equipotential grid

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augie47

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Tennessee
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The only pools that would require no type of Equipotential bonding would be "storable pools" holding water with a depth of less than 42".
 

jyohnyb

Member
Location
wilmington nc
equipotential bond.

equipotential bond.

Yes I know they all need the bonding but there is an alternate method where you can run a number 8 around the pool with no actual grid. When is the grid itself needed?
 

ActionDave

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Durango, CO, 10 h 20 min from the winged horses.
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Licensed Electrician
Isnt there an alternate means that doesnt require a grid but only a number 8 contoured to the pool?
When is the grid itself required?
Pretty much always if it is an in ground pool.
If the pool is made of concrete you have to bond the rebar. If the rebar is epoxy coated then you have to make your own grid out of #8.
680.26 is the code section.
 

augie47

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Tennessee
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State Electrical Inspector (Retired)
According to 680.26(B)(2)(b) a #8 can be used as an alternative to the structural steel in the perimeter. You can check that section for the particulars.
 

augie47

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Tennessee
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State Electrical Inspector (Retired)
I guess eyes of the beholder. 680.26 is in Section II and that section applies to all permanently installed pools and it seems pretty clear the items included in the required equipotential bond includes perimeter surfaces,
 

ActionDave

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Durango, CO, 10 h 20 min from the winged horses.
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Licensed Electrician
Here's the sections that spell it out.

680.26 Equipotential Bonding
(A) Performance. The equipotential bonding required by
this section shall be installed to reduce voltage gradients in
the pool area.

(B) Bonded Parts. The parts specified in 680.26(B)(1)
through (B)(7) shall be bonded together.....

(1) Conductive Pool Shells. Bonding to conductive pool
shells shall be provided as specified in 680.26(B)(1)(a) or
(B)(1)(b). Poured concrete, pneumatically applied or
sprayed concrete, and concrete block with painted or plas-
tered coatings shall all be considered conductive....

(a) Structural Reinforcing Steel. Unencapsulated struc-
tural reinforcing steel shall be bonded together by steel tie
wires or the equivalent. Where structural reinforcing steel is
encapsulated in a nonconductive compound, a copper con-
ductor grid shall be installed in accordance with 680.26(B)
(1)(b).

(2) Perimeter Surfaces. The perimeter surface shall ex-
tend for 1 m (3 ft) horizontally beyond the inside walls of
the pool and shall include unpaved surfaces, as well as
poured concrete surfaces and other types of paving
 

kwired

Electron manager
Location
NE Nebraska
You have to bond the perimeter and any conductive shell (which it clearly states concrete shell is considered conductive).

One of the easiest ways of doing this to concrete is via reinforcing steel. If there is no reinforcing steel or it is coated, then you need alternate methods - that is where the copper conductor grid comes in.
 

david

Senior Member
Location
Pennsylvania
Ok so all in ground pools require a 3 ft grid around them?
The code book is not specific about this at all.

Equipotential Bonding.

I think you need to clarify what you mean when you say Equipotential Bonding “Grid”
The pool needs equipotential bonding the perimeter surface needs bonded.

“Vinyl liners and fiberglass composite shells shall be considered to be nonconductive materials.

When a in ground pool has a vinyl liner and the pool structure itself is considered non- conductive the pool structure itself has no requirement to be bonded to the Equipotential bonding system for the pool.

You would commonly see the number 8 AWG. copper around the pool 4’ to 6’ deep place around 20 in from the waters edge to cover the 3 ft area of perimeter surface

but be careful with the Alum. copping the vinyl liner hangs on, it will still need bonded to the Equipotential Bonding
 

mwm1752

Senior Member
Location
Aspen, Colo
Equipotential Bonding.

I think you need to clarify what you mean when you say Equipotential Bonding “Grid”
The pool needs equipotential bonding the perimeter surface needs bonded.

“Vinyl liners and fiberglass composite shells shall be considered to be nonconductive materials.

When a in ground pool has a vinyl liner and the pool structure itself is considered non- conductive the pool structure itself has no requirement to be bonded to the Equipotential bonding system for the pool.




680.26( C ) applies
 

Dennis Alwon

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Staff member
Location
Chapel Hill, NC
Occupation
Retired Electrical Contractor
The older code required a grid but the 2011 clearly allows an alternative method. There are 2 things going on here. You have a perimeter bonding and you can have the pool bonding. Some pools do not need bonding if there are no structural metal parts involved. The perimeter bond is always needed but it can be a #8 buried 4-6 inches below subgrade and follow the contour of the pool 18-24 inches from the inside wall of the pool
 

david

Senior Member
Location
Pennsylvania
Equipotential Bonding.

I think you need to clarify what you mean when you say Equipotential Bonding “Grid”
The pool needs equipotential bonding the perimeter surface needs bonded.

“Vinyl liners and fiberglass composite shells shall be considered to be nonconductive materials.

When a in ground pool has a vinyl liner and the pool structure itself is considered non- conductive the pool structure itself has no requirement to be bonded to the Equipotential bonding system for the pool.




680.26( C ) applies

yes pool water needs bonded,

most often done through metal elements part of the pool, ladders, handrails, even metal trim rings for underwater lighting.
 
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