A common panel
Federal Pacific Electric’s Stab-Lok panels and breakers were installed in millions of homes, by one insurer’s count between about 1950 and 1985. Many are still in service. We could not confirm when the company itself was founded, so we don’t give a date.
Source: The Hanover Insurance Group: Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Stab-Lok panels
The 1980 report and the CPSC
In 1979 Reliance Electric bought FPE. In June 1980 Reliance told the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) that many FPE breakers did not fully meet UL requirements, and CPSC testing confirmed some failed certain UL calibration tests. In March 1983 the CPSC closed its investigation, saying its data did not establish a serious risk and that it could not link the failures to a hazard. A 2011 note on that release stresses that the CPSC made no finding either way on whether the breakers are safe.
Source: U.S. CPSC: Commission closes investigation of FPE circuit breakers (1983)
The 2002 New Jersey ruling
In 2002, in a class action, a New Jersey court ruled that FPE had violated the state’s Consumer Fraud Act by putting UL labels on breakers it knew did not meet UL’s test requirements.
Sources: The Hanover Insurance Group: Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Stab-Lok panels ASHI Reporter: New Jersey finds Federal Pacific (FPE) guilty of consumer fraud
If you have one
An insurer’s risk guide says later testing found some Stab-Lok breakers did not trip as UL requires, and it recommends replacement. Having one doesn’t mean something is wrong today. Please don’t open the panel yourself; a licensed electrician can look it over and explain your options.
Source: The Hanover Insurance Group: Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Stab-Lok panels
This is a history, not an endorsement. IES isn’t affiliated with Federal Pacific (FPE), and its name and product names are trademarks of their owners. We use plain text, not logos.