Advantage Inspection Service

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#1 Arizona Inspection Firm
Serving the Phoenix Area Since 1988
(602) 864-8331
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Federal Pacific Service Panel Warning

Arizona Home Inspectors Warning

Property owners should be advised of potential concerns regarding their existing electrical system components. Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) “Stab-Lok” service panels and breakers are considered by many experts to be a latent hazard and can fail during use. Specifically, some double-pole (240-Volt) FPE circuit breakers and also some single-pole units simply may not work as intended. It is suggested that there are as many as 28 million of these devices in use in the United States.

Upon testing performed under the direction of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) the FPE breakers failed to trip at an alarming rate. Tests conducted on the FPE double-pole (240-Volt) circuit breakers indicated that in some overload conditions, particularly when one pole of the breaker is overloaded, the circuit breaker will not trip. Some tests showed that as many as 65% of the circuit breakers would malfunction. Once this malfunction has occurred, the breaker is “locked” and it will not trip under any circumstances, creating a serious fire hazard.

In fairness to all parties, it is most often proper to label the FPE panel/breaker issue as a latent hazard. The panel or breakers do not, on their own, initiate an unsafe condition. Rather, when an unsafe condition such as a short circuit or current overload occurs, the equipment may not provide the protection expected.

Costs for panel and breaker replacement can be high. Property owners are encouraged to research the issues and draw their own conclusions. Additional information exists on the internet at www.inspect-ny.com/fpe/fpepanel.htm

Serving the Phoenix Area Since 1988 on More Than 90,000 Inspections
 



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Every Standard Home Inspection Includes:


FREE Recall-Chek where we gather data on numerous major appliances in the home and compare them with a database of millions of recalls for potential safety defects. Includes monthly updates!
 

FREE 6 Month NXT Structural Warranty the most comprehensive warranty available for expensive structural components in the home. Sleep easier having this critical coverage on items that may have been undetectable during the home inspection.
 

FREE 90 Day - $0 Deductible Mechanical and Structural Coverage for important areas of the home often not covered by the primary home warranty. It evens pays for the service call fee on a primary home warranty.
 

FREE 1 Year Termite Protection coverage for treatment if we are hired for the termite inspection and no evidence of termites existed at the property during the inspection.
 

FREE 90 Day Sewer Line & Main Water Line Protection provides peace of mind on the critical main supply and waste lines of the plumbing system that are prone to failure.
 

FREE 90 Day Mold Protection remediation coverage if visible mold is present that was not found during the inspection.
 

FREE 5 Year Roof Leak Repair Coverage is transferrable and provides repair on most residential roof types at the home.
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8433 N. Black Canyon, Suite 100
Phoenix, AZ 85021
(602) 864-8331

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