As an inspector our job is to act as a generalist to inspect the overall function of the home and all of its attached components. We are not code inspectors, as that requires us to know when the permit was actually pulled and the C of O issued. When inspecting the home we are to note safety hazards, deficiencies and items that are not functioning as the manufacturer intended them to. In this regard we also have a duty to inform the potential buyer on a pre-purchase inspection and the seller on a sellers inspection of items that we know may be a controversy. One such item are panel boxes and breakers manufactured by the now defunct company of Federal Pacific from Texas. The following has been said
"That these panels pose a latent threat and could be a hazard. The circuit breakers may fail to trip in the case of an overload or short-circuit. A circuit breaker that fails to trip could cause a fire or personal injury."
Also
"The problem with these panels is that some double pole 220volt circuit breakers (and quite possibly some single pole 120volt circuit breakers) may not work/trip.
Published reports of some tests conducted on FPE two pole 220volt circuit breakers indicate that under certain conditions one leg/pole may attempt to trip the breaker. The result is a circuit that stays live, and a circuit breaker that has been compromised and when reset will not trip again under any excessive load.
These panels would appear to work perfectly during normal operation, allowing electricity to flow without any problems or symptoms.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) did conduct product testing of these breakers and found that their failure rates were significant.
The CPSC's advice concerning these panels is for consumers to avoid overloading circuits as well as to turn off and have examined any devices that are causing the circuit breakers to trip."
Even though the CPSC did an investigation there was no recall initiated, and the TREC (Texas Real Estate Commission) is still undecided on its findings. So from an inspectors point of view it is in the best interest of our clients to give them the needed information so that they can make an educated decision and to recommend that the system be tested and inspected by a qualified licensed electrician. Its not a case of covering our tails but insuring that our clients have the absolute best information that they can have to make a informed decision in purchasing their largest investment that they will surely ever make.
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