Federal Pacific Service & Sub-Panel Replacement — 11-Building Multifamily Community, Thousand Oaks, CA
Insurance-driven replacement of the original Federal Pacific Stab-Lok equipment across an 11-building community, including new Siemens 200-amp overhead services, new Siemens unit sub-panels, new feeder wiring, upgraded grounding, and full coordination with Southern California Edison and the City of Thousand Oaks.
Replacing Federal Pacific Equipment Across an Entire Community
Branover Contractors completed a community-wide electrical service replacement for an 11-building multifamily property in Thousand Oaks. Every building was running on its original Federal Pacific Stab-Lok electrical equipment, both at the main service and at the sub-panels serving each unit.
The work went well beyond swapping panels. At each building, the main electrical service was replaced with a new Siemens 200-amp overhead service, the unit sub-panels were replaced with new Siemens sub-panels, new feeder wiring was run from the service to each sub-panel, and the grounding was upgraded.
Because the property is in Thousand Oaks, the utility and permitting side of the job ran through Southern California Edison and the City of Thousand Oaks Building & Safety rather than LADWP and LADBS.
Resolving an Insurance Requirement
The project started with the property’s insurance. The Federal Pacific equipment across the community had become an insurance concern, and management needed it replaced with current, code-compliant equipment.
Rather than replacing only the sub-panels or only the services, the project was approached as a complete replacement at every building. That meant new services, new sub-panels, new feeders, and new grounding, so the entire distribution path from the service to each unit panel is new.
Why Federal Pacific Stab-Lok equipment gets flagged
Testing by the CPSC and independent engineers found that some Stab-Lok breakers do not trip as UL standards require and can jam in the “on” position, and overheating has been found at the panel’s internal bus connections. In 2002, a New Jersey court found that the manufacturer had applied UL labels to breakers it knew had not passed UL testing. Because the problem involves the panel as well as the breakers, the recognized fix is full replacement with a new panelboard and breakers.
Source: The Hanover Insurance Group, Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Stab-Lok breakers and panelboards. More on this equipment: Federal Pacific electrical panels · Insurance Panel Replacement FAQ
The Existing Electrical System
Each of the 11 buildings was served by an overhead electrical service with Federal Pacific Stab-Lok equipment, feeding Federal Pacific sub-panels in the units. The age of the equipment and the Federal Pacific name on it created the insurance issue for the property.
Existing Equipment
- Federal Pacific Stab-Lok main electrical service at each building
- Federal Pacific Stab-Lok sub-panels serving the units
- Existing feeder wiring from each service to the unit sub-panels
- Existing grounding at each service
A Complete Service and Distribution Replacement at Every Building
New 200A Overhead Services
Replaced the Federal Pacific main electrical service at each of the 11 buildings with a new Siemens 200-amp overhead electrical service.
New Unit Sub-Panels
Replaced the Federal Pacific Stab-Lok sub-panels in the units with new Siemens sub-panels.
New 60A Unit Main Breakers
Installed a new 60-amp breaker at the main service for each unit’s feeder.
New #6 THHN Feeders
Ran new #6 THHN feeder wire from each main service to each unit sub-panel, using the existing conduits where they could be reused and new EMT conduit where they couldn’t.
Grounding
Installed new #4 armored ground wire at each electrical service.
Permits, Utility & Access
Handled permits and inspections with the City of Thousand Oaks, meter spots, barrel lock removal and service release with SCE, and tenant access through on-site management.
Managing the Utility, the City, and Occupied Units
A job across 11 occupied buildings is as much a coordination project as an electrical one. Branover Contractors worked directly with three groups to keep the work moving:
- Southern California Edison for meter spot approval, barrel lock removal, and the service release at each building.
- City of Thousand Oaks Building & Safety for permits and inspections on the service and sub-panel work.
- On-site maintenance and property management to get notices out to tenants and schedule access to each unit for the sub-panel replacements.
- 1SCE Meter Spot Approval
- 2City of Thousand Oaks Permit
- 3Tenant Notices & Access
- 4SCE Barrel Lock Removal
- 5Installation & City Inspection
- 6SCE Service Release
From Permit to Power Back On
Planning & Permitting
The scope was set for each building, the meter spot was approved by Southern California Edison, and electrical permits were obtained through the City of Thousand Oaks Building & Safety.
Tenant Scheduling & Barrel Locks
On-site management notified tenants and arranged unit access ahead of each building’s work, and Branover coordinated with SCE to have the barrel locks removed from the existing meters.
New Siemens Service & Grounding
A new Siemens 200-amp overhead service was installed at the building, with new #4 armored ground wire and 60-amp breakers for each unit.
Feeders & Siemens Unit Sub-Panels
New #6 THHN feeders were pulled to each unit through existing conduit or new EMT, and new Siemens sub-panels were installed in the units.
Inspection & Service Release
The work was inspected by the City of Thousand Oaks, and Branover coordinated the service release with SCE to bring the building back online on the new equipment.
New Electrical Equipment Across the Entire Community
Insurance Requirement Addressed
The Federal Pacific Stab-Lok service and sub-panel equipment behind the insurance concern was replaced with new Siemens equipment at all 11 buildings.
Standardized Distribution
Every building now has a new Siemens 200-amp overhead service, 60-amp unit breakers, new #6 THHN feeders, and new Siemens unit sub-panels.
Upgraded Grounding
Each electrical service received new #4 armored ground wire.
One Point of Contact
Branover Contractors handled SCE, the City of Thousand Oaks, and scheduling with on-site management from start to finish.
What Changed?
Before
- Federal Pacific Stab-Lok main services
- Federal Pacific Stab-Lok unit sub-panels
- Original feeder wiring
- Original grounding
- Insurance concern on the property
After
- New Siemens 200-amp overhead service at all 11 buildings
- New Siemens unit sub-panels
- New 60-amp unit main breakers
- New #6 THHN feeders in existing conduit or new EMT
- New #4 armored ground wire at each service
- City of Thousand Oaks inspection
- Service released by SCE
Need Federal Pacific Equipment Replaced?
Branover Contractors handles the entire process, from utility coordination and permitting to tenant scheduling, installation, inspection, and power restoration, for single buildings and multi-building properties alike.
Branover Contractors, Inc. — CA C-10 Electrical Contractor License #484143. Family-owned and operated since 1985.
