FPE -- The 'Bad' Panel?

I have heard about the FP panels and did some reading but it seems the feds don't have a problem with it and a lot of electricians don't either.  I guess if the electrician says its good and the buyer accepts it, you have done your job by calling it out.

Mike,

  Thanks for the information. This has always be a gray area when we report on this electrical box. Thanks again and may you have many happy inspections.

Here's some good reading from some very well known experts on the issue.

 IS MY PANEL SAFE - Information All Home Owners Deserve to Know

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That electrician was wrong. 

FPEs have a well documented reputation.  See the quote below from the paperwork I recieved from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, (I made an Freedom of information request a couple years ago).

The CPSC reports conclusion stated "A significant number of the breakers tested are defective and do not provide the required level of protection..." "..the breakers themselves may develop hazardous behavior in the form of severe overheating or self-incapacitation in the on condition. The high failure rate of these breakers indicates serious deficiencies in the FPE quality control procedures, their product testing, and the UL follow-up testing program. The system of checks and balances which is supposed to prevent products with these levels of defect from ever being installed in electrical systems has, in this instance failed."

I have no problem reporting on Federal Pacific Panels, t  I will often say, "Yes you need to replace it, but it is usually less then 1% of the purchase price..."

As inspectors, the trick in my mind is to present repairs in perspective of the purchase price of a home.

When performing an inspection our first priority is to our client. How may systems have you inspected that were installed by a (insert contractor here) that were just plain wrong or unsafe? It happens all the time. There's plenty of documented proof that these panels have caused problems and it's our job to protect our client by providing them with this information.

Some additional reading.

FPE PDF file

Good info folks!  Thanks for keeping us informed.