to this problem.

Approximately 80,000 of the involved units have been sold and installed nationwide since 1982. Square D Company is not aware of any injuries resulting from the problem with its product. The normal circuit breaker function is not affected by this problem.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission believes GFCI's provide a significant level of electrical safety. The Commission recommends that all GFCI's, both circuit-breaker type and outlet type, be tested frequently, at least monthly, using the test button on each unit.

NOTE: Minor corrections to misspelling in the first sentence were made by DJF 11/06

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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually.

The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

 

How to Report an AFCI or other Electrical or Product Failures or Incidents to the U.S. CPSC

Dangerous Product Reports to the US CPSC: To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury,

call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270,

or visit CPSC's web site at SaferProducts.gov.

Or use this link https://www.saferproducts.gov/IncidentReporting to report an unsafe product or circuit breaker failure incident to the US CPSC

You can also send the CPSC email on incidents to: info@cpsc.gov

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