FPE Stab-Lok safety, hazard & performance research:

This web page provides the key information articles and references describing the latent safety hazards associated with Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok® electrical panels. Canadian Federal Pioneer Stab-Lok® panels are also addressed.

This website explains the fire and shock hazards associated with Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok® circuit breakers and service panels, provides a history of the issue, recounts research on FPE failures, and recommends replacement of the panels.

Replacement FPE Stab-Lok® circuit breakers are unlikely to reduce the failure risk of this equipment. We recommend that residential FPE Stab-Lok® electrical panels be replaced entirely or the entire panel bus assembly be replaced, regardless of FPE model number or FPE year of manufacture. We do not sell circuit breakers nor any other products. Links at this website include FPE electricians and FPE Panel replacement options.

Index to Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok® Circuit Breaker Articles and Failures Research

Three thousand FPE type breakers tested to date (2018): the statistical certainty of conclusions drawn from the data is very high. These breakers have a significantly-high rate of failure to perform safely.

Details are at CIRCUIT BREAKER FAILURE RATES and also at FPE INVESTIGATION CPSC

To find what you need quickly, if you don't want to scroll through this index you are welcome to use the page top or bottom SEARCH BOX to search InspectApedia for specific articles and information.

Article Series Contents

• 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 HAZARD REPORT - 2017 [PDF] that supercedes the older reports, Information for Homeowners, Inspectors, and Electricians (Updated November 10, 2017)
• FPE Technical Report - Indepndent Research 2012 [PDF] (superceded by the 2017 report above but contains additional details & photos)
• FPE Technical Report - Independent Research 2011 [PDF] (superceded by the 2017 report above but contains additional details & photos)
• FPE Technical Report - Independent Research 2007 [PDF] (as revised, superceded by the 2017 report above but contains additional details & photos)
• FPE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT 2005
• FPE St Louis Seminar 2004
• FEDERAL PIONEER PANEL SAFETY
• FEDERAL PIONEER RECALL 1997
• EXXON Buys a Scandal 1980
• FPE HISTORIC DATES 1950-Present
• FPE Pre-1970 STAB-LOKS OK?
• FPE STAB-LOK HAZARD PROOF
• UBI FPE CIRCUIT BREAKER TEST RESULTS

Photographs are provided to aid in identification of Federal Pacific FPE Stab-Lok® equipment. For FPE Stab-Lok® electric panel replacement, we offer list of licensed electricians who can perform an electrical panel replacement or repair. FPE-experienced electricians can be listed at no fee. The web author has no business, financial, or other connection with this product nor with its replacement.

Electronic copies and reproduction of this information at other websites are prohibited. Readers are welcome to make and distribute printed copies of our articles about FPE Stab-Lok® equipment provided this web page is cited and provided that the content is not edited or changed. (Contact us to suggest edits, changes, corrections, updates).

Federal Pacific Electric "Stab-Lok® " service panels and breakers are a latent hazard and can fail to trip in response to overcurrent, leading to electrical fires. The breakers may also fail to shut off internally even if the toggle is switched to "off." Some double-pole (240-Volt) FPE circuit breakers and single-pole FPE Stab-Lok® circuit breakers simply do not work safely. There are other panel-defects independent of the breaker problems, panel and panel-bus fires and arcing failures in some equipment.

The failure rates for these circuit breakers were and still are significant. In some cases failure to trip occurs 60% of the time - a serious fire and electrical shock hazard. Failures are documented in the CPSC study and by independent research. Additional independent testing and research are on-going and are reported here. FPE Stab-Lok® electrical panels should be replaced. Do not simply swap in some replacement breakers.

The following are key articles on this Federal Pacific Electric FPE Stab-Lok® and Federal Pioneer electrical equipment. The complete list of online articles, government and other public documents, class action activity, and research is

