Why Do Federal Pacific Electric Panels Malfunction?
Experts Have Identified Three Major Reasons Experts report that Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) circuit breaker panels may have three major faults that could pose a danger: 1. Federal Pacific Electric panels may not meet today’s updated safety codes. Federal Pacific Electric panels were produced from the mid-1950s well into the 1980s. Experts say that FPE panels produced during that time frame would not conform to today’s updated safety codes and would no longer be allowed to be sold to the general public. Safety standards that were once acceptable years ago are no longer considered safe. Some of the examples cited by experts as to why FPE panels would not pass today’s updated safety codes are: Wires may be crowded inside the panel box. Bus bars may be spring-mounted. Breakers may be still active when in the down position. Split-bus breakers may no longer meet updated safety codes.
