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Your enterprise 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 — may very well be endangering your enterprise as a substitute?
Circuit breakers are designed to guard electrical programs from overheating or short-circuiting by interrupting the move 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 totally 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 hundreds of thousands of those merchandise had been put in in houses and companies, assessments carried out by the Client Product Security Fee decided {that a} important variety of Stab-Lok circuit breakers did not journey when required. One professional has estimated that these faulty circuit breakers could also be accountable for as many as 2,000 fires annually within the U.S.
Do you have got Stab-Lok circuit breakers and panelboards in your enterprise? In the event you’re undecided, listed below are the steps to take to maintain your facility and employees secure.
1. Discover out when you’ve got Stab-Lok merchandise put in. Rent a licensed electrical contractor to find out when you’ve got Stab-Lok circuit breakers or panelboards.
Listed below 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 have to be eliminated to see the labeling, which might 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 switch Stab-Lok circuit breakers and panelboards. In case your electrical contractor confirms that you’ve got Stab-Lok merchandise put in, your most secure plan of action is to switch them with a totally new panelboard and circuit breaker set up.
3. Get solutions to your questions. Wish to be sure you’re putting in the most secure gear? Need assistance discovering a contractor? Your insurance coverage service may help. Attain out to your agent and ask to your insurance coverage service’s loss management contact data.
And since no security plan is foolproof, give your self the additional peace of thoughts of a robust enterprise insurance coverage coverage. Your native, impartial agent may help you select one of the best protection.
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