at RECOMMENDED ARTICLES

• 2020: FEDERAL PIONEER PANEL SAFETY - 2020 update on Canadian FP finds similar failure rate as U.S. for both older and more-recently manufactured circuit breakers with the FP & CSA label.
• 2017 FPE HAZARD REPORT - 2017 [PDF] that supercedes the older reports [PDF] independent research article by Jess Aronstein, supercedes older FPE hazard reports by this author.
• 2015 FPE Stab Lok Hazards Website updated - FEDERAL PACIFIC FPE HAZARDS - home
• 2012 FPE HAZARDS - 2012 [PDF] provides the latest version of independent test reports on FPE Stab-Lok electrical equipment, including replacement circuit breakers, including some from your own company
• A Summary of the FPE Stab-Lok® Hazards 2010 Recap Regarding Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok® Electric
• 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 Repair/Replacement Advice for home buyers and owners, about product recalls, replacement breakers, claims by sellers and realtors that there is no hazard
• 2010: FPE report in the Dallas Morning News: "Experts say electrical panels in Dallas-area homes may be a fire waiting to happen", Christina Rosales, The Dallas Morning News, August 21, 2010, crosales@dallasnews.com continues to attend to the unresolved issues around FPE Stab-Lok® equipment and the lack of a clear US CPSC Warning.
• 2010, Schneider Electric Recalls Federal Pioneer Stab-Lok circuit breakers Type NA15, Type NA20, Type NB15, Type NB20. Excerpting from the above: Toronto, ON – The Electrical Safety Authority is notifying the public that Schneider Electric Canada has announced a voluntary recall of the following industrial/commercial products. Name of Product: Stab-lok NA15, NA20, NB15 and NB20. Units: 330 units across Canada. Manufacturer/Importer: Schneider Electric Canada.
  
  Hazard: A small number of circuit breaker handles were moulded with the ON and OFF impressions interchanged. There is the possibility for the circuit breaker handle to indicate the OFF (open) position when the circuit breaker is still in an ON (closed) position. This may result in the potential for PERSONAL INJURY. Incidents/Injuries: No injuries or damages have been reported.
  
  Description/Models: Stab-lok circuit breaker models NA15, NA20, NB15 and NB20 with a date code of 1002 to 1014 only. The date code is stamped on the product label located next to the handle.
  
  The date code is also stamped on the product carton. The recalled units are certified to Canadian Standards by Canadian Standards Association (CSA). For more information about CSA product certification process please visit: www.csa-international.org The recall document notes that a blue dot by the circuit breaker toggle switch indicates that the component has been inspected and corrected. Consumer Contact: Schneider Electric Product Recovery Administration Phone: 1-866-333-1490 Fax: 1-866-587-4070
  
  Also see
  Federal Pioneer Recall - 1997
• 2008 - 2007 FPE Stab-Lok® TECHNICAL REPORT (revised) - 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).
• 2008 FPE Class Action Lawsuit Results: In May 2008 the FPE Class Action Lawsuit in New Jersey was finally settled. New Jersey homeowners who were the original owners of an FPE Stab-Lok® electrical panel received $500. in settlement as part of the action. Institutional class members also got varying amounts, depending on their installations.
  No one received the full cost of panel replacement.
  
  New Jersey Judge's Summary Judgment for the Plaintiffs against FPE 8-15-2002 & 29 October 2002 - "FPE violated the Consumer Fraud Act because FPE knowingly and purposefully distributed circuit breakers which were not tested to meet UL Standards as indicated on their label and there is an ascertainable loss for which treble damages are recoverable;" as reported by the Superior Court of New Jersey. - see NEW JERSEY FPE LAWSUIT SETTLED.
• 2007 FPE Stab-Lok® TECHNICAL REPORT - an updated test report of independent testing (a large, slow loading 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). NOTICE: if you have trouble downloading this file contact us for a copy.
• 2006: Fifty FPE Field Failures Reported to US CPSC - 2006 letter from Dr. Jess Aronstein, consulting engineer
• 2005 FPE Stab-Lok® New Jersey Class Action Notice - 20 April 2005 Claims Deadline. The New Jersey Court document confirmed FPE cheating violated New Jersey Consumer Fraud Laws - Class Action Settlement Notice for New Jersey Residents. FPE was found to have committed fraud under the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act. (Appeals are pending).
  
  "In a class-action lawsuit against FPE/Reliance in New Jersey, the Court found that Federal Pacific Electric Co. (FPE) committed fraud by representing that their FPE Stab-Lok® (R) circuit breakers met the applicable (UL) standard test requirements when in fact they did not. The Court's finding of fraud, published in 2005, indicates that FPE cheated on the tests that were required to obtain UL listings.
  
  The company improperly applied UL labels to circuit breakers that could not and did not meet the UL requirements. FPE covered up the defective performance of the circuit breakers by a long-standing practice of fraudulent testing.
  
