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Sunday, December 2, 2012
Federal Pacific Electric PanelsThere has been some ongoing uncertainty about issues with the FPE Stab-lok panels. There are some real world issues
with this panel and most electricians would agree that they should be replaced. However, the more immediate problem
is that they are becoming harder and harder to get insurance on. If they panel is found on the 4-point inspection, many
insurance companies will not insure the home until it is changed out. Here is a quote from AAA. "November 12, 2012
memo: Auto Club Insurance Company
of Florida Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Electrical Panel Effective immediately, homes with an
electrical panel manufactured by Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Company will be ineligible for a AAA Package Policy. It is known that homes with FPE electrical panels present a potentially dangerous situation. FPE electrical
panels sometimes fail to trip a breaker when an electrical surge occurs, which can lead to overheating and fires. A
class-action lawsuit brought this to light and FPE electrical panels are a common “hazard” that 4-Point inspectors
look for. Due to the fire hazard presented by these panels, homes where an FPE electrical panel is found during
a 4-Point inspection must have the electrical panel replaced in order to be eligible. If the FPE panel is not replaced,
the home will be ineligible for a AAA Package Policy. As a reminder, 4-Point inspections are required for 40+ year old
homes at new business. We appreciate
your continued support of AAA Insurance. " ...and they aren't the only ones. Here is a
list of other companies reportedly not accepting the panel: Universal Frontline Prepared Tower Hill Security First Federated So at this point it doesn't really make sense to go into any further discussion on whether
or not there is a real problem with these panels (it's more about the breakers actually), if they aren't insurable then that's
pretty much the nail in the coffin for FPE.
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Florida Home Inspectors Inc. is located in Brevard county and is a full service inspection company. Nick McClellan
is the owner/operator and performs all the inspections. Services include: Building Contractor (state certified commercial/residential),
wind mitigation inspection, inspections for buyers looking at a home (real estate inspection/home inspection), inspections
for sellers trying to make their home more marketable (pre-sale inspection), and 4 point and wind mitigation inspections for
insurance purposes for those who already own their home but the insurance company needs a 4pt. and/or wind mitigation to bind
a new policy or to update an older one.
