Is Your Stab-Lok Panel Really a Safety Hazard?

When an electrical system is working properly, circuit breakers or fuses act as built-in safety mechanisms. If an electrical issue occurs—like an overloaded circuit or a fault—these devices shut off power to prevent overheating, damage, or even fire.

However, from the 1950s through the 1990s, millions of homes in Canada and the U.S. were equipped with Stab-Lok electrical panels, manufactured by Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) in the U.S. and Federal Pioneer in Canada. These panels have a well-documented history of failing to operate as designed, with some breakers not tripping when they should. This can allow dangerous electrical conditions to persist.

In our years of serving New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, we’ve come across many of these panels. Homeowners often tell us, “I’ve never had a problem with it,” meaning their breakers have never tripped. But that’s exactly the issue—these breakers may not trip even when they should.

We believe homeowners deserve clear, factual information to make informed decisions about their electrical systems. While we always recommend replacement for safety reasons, our goal is to provide the facts so you can decide what’s best for your home. Read on to learn more.

What is the function of a circuit breaker, and how do Stab-Lok breakers fail?

Think of a circuit breaker as a security guard for your home’s electrical system. Its job is to stop electricity from flowing if something goes wrong—like excessive power usage or a short circuit. Normally, when there’s an issue, the breaker “trips” (shuts off) to prevent wires from overheating and starting a fire.

But Stab-Lok breakers have a dangerous flaw: many of them don’t trip when they should. This means electricity keeps flowing even in a dangerous situation, increasing the risk of overheating, electrical fires, and other serious problems. It’s like having a smoke detector that doesn’t go off when there’s a fire—completely useless when you need it most.

Such a high failure rate must have led to a recall, right?

Surprisingly, Stab-Lok panels were never officially recalled in the U.S., though the issue was minimally investigated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). In their 1983 release, the CPSC acknowledged that Stab-Lok breakers might be unsafe but concluded that it would cost millions of dollars to investigate the issue thoroughly. Since their budget was limited, they chose not to continue the investigation. (CPSC, 1983) 

In Canada, Federal Pioneer, the brand behind Stab-Lok panels, was taken over by Schneider Electric. Schneider issued a partial recall of some Stab-Lok breakers, but not the entire panel system, meaning many are still installed in homes across Canada. (CSA Group, 2022) 

In a 2005 court ruling in New Jersey, where Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) was found guilty of fraud for knowingly selling breakers that didn’t meet safety standards and falsely claiming they were UL-listed (a safety certification). (Redbud Inspections, n.d.) 

Despite this, no government agency enforced a recall, leaving homeowners to decide for themselves whether to act.

Can I fix my Stab-Lok system, or is replacement the only option?

Unfortunately, there is no reliable fix for a Stab-Lok panel. Even if individual breakers appear to work, testing has shown that many fail unpredictably. Here’s why replacement is the best option:

• No Manufacturer Support – Federal Pacific Electric and Federal Pioneer no longer exist, and their products were never officially recalled, meaning there are no factory-approved fixes or upgrades.
• Breaker Replacement Is Complicated – While Schneider Electric Canada continues to manufacture CSA-certified replacement breakers for use in Federal Pioneer Stab-Lok panels, the Stab-Lok panels themselves are still considered inherently unsafe. Even with new breakers, these panels are prone to malfunction under overload or fault conditions.
• Design Flaws – Stab-Lok panels suffer from other issues, including loose connections, overheating, and weak bus bars (the metal components that distribute electricity). Even with new breakers, the panels remain unsafe.
• Insurance Issues – Many home insurance companies won’t cover homes with Stab-Lok panels. Even if yours does now, they may require an upgrade in the future. Check with your insurance company to see if this applies to you.

What do we recommend to customers with Stab-Lok panels?

It’s quite simple: the safety concerns are significant, and we always recommend replacement.

This advice does not come lightly. We know that a panel replacement can be a significant cost and a difficult decision for many homeowners. Electricians cannot “inspect” a Stab-Lok panel to determine if it’s one of the many that are prone to failure; unfortunately, there is no way of knowing if the panel you have is at risk.

We understand that some homeowners may not be in a position to replace their panel but still need electrical work done. Schneider Electric Canada continues to manufacture Stab-Lok breakers, so we can use these breakers for electrical work in a home with a Stab-Lok panel. However, new breakers do not mitigate the inherent risk of the panels themselves, and it’s important that customers understand this risk.

Ultimately, the choice to maintain or replace a Stab-Lok panel is the customer’s, and we will work with you to support you in making the choice that is right for you.

As always, we are available to discuss your concerns, and we will work with you to meet your needs.  Our goal here is to ensure that you are fully informed about the risk and why we so firmly believe that the best course of action is always to replace a Stab-Lok panel.

Sources and recommendations for further reading

You don’t have to take our word for it; included below are sources and suggestions for further reading.  The concerns with these systems are well-documented and our goal is to provide you with the information you need to make the choice that you are most comfortable with.

"Federal Pioneer Panel Safety." InspectAPedia.  https://inspectapedia.com/fpe/Federal_Pioneer_Panel_Safety.php.

"Federal Pioneer Panels." Alliston Home Inspector.  https://allistonhomeinspector.com/federal-pioneer-panels/.

"What's the Real Story on Fed Pac?" Inspect Homes 4U.  https://inspecthomes4u.com/whats-the-real-story-on-fed-pac/.

Laris, Michaela. "Despite Previous Safety Concerns, This Circuit Breaker Is Still in Homes." The Washington Post, May 8, 2018.  https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/despite-previous-safety-concerns-this-circuit-breaker-is-still-in-homes/2018/05/08/8927af86-4ef9-11e8-b725-92c89fe3ca4c_story.html.

"Dangers of Stab-Lok Circuit Breakers." Redbud Property Inspections.  https://www.redbudinspections.com/dangers-of-stab-lok-circuit-breakers/#:~:text=Stab%2DLok%20circuit%20breakers%20are%20dangerous%20because%20they%20do,function%20properly%20as%20circuit%20breakers.&text=Because%20the%20breakers%20may%20not,risk%20of%20an%20electrical%20fire.

CSA Group. "AFI Circuit Breakers – Schneider Electric." CSA Group, November 4, 2022.  https://www.csagroup.org/recall/afi-circuit-breakers-schneider-electric-11-04/?srsltid=AfmBOorML3tjoybAVHVWyXcy36f_JwNgaZlNhIciPa619Ty55To-Yfbm.

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. "Commission Closes Investigation Of FPE Circuit Breakers And Provides Safety Information For Consumers." CPSC, 1983.  https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/1983/Commission-Closes-Investigation-Of-FPE-Circuit-Breakers-And-Provides-Safety-Information-For-Consumers.