  The Court's finding helps resolve the question as to how the defective breakers got into the marketplace and into homes." -- 2007 FPE Stab-Lok® TECHNICAL REPORT, p.1, Dr. Jess Aronstein [next linked-article below].
• 2004 FPE Stab-Lok® TECHNICAL REPORT - St. Louis ASHI Seminar including: Hazard Summary & Independent Tests confirms Stab-Lok® failures. This article is a comprehensive survey of the FPE Hazard, its history, the issues, and recommended repair: replacement of the FPE Stab-Lok® panel.
• 2004 Federal Pioneer & Square-D Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter Safety Notice: newer products than the earlier FPE Stab-Lok® design
• 2004 FPE Update: Exxon Buys a Scandal Along With A Company Business Week Article 7/21/80 now available on line

 

• 2003 Federal Pacific Electric Breakers [PDF] - an encyclopedic, non-prioritized inventory of FPE StabLok deficiencies by Douglas Hansen. [www.codecheck.com - Code Check] offers building code inspection guides for field use, and links on codes and failures.
  Note: in 2012 Douglas Hansen & Redwood Karden published an updated version of this article. See http://www.codecheck.com/cc/ccimages/PDFs/FPE_2012.pdf
• 2002: FPE Class Action Lawsuit Results - 2002: New Jersey Judge's Summary Judgment for the Plaintiffs against FPE 8-15-2002 & 29 October 2002 - "FPE violated the Consumer Fraud Act because FPE knowingly and purposefully distributed circuit breakers which were not tested to meet UL Standards as indicated on their label and there is an ascertainable loss for which treble damages are recoverable;" as reported by the Superior Court of New Jersey.
  
  [Note: only very limited recovery rights were granted to homeowners and only in New Jersey. The case may still be under appeal as of January 2007].
• New Jersey Federal Pacific Electric Class Action Lawsuit Summary [provides little meaningful relief but supports claims about & against FPE.]
• 2000 FPE breakers fail in lab test of field-supplied panel 10/00
  






• 2000 FPE breakers fail (photos) in lab test of field-supplied panel 10/00
• 1999 FPE Failures continue: FPE breaker fails, results in fire: field failure reports can be read at FPE FAILURE FIRE PHOTOS
• 1999 The International Association of Electrical Inspectors (IAEI) published (6/99) an inaccurate article asserting that there is no hazard with FPE Stab-Lok® equipment - OUR REPLY disagreed and cited authoritative data found here along with follow up notes.
  
  See FPE HAZARD IAEI LETTER INACCURATE
• Home Inspection Reporting Language and discussion for FPE panels
• 1997 Schneider Canada Federal Pioneer circuit breaker recall A Canadian Federal Pacific recall in 1997 is documented here. There has been no "recall" in the U.S. though there is no doubt that the product is hazardous and should be replaced.Schneider Electric is the Canadian company which still makes a version of this equipment in Canada under the name Federal Pioneer (but see the Federal Pioneer Recall Notice for Canada.
• 1995 Federal Pacific Electric Panels: Fires Waiting to Happen, Debate Waiting to Be Ended. Opinion article by DJF.
• Replacement FPE Breakers for FPE Stab-Lok® Electric Panels? are not recommended
• 
• 1997 Schneider Canada Federal Pioneer circuit breaker recall. [web article] Schneider Canada Federal Pioneer circuit breaker recall British Columbia Fire Commissioner's Notice and Warning. Note: the original notice published at www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/firecom/safety/sa39.htm is currently a dead link (July 2015).
• 1997: Federal Pioneer breaker recall notice [PDF] from the Canadian Electrical Safety Authority. See this Federal Pioneer original recall notice [PDF] Note: an earlier source for this recall notice was at www.esainspection.net/main_index/PDF/Flash Notices/97-05-FL.pdf - that is now a dead link (July 2015).
• 1996-1997 Federal Pioneer NCO15 and NC015CP circuit breaker recalls [PDF] from Schneider Electric in Canada are newer products than the earlier FPE Stab-Lok® design.
• 1989 as inspect-ny.com and subsequently as InspectApedia.com information about the FPE / Stab-Lok hazard is published electronically first on a private ASHI network and subsequently on the Internet by DF et als.
• 1986 FPE / Stab-Lok hazard information is provided to ASHI home inspectors at educational conferences organized by DJF, thanks to advice from Tom Byrne, a NY Metro ASHI member and professional home inspector who first warned DF [personal communication] of electrical safety hazards associated with this equipment.
• 1984: "Phase II Report, Evaluation of Residential Molded Case Circuit Breakers", Wright-Malta Corp., (by J. Aronstein, for U.S. Consumer product Safety Commission, Project #CPSC-C-81-1455), March 10, 1984 (Contains experimental analysis of materials, construction, and performance of molded case circuit breakers, including FPE. Lack of corrosion resistance of certain internal parts is considered to be a factor in the failure of the circuit breakers.)
  
