Safety Bulletin

Defective electrical products to watch for

Some electrical equipment is a known fire or shock hazard — and for a business, a flagged product can mean a failed inspection or a shutdown until it's replaced. Here's what to look for and what to do about it.

This page is general safety information, not a legal determination. Recall and regulatory status can change — always confirm current status with the linked source and your local authority. If you think you have one of these, don't try to service the panel yourself.

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Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) "Stab-Lok" panels & breakers

Federal Pacific Electric

How to identify it: Look for a "Federal Pacific Electric" or "FPE" label on the panel door or inside the cabinet, and breakers marked "Stab-Lok." Common in homes and buildings wired from roughly the 1950s through the 1980s. The breaker handles are often red-tipped.
The defect: Independent testing has found that many Stab-Lok breakers can fail to trip on an overload or short circuit, and some do not stay reliably connected to the bus bar.
Safety risk: A breaker that won't trip leaves a circuit unprotected, allowing wiring to overheat — a documented fire hazard. The problem is with the equipment itself, so it can exist even when nothing looks wrong.
Why it can shut a business down: Because this is a known hazard, an inspector, insurer, or authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) may require the panel be replaced. For a commercial building that can mean a failed inspection or a hold on occupancy until the panel is swapped.

Note on recall status: FPE Stab-Lok equipment was the subject of a CPSC investigation in the early 1980s that closed without a formal recall, and later class-action litigation. It is not a currently recalled product, but the failure-to-trip concern is widely documented and many home inspectors, electricians, and insurers flag these panels. Treat it as a “have it evaluated” item, not a guaranteed defect in every unit.

If you have an FPE Stab-Lok panel, the safe path is an evaluation by a licensed electrician and, in most cases, replacement with a modern panel. We can assess the panel and provide options.

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Reviewed 2026-07-18T00:00:00.000Z

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Zinsco / Sylvania (GTE-Sylvania) panels & breakers

Zinsco / Sylvania

How to identify it: Look for a "Zinsco," "GTE-Sylvania," or "Sylvania" name on the panel or breakers. The breakers often have distinctive colored handles (blue, red, green, yellow). Common in buildings from roughly the 1950s through the 1970s.
The defect: Certain Zinsco/Sylvania breakers can fail to trip and may weld themselves to the bus bar, so the breaker appears "off" while the circuit is still energized. The aluminum bus bars can also corrode and overheat.
Safety risk: A breaker that won't trip — or a circuit that stays live when switched off — can allow wiring to overheat and can pose a shock hazard to anyone servicing the panel.
Why it can shut a business down: As with other known-hazard panels, an inspector or insurer may require replacement. For a business that can mean a failed inspection or a delay in reopening until the panel is upgraded.

Note on recall status: Like FPE Stab-Lok, Zinsco/Sylvania panels are a widely documented safety concern rather than a current formal recall. Not every unit is defective, but the failure modes are well known, so these panels should be evaluated by a licensed electrician.

If your panel carries one of these names, have it inspected. Replacement with a modern panel is the usual recommendation, and we’re happy to assess it and lay out your options.

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Reviewed 2026-07-18T00:00:00.000Z

Not sure what you've got?

Send a photo of your panel or call us — we'll tell you whether it's a concern and what your options are.

Call (661) 555-0123 Request service