What you are promoting has security procedures and tools in place to keep away from lethal fires, however do you know that one security product — Stab-Lok circuit breakers — might be endangering your corporation as an alternative?
Circuit breakers are designed to guard electrical programs from overheating or short-circuiting by interrupting the movement 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 have 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 properties and companies, assessments carried out by the Client Product Security Fee decided {that a} vital variety of Stab-Lok circuit breakers did not journey when required. One knowledgeable has estimated that these faulty circuit breakers could also be answerable for as many as 2,000 fires annually within the U.S.
Do you have got Stab-Lok circuit breakers and panelboards in your corporation? In the event you’re undecided, listed here are the steps to take to maintain your facility and workers secure.
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 purple or orange labels.
- Breakers could also be labeled Stab-Lok. Nonetheless, they should be eliminated to see the labeling, which may be harmful and must be left to your electrical contractor.
- Most Stab-Lok merchandise have been put in earlier than 1990, so newer buildings are unlikely to have Stab-Lok circuit breakers or panelboards.
2. Make a plan to exchange 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 exchange them with a totally new panelboard and circuit breaker set up.
3. Get solutions to your questions. Need to be sure you’re putting in the most secure tools? Need assistance discovering a contractor? Your insurance coverage service might help. Attain out to your agent and ask in 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 robust enterprise insurance coverage coverage. Your native, unbiased agent might help you select the perfect protection.
