fpe-info.org
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ELECTRICAL & FIRE SAFETY
Reliance Electric Quarterly SEC Filing, Quarter Ending March 31, 1982 (cover page and page 5 Note “C”, Contingencies). This document, filed with the SEC by FPE’s parent company, confirms that in about 1979 the UL listings had been “lost” (withdrawn by UL) for virtually the entire line of FPE circuit protection products, after the company’s “deceptive and improper practices” were uncovered. This substantiates information reported in the Business Week article July 19, 1980. Reliance Electric’s SEC filing demonstrates that the FPE performance problems extended across their entire line and were not trivial, since more than two years later the company was still working to correct product deficiencies and regain all of the lost listings.
Judges’s Memorandum, August 15, 2002 - Partial Summary Judgement includes the finding that FPE violated the NJ Consumer Fraud Act.
“Hazardous FPE Circuit Breakers and Panels” (Latest update Mar. 29, 2024) The latest update of a comprehensive report that provides test results, background information, references, and more.
Estimating Fire Losses Associated With Circuit Breaker Malfunction, Published technical paper provides a method to “connect the dots” between circuit breaker performance data and fire statistics. Provides estimates of annual injuries, deaths, and property damage due to the defective FPE breakers. Provides information on the test methods used and the results that were obtained. The important results of this study are contained in the report “Hazardous FPE Circuit Breakers and Panels”
FPE Notice of Hazard and Recall for Various Commercial and Industrial Circuit Breakers (1982 or thereabout)
UL vs. FPE, Civil Action 1956, Final Judgement In 1956 UL brought FPE to court to force them to stop applying UL labels to product that was not listed or did not meet the UL standards, and to discontinue counterfeiting UL labels. Apparently, UL had not been successful in stopping these practices through their normal business and contractual relationships with FPE. This 1957 court document recaps UL’s complaints and constitutes the final settlement agreement reached at that time between UL and FPE.
© 2024 J. Aronstein
aronsteinj@verizon.net
Reports and Documents
Photo: 15-Amp UBI Stab-Lok®
type breaker carrying 60 Amps (note smoking and charring)