When we do pools we run conduits, pull bond wire into the niche with a string to pull the fixture in at a later time, pot the insulate #8, run the bare #8 from the outside of the niche to the steel of the pool and leave a 3' tail, do the 3 other tails based on the location of the niche, bond around fiberglass if there is any, bond to the pump etc. call for trench and pool bond inspection to include the potting (this may be called different types of inspections depending on the jurisdiction and they may tell you that you are doing things in the wrong order if you do the potting at this time, I just tell them it is how the pool company does things). Every jurisdiction I work in if there is rebar for the deck we bond the tails to the rebar and that is the deck bond. The #8 circle is an alternative method. Check the code book. Call your inspector and ask him. He is the 1 that passes or fails it. If you are using the #8 circle it is supposed to be 4-6" under sub grade 18-24? from the inside wall of the pool and secured (sod staples). We never use the #8 circle unless it is a paver deck or the concrete doesn?t go all the way around the pool.
