Federal Pacific Electric Company, headquartered in Newark, New Jersey, was a major manufacturer of electrical distribution equipment including switchgear, circuit breakers, and panelboard systems supplying commercial, industrial, and military customers throughout the mid-twentieth century. Federal Pacific supplied the US Navy with electrical distribution panelboards, circuit breakers, and switchgear for shipboard power distribution systems during the WWII and Cold War era. Federal Pacific’s switchgear and circuit breaker products used asbestos-containing arc chute and insulation materials in the electrical switching equipment construction — asbestos was used in arc chute construction because of its heat resistance and ability to withstand the high-temperature electrical arcs during circuit interruption. Navy Electrician’s Mates performing switchgear maintenance, circuit breaker testing, and panel work aboard ships with Federal Pacific electrical equipment accumulated asbestos exposure from the arc chute and insulation materials in the switchgear assemblies.

Asbestos in Federal Pacific Electrical Products

Federal Pacific’s switchgear and circuit breaker products incorporated asbestos:

  • Arc chute materials — Federal Pacific circuit breakers and switchgear used asbestos-containing arc chute assemblies to quench the electrical arcs produced during circuit interruption. The asbestos fiber in these arc chutes provided heat resistance for the arc quenching function. Electrician’s Mates removing Federal Pacific circuit breakers during electrical system maintenance or after fault events encountered asbestos-containing arc chute materials during breaker removal and inspection, with the arc chute materials releasing asbestos fiber when disturbed during maintenance
  • Switchgear insulation materials — the electrical insulation used in Federal Pacific switchgear bus work and panel construction incorporated asbestos-containing materials in the insulation for high-temperature electrical insulation applications. Electrician’s Mates working within Federal Pacific switchgear panels during maintenance and troubleshooting worked in proximity to asbestos-containing insulation materials in the panel construction
  • Panelboard arc barriers — the arc barriers and phase separators in Federal Pacific distribution panelboards used asbestos-containing materials to prevent phase-to-phase arcing faults, with Navy electricians maintaining these panels encountering asbestos-containing barrier materials during panel maintenance

Federal Pacific equipment appeared throughout Navy ship electrical distribution:

  • Ship service power distribution — Navy surface ships and submarines used shipboard electrical distribution panelboards and circuit breakers from Federal Pacific and competitor manufacturers in the ship service power distribution systems providing power to ship’s service loads throughout the vessel

VA Claims for Veterans Exposed to Federal Pacific Products

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from electrical equipment maintenance in Navy engineering spaces. Electrician’s Mates who performed switchgear and panelboard maintenance using Federal Pacific products with asbestos arc chute and insulation materials and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.