Federal Pacific Electric Panels

Made in the 1960’s have considerable questions around them.  The company, Federal Pacific, forged some electrical test and Underwriters Laboratories withdrew the authorization and certification for them.  Several officers in this company went to prison for this.  Breakers in these panels are known not to trip or shut down current, which leads to wires over-heating and fires.   Home Inspectors write these up and few if any service professionals will touch them.   I see these in about 1 or 2 out of every hundred homes in inspect in Kentucky.  Multi-unit housing such has condo’s and apartments the situation is worse, often times every unit has one of these panels and if one catches on fire the entire building will burn.    Many homeowners have a simple thought, its 50 years old and has never given me any problem.   The response to that is when it does your home will catch on fire.  I would not sleep in a home with one of these panels. When I see one of the Federal Pacific Electric Panels in a Home Inspection in Louisville, I recommend they be replaced before moving in the home.  Additional items to consider is that no replacement circuit breakers can be purchased for this product.  The risk of having one of these in your home far exceeds the value and the cost of replacing the panel. Electric panel replacements cost in the two to four thousand dollar range.  If your home has a panel made by Federal Pacific you should check with your insurance company to see if they will cover the home.

Additional reading about Federal Pacific Electrical Panels can be found   by clicking this link—->  Click here