On the Consumer Products Safety Commission website (CPSC.gov) Schneider Electric issued a recall notice for approximately 1.4 million of their electrical panels due to their potential to cause a fire hazard.
According to the recall notice, these panels were sold under the product names Square D QO Plug-on-Neutral Load Centers, and may also be labeled as Load Centers, Breaker Boxes, or Electrical Panels. These panels may present a hazard, as the load center can overheat, posing thermal burn and fire hazards.
This recall was originally broadcast by Consumer Products Safety Commission on June 16, 2022. According to CPSC.gov, these panels should be assessed to determine if they need to be repaired or replaced.
This is the language from the CPSC recall notification:
“This recall involves indoor, outdoor and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) Square D QO Plug-On Neutral Load Centers that were installed in homes, recreational vehicles, or commercial establishments, including restaurants, manufacturing facilities and warehouses, commercial lighting and others. The circuit breaker boxes were sold in gray and come in various sizes (square and rectangular). The recalled circuit breaker boxes were manufactured between February 2020 and January 2022, with date codes between 200561 and 220233.”
“For installed outdoor load centers, the manufacturing date codes are printed on the inside of the cover or door of the unit or on the box itself when the cover or door is open.”
“For installed indoor load centers, a qualified electrician can locate the interior date codes that are not visible to the home owner.”
“Circuit breaker boxes with covers that were manufactured between December 2019 and March 2022 are also included in this recall. The affected catalog/part numbers can be found inside the electrical panel doors for both the U.S. and Canada.”
As reported on the Consumer Products Safety Commission website, these are the recalled electrical panel U.S. and Canada catalog/part numbers:
As reported on the Schneider Electric website, these are the recalled electrical panel U.S. and Canada catalog/part numbers:
Be sure to check both website lists for model numbers,
as there are different panels on either list!
As reported on the CPSC website, these are the remedies recommended for the recalled electrical panels:
“Schneider Electric is directly contacting all known retailers, distributors, homeowners, and any other individuals that purchased or installed the recalled product. All purchasers and installers should immediately contact Schneider Electric to arrange to have the recalled load centers inspected by trained electricians to determine if replacement or repair is required. This inspection and any resulting replacement or repair is free of charge.”
“Consumers can find the catalog number and date code on indoor load centers inside the door of the panel. Consumers should immediately contact Schneider Electric to arrange to have the recalled load center inspected by a trained electrician to determine if repair is required. This inspection and any resulting repair is free of charge. Consumers who continue to use the load centers while awaiting the free repair should have working smoke alarms in their homes.”
“For uninstalled products, consumers should contact Schneider Electric for a free repair or replacement.”
When we encounter this type of panel during a home inspection, this is our standard recommendation:
Square D panel noted. On June 16, 2022, a recall was issued involving Square D QO Plug-on-Neutral Load Centers (also known as load centers, breaker boxes, and electrical panels.) This includes models manufactured between February 2020 and January 2022, with date codes between 200561 and 220233. Circuit breaker boxes with covers that were manufactured between December 2019 and March 2022 are also included in this recall. A full list of the recalled electrical panel U.S. and Canada catalog/part numbers can be found here.
If this item is involved in this recall, contact Schneider Electric toll-free at 888-778-2733 (8 a.m. through 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday) or online at www.se.com/us/qoloadcenter-safetyrecallnotice.
Due to the design of these panels, it is often difficult for the home inspector to verify these date codes in an installed panel. If these dates are suspected (due to the age of the home, for example), we recommend immediately contacting Schneider Electric to arrange to have the recalled load centers inspected by trained electricians to determine if replacement or repair is required. According to the recall notice, this inspection and any resulting replacement or repair is free of charge.