bphgravity
Senior Member
- Location
- Florida
Amendment to 2005 National Electric Code Effective August 17, 2005
An interim amendment clarifying language specific to the pool industry in NFPA 70, National Electrical Code, 2005 edition, went into effect in late August. The amendment deals with the requirement for an electrical bonding grid under vinyl lined or fiberglass pools. The main code change for the swimming pool industry is the requirement to either use steel in concrete decking for the first three (3) feet as part of the equipotential bonding grid or to place copper on a 12 X 12 copper grid under or in the deck.
The amendment is interim because it is effective only between editions of the standard. The amendment automatically becomes a proposal for consideration for the next edition of the standard.
As reported in the June Florida Pool Prosm, the 2005 version of the National Electrical Code (NEC) contained guidance that was targeted at the increased frequency of small voltage shocks when entering or exiting swimming pools and spas. The language was being interpreted by the swimming pool industry in ways the NEC writers never intended.
As interpreted, the new NEC Code would have required electrical bonding under vinyl lined, polymer walled, fiberglass composite or other pools constructed of nonconductive materials.
The newly organized International Aquatics Foundation (IAF), under the leadership of Carvin DiGiovanni, responded quickly to correct the NEC Code, first temporarily, and ultimately in future editions. The FSPA Builders' Council worked with the IAF to respond to the standard.
The NEC Interim Amendment revises 680.26 as follows:
(C) Equipotential Bonding Grid. The parts specified in 680.26(B) shall be connected to an equipotential bonding grid with a solid conductor, insulated, covered, or bare, not smaller than 8 AWG or rigid metal conduit of brass or other identified corrosion-resistant metal conduit. Connection shall be made by exothermic welding or by listed pressure connectors or clamps that are labeled as being suitable for the purpose and are of stainless steel, brass, copper, or copper alloy. The equipotential bonding grid shall conform to the contours of the pool and shall extend within or under paved walking surfaces for 1 m (3ft). Exception: The equipotential bonding grid shall not be required to be installed under the bottom of or vertically along the walls of vinyl lined polymer wall, fiberglass composite, or other pools constructed of nonconductive materials. Any metal parts of the pool, including metal structural supports, shall be bonded in accordance with 680.26(B). For the purposes of this section, poured concrete, pneumatically applied (sprayed) concrete, and concrete block, with painted or plastered coatings, shall be considered conductive material.
(1) Structural Reinforcing Steel. The structural reinforcing steel of a concrete pool or deck where the reinforcing rods are bonded together by the usual steel tie wires or the equivalent. Where deck reinforcing steel is not an integral part of the pool, the deck reinforcing shall be bonded to other parts of the bonding grid using a minimum 8 AWG solid copper conductor. Connection shall be per 680.26(D).
An interim amendment clarifying language specific to the pool industry in NFPA 70, National Electrical Code, 2005 edition, went into effect in late August. The amendment deals with the requirement for an electrical bonding grid under vinyl lined or fiberglass pools. The main code change for the swimming pool industry is the requirement to either use steel in concrete decking for the first three (3) feet as part of the equipotential bonding grid or to place copper on a 12 X 12 copper grid under or in the deck.
The amendment is interim because it is effective only between editions of the standard. The amendment automatically becomes a proposal for consideration for the next edition of the standard.
As reported in the June Florida Pool Prosm, the 2005 version of the National Electrical Code (NEC) contained guidance that was targeted at the increased frequency of small voltage shocks when entering or exiting swimming pools and spas. The language was being interpreted by the swimming pool industry in ways the NEC writers never intended.
As interpreted, the new NEC Code would have required electrical bonding under vinyl lined, polymer walled, fiberglass composite or other pools constructed of nonconductive materials.
The newly organized International Aquatics Foundation (IAF), under the leadership of Carvin DiGiovanni, responded quickly to correct the NEC Code, first temporarily, and ultimately in future editions. The FSPA Builders' Council worked with the IAF to respond to the standard.
The NEC Interim Amendment revises 680.26 as follows:
(C) Equipotential Bonding Grid. The parts specified in 680.26(B) shall be connected to an equipotential bonding grid with a solid conductor, insulated, covered, or bare, not smaller than 8 AWG or rigid metal conduit of brass or other identified corrosion-resistant metal conduit. Connection shall be made by exothermic welding or by listed pressure connectors or clamps that are labeled as being suitable for the purpose and are of stainless steel, brass, copper, or copper alloy. The equipotential bonding grid shall conform to the contours of the pool and shall extend within or under paved walking surfaces for 1 m (3ft). Exception: The equipotential bonding grid shall not be required to be installed under the bottom of or vertically along the walls of vinyl lined polymer wall, fiberglass composite, or other pools constructed of nonconductive materials. Any metal parts of the pool, including metal structural supports, shall be bonded in accordance with 680.26(B). For the purposes of this section, poured concrete, pneumatically applied (sprayed) concrete, and concrete block, with painted or plastered coatings, shall be considered conductive material.
(1) Structural Reinforcing Steel. The structural reinforcing steel of a concrete pool or deck where the reinforcing rods are bonded together by the usual steel tie wires or the equivalent. Where deck reinforcing steel is not an integral part of the pool, the deck reinforcing shall be bonded to other parts of the bonding grid using a minimum 8 AWG solid copper conductor. Connection shall be per 680.26(D).