Are Stab-Lok circuit breakers endangering your small business?

What you are promoting has security procedures and gear in place to keep away from lethal fires, however do you know that one security product — Stab-Lok circuit breakers — might be endangering your small business as a substitute?

Circuit breakers are designed to guard electrical programs from overheating or short-circuiting by interrupting the circulate of electrical energy when unsafe situations are detected. If a circuit is overloaded, the breaker will journey. These breakers are housed in a panelboard, with completely different breakers for various areas of a house or enterprise.

Stab-Lok circuit breakers and panelboards had been manufactured by Federal Pacific Electrical and put in primarily between 1950 and 1985. After tens of millions of those merchandise had been put in in houses and companies, assessments carried out by the Shopper Product Security Fee decided {that a} important variety of Stab-Lok circuit breakers didn’t journey when required. One professional has estimated that these faulty circuit breakers could also be accountable for as many as 2,000 fires every year within the U.S.

Do you’ve gotten Stab-Lok circuit breakers and panelboards in your small business? In case you’re unsure, listed here are the steps to take to maintain your facility and employees protected.

1. Discover out in case you have Stab-Lok merchandise put in. Rent a licensed electrical contractor to find out in case you have Stab-Lok circuit breakers or panelboards.

Listed here are some issues to search for:

• The panelboard could also be labeled Stab-Lok, Federal Pacific Electrical Stab-Lok or FPE Stab-Lok, Federal NOARK or Federal Pioneer (the final two are names utilized in Canada).
• Switches have pink or orange labels.
• Breakers could also be labeled Stab-Lok. Nonetheless, they have to be eliminated to see the labeling, which could be harmful and ought to be left to your electrical contractor.
• Most Stab-Lok merchandise had been put in earlier than 1990, so newer buildings are unlikely to have Stab-Lok circuit breakers or panelboards.

2. Make a plan to interchange Stab-Lok circuit breakers and panelboards. In case your electrical contractor confirms that you’ve Stab-Lok merchandise put in, your most secure plan of action is to interchange them with a very new panelboard and circuit breaker set up.

3. Get solutions to your questions. Wish to be sure to’re putting in the most secure gear? Need assistance discovering a contractor? Your insurance coverage service may also help. Attain out to your agent and ask to your insurance coverage service’s loss management contact info.

And since no security plan is foolproof, give your self the additional peace of thoughts of a powerful business insurance policy. Your local, independent agent may also help you select the very best protection.