Article 680

[wyboy]

This has been a subject of debate for a while so I decided to ask. An insulated equip. grounding conductor is required for permanent pools per Article 680 part II. A packaged hot tub, with less than 42? of water depth and sitting on top of grade, is by definition, not a permanent pool, so no part of Article 680 part II (including equipotential bonding) is applicable; correct?

 

[iwire]

680.42 Outdoor Installations. A spa or hot tub installed outdoors
shall comply with the provisions of Parts I and II of this
article, except as permitted in 680.42(A) and (B), that would
otherwise apply to pools installed outdoors.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

This has been a subject of debate for a while so I decided to ask. An insulated equip. grounding conductor is required for permanent pools per Article 680 part II. A packaged hot tub, with less than 42? of water depth and sitting on top of grade, is by definition, not a permanent pool, so no part of Article 680 part II (including equipotential bonding) is applicable; correct?

First you talk about egc then you talk about the EPB. As Bob pointed out all of Part II applies to a Hot Tub. The EPB is a must unless yoou are under the 2011 which has issued a TIA on that.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Here is the TIA

Pursuant to Section 5 of the NFPA Regulations Governing Committee Projects, the National Fire Protection Association has issued
the following Tentative Interim Amendment to NFPA 70?, National Electrical Code?, 2011 edition. The TIA was processed by Panel
17 and the National Electrical Code Technical Correlating Committee, and was issued by the Standards Council on March 1, 2011,
with an effective date of March 21, 2011.
A Tentative Interim Amendment is tentative because it has not been processed through the entire standards-making procedures. It is
interim because it is effective only between editions of the standard. A TIA automatically becomes a proposal of the proponent for the
next edition of the standard; as such, it then is subject to all of the procedures of the standards-making process.
1. Revise 680.42(B) to read as follows:
680.42(B) Bonding. Bonding by metal-to-metal mounting on a common frame or base shall be permitted.
Exception No. 1: The metal bands or hoops used to secure wooden staves shall not be required to be bonded as required in 680.26.
Exception No. 2: A listed self-contained spa or hot tub that meets all of the following conditions shall not be required to have
equipotential bonding of perimeter surfaces installed as required in 680.26(B)(2):
(1) Is installed in accordance with manufacturer?s instructions on or above grade.
(2) The vertical measurement from all permanent perimeter surfaces within 30 horizontal inches (76 cm) of the spa to the top
rim of the spa is greater than 28 inches (71 cm).
Informational Note: For further information regarding the grounding and bonding requirements for self-contained spas and hot
tubs, see ANSI/UL 1563 ? 2009, Standard for Electric Spas, Equipment Assemblies, and Associated Equipment.
Issue Date: March 1, 2011
Effective Date: March 21, 2011

 

[pete m.]

The EPB is a must unless yoou are under the 2011 which has issued a TIA on that.

I don't know how it is in other states but the TIA is not part of the NEC in Ohio unless specifically adopted.

Pete

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I don't know how it is in other states but the TIA is not part of the NEC in Ohio unless specifically adopted.

Pete

I suspect that is so in many states but I don't know.

 

[wyboy]

The question is since part II is for permanently installed pools, and a packaged hot tub is not a permanently installed pool, section II should apply to permanently installed hot tubs, not a packaged hot tub.

 

[iwire]

The question is since part II is for permanently installed pools, and a packaged hot tub is not a permanently installed pool, section II should apply to permanently installed hot tubs, not a packaged hot tub.

But that is not what it says.

If it is a hot tub and it is installed outdoors you must treat it like a permanently installed pool even if it is a packaged hot tub.

The TIA that Dennis posted confirms that.

 

[jim dungar]

The TIA exception (2) condition (2) says "The vertical measurement from all permanent perimeter surfaces..."
If the packaged spa is mounted on a concrete pad, and then a deck is installed around the spa, what is the 'permanent surface'?