• 1983 CPSC Investigation of FPE Circuit Breakers Safety Information for Consumers
• "Failure Analysis of Residential Circuit Breaker Panel", Wright-Malta Corp., (by J. Aronstein, for U.S. Consumer product Safety Commission, Project #CPSC-C-81-1455), May 20, 1982 (Contains failure analysis of FPE Stab-Lok® ® panel that ignited, due to failure of buss-bar interconnections in the backside of the panel.)
• 1982 CPSC Calibration and Condition Tests of Molded Case Circuit Breakers, Final Report December 30, 1982, summary pages, indicating failure rates found for FPE Stab-Lok® circuit breakers. "Final Report: Calibration and Condition Tests of Molded Case Circuit Breakers", Wright-Malta Corp., (by J. Aronstein, for U.S. Consumer product Safety Commission, Project #CPSC-C-81-1429), December 30, 1982 (Extensive calibration and functional testing of FPE breakers. Substantial percent failures to trip on overload.).
• 1982: "Status Report - Evaluation of Residential Molded Case Circuit Breakers", Wright-Malta Corp., (by J. Aronstein, for U.S. Consumer product Safety Commission, Project #CPSC-C-81-1455), August 10, 1982 (Contains analysis of mechanism of failure of FPE two-pole Stab-Lok® ® breakers.)
• 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..."
• 1982 FPE Stab-Lok® Public documents on FPE obtained under FOIA

  The following reports on defects (non trip and burning) of FPE Stab-Lock Circuit Breakers 8 were obtained from Consumer Product Safety Commission by request, under the Freedom of Information Act:

  • "Status Report - Evaluation of Residential Molded Case Circuit Breakers", Wright-Malta Corp., (For U.S. Consumer product Safety Commission, Project# CPSC-C-81-1455), August 10, 1982 (Contains analysis of mechanism of failure of FPE two-pole Stab-Lock breakers.)
  • "Failure Analysis of Residential Circuit Breaker Panel", Wright-Malta Corp., (For U.S. Consumer product Safety Commission, Project #CPSC-C-81-1455), May 20, 1982 (Contains failure analysis of FPE Stab-Lock panel that ignited due to failure of buss-bar interconnections in the backside of the panel.)
  • "Phase II Report, Evaluation of Residential Molded Case Circuit Breakers", Wright-Malta Corp., (For U.S. Consumer product Safety Commission, Project# CPSC-C-81-1455), March 10, 1984 (Contains experimental analysis of materials, construction, and performance of molded case circuit breakers, including FPE. Lack of corrosion resistance of certain internal parts is considered to be a factor in the failure of the circuit breakers.)
  • "Final Report: Calibration and Condition Tests of Molded Case Circuit Breakers," Wright-Malta Corp., (For U.S. Consumer product Safety Commission, Project #CPSC-C-81-1429), December 30, 1982 (Extensive calibration and functional testing of FPE breakers. Substantial percent failures to trip on overload.
• 1980 Reliance Electric Co. Press Release:improper practices 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 Companyimproper practices used to obtain UL Listing for most of FPE's circuit breakers and notes testing which indicates "possible defects." 1980, Reliance Electric Co.
• FPE Field Failure Reports Wanted: Contact the Author to report problems you have observed or experienced with this equipment, Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok® panels, circuit breakers, replacement circuit breakers of any brands and type used in FPE panels. Inspectors or consumers should also report failures and FPE issues by sending an Incident Report to the US CPSC - please email us with the same information.

...

Continue reading at SUMMARY of the FPE Stab-Lok® HAZARD or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• COUNTERFEIT FPE CIRCUIT BREAKERS
• ELECTRICIANS List of Electricians familiar w/ FPE
• FEDERAL PACIFIC FPE HAZARDS - home
• SUMMARY of the FPE Stab-Lok® HAZARD
• UBI FPE CIRCUIT BREAKER TEST RESULTS

Suggested citation for this web page

FPE HAZARD ARTICLES, STUDIES at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to FPE STAB-LOK BREAKERS & PANELS

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Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.

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