Series 1 GFCI Circuit Breakers Replacement by Square D

Series 1 GFCI Circuit Breakers Replacement by Square D NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Originally issued April 13, 1988, Revised June 26, 2006 Release # 88-022 Note: Phone Number Change. Square D Company Offers Free Replacement Program WASHINGTON, DC -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Square D Company of Palatine, Illinois is voluntarily offering free replacement of its 15 through 30 ampere size Series 1 two-pole ground fault interrupting (GFCI) circuit breakers. Ground fault circuit breakers tire safety devices which provide protection against electrocution in addition to the normal circuit breaker overload protection function. Two-pole GFCI circuit breakers are often used on 240 volt circuits serving hot tubs/spas, swimming pool equipment, pumps and fountain equipment, and other applications where electrical failure of the protected equipment could pose a risk of electrocution. Square D Company is taking this action because it has discovered that early failure of an electronic component may disable the electric shock protection provided by this product. The involved Square D GFCI circuit breakers have a yellow "Push-To-Test" button and are two-pole units which are physically twice the size of most branch circuit breakers. Persons who believe they may have such a unit or who have questions should telephone Square D Company at (877) 202-9046 between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday for information concerning Square D's free replacement program. Square D GFCI circuit breakers which display the Square D trademark near the circuit breaker handle are not subject to this problem. Also, circuit breakers without the yellow "Push-To-Test" button are not GFCI devices and are not subject to this problem. Approximately 80,000 of the involved units have been sold and installed nationwide since 1982. Square D Company is not awar