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Your small business has security procedures and gear in place to keep away from lethal fires, however do you know that one security product — Stab-Lok circuit breakers — could possibly be endangering your small business as a substitute?
Circuit breakers are designed to guard electrical techniques from overheating or short-circuiting by interrupting the circulate of electrical energy when unsafe circumstances are detected. If a circuit is overloaded, the breaker will journey. These breakers are housed in a panelboard, with completely different breakers for various areas of a house or enterprise.
Stab-Lok circuit breakers and panelboards have been manufactured by Federal Pacific Electrical and put in primarily between 1950 and 1985. After thousands and thousands of those merchandise had been put in in properties and companies, checks carried out by the Shopper Product Security Fee decided {that a} vital variety of Stab-Lok circuit breakers did not journey when required. One knowledgeable has estimated that these faulty circuit breakers could also be answerable for as many as 2,000 fires annually within the U.S.
Do you may have Stab-Lok circuit breakers and panelboards in your small business? In case you’re undecided, listed here are the steps to take to maintain your facility and workers secure.
1. Discover out you probably have Stab-Lok merchandise put in. Rent a licensed electrical contractor to find out you probably have Stab-Lok circuit breakers or panelboards.
Listed here are some issues to search for:
- The panelboard could also be labeled Stab-Lok, Federal Pacific Electrical Stab-Lok or FPE Stab-Lok, Federal NOARK or Federal Pioneer (the final two are names utilized in Canada).
- Switches have purple or orange labels.
- Breakers could also be labeled Stab-Lok. Nonetheless, they should be eliminated to see the labeling, which will be harmful and must be left to your electrical contractor.
- Most Stab-Lok merchandise have been put in earlier than 1990, so newer buildings are unlikely to have Stab-Lok circuit breakers or panelboards.
2. Make a plan to interchange Stab-Lok circuit breakers and panelboards. In case your electrical contractor confirms that you’ve Stab-Lok merchandise put in, your most secure plan of action is to interchange them with a totally new panelboard and circuit breaker set up.
3. Get solutions to your questions. Wish to ensure you’re putting in the most secure gear? Need assistance discovering a contractor? Your insurance coverage service will help. Attain out to your agent and ask to your insurance coverage service’s loss management contact info.
And since no security plan is foolproof, give your self the additional peace of thoughts of a powerful business insurance policy. Your local, independent agent will help you select the very best protection.
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