680.23(A)(5) and (B)(6)

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earshavewalls

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680.23(A)(5) limits the MINIMUM depth that an underwater luminaire may be installed at 18" (4" if listed for that depth) below the normal water level of a pool.

680.23(B)(6) adds further requirements (without specific limits) on the MAXIMUM depth below the normal water level. It states, "Luminaires shall be installed in such a manner that personnel can reach the lumiaire for relamping, maintenance, or inspection while on the deck or equivalently dry location."

We, as a jurisdiction are using 24" below the normal water level to the center of the luminaire as a maximum (based on average(?) arm length).

We have a contractor wishing to install a custom pool with a side spa. The wet niche fixture to be installed in the spa is shown in the face of the lowest "step" in the spa. This would put the center of the luminaire at approximately 36" below the normal water level in the spa. (this spa is part of the custom pool, not self-contained). (680.43(B)(2) states that underwater luminaires in spas shall comply with 680.23 or 680.33)

Has anyone dealt with this code issue as yet? This article (680.23(B)(6)) IS new in the 2005 NEC. We are on the 2007 California Electrical Code, which is basically the 2005 NEC as written (the only one CA did like that!). I was not able to find any threads on the subject. Any input or insight would be helpful for us to properly enforce this code.
 
The NECHB commentary FWIW.

Custom swimming pool installations where the pool is incorporated as an architectural feature of a building or structure can present access problems for those who have to change the lamps of an underwater luminaire. In some cases, the length of the flexible cord connected to a wet-niche luminaire does not permit the luminaire to be removed from the pool for relamping or servicing. To address the concern over a person having to be in the pool in order to change lamps, this requirement specifies that the underwater luminaire installation has to be made such that changing of the lamp occurs on the pool deck or other dry location outside of the pool, and the location can be accessed without having to enter the pool water.
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A solution could be fiber optic lights so that the lamp would actually never be in the water and they could put the lights in the bottom if they wanted. :smile:
 
I don't see a problem with getting into the water to retrieve the light from the niche. The cord has to be sufficient length to put the fixture on the deck or another dry area when it is opened and relamped or serviced though. I interpret the code section to prevent having the empty the pool, just to open the fixture because there isn't enough cord to make it to the deck.

I have never seen a spa light that could be reached from the deck. Typically, if the spa is attached to a pool, the spa water is emptied into the pool so the light can be removed.

We have had builders put the lights on the of a reef/beach/step area that can't be reached from the deck because it is 6' from the edge of the pool. We leave enough cord in the niche for the light to make it to the closest dry spot for servicing, but someone is going swimming to get the light out of the niche in the first place.

I have lost count to the number of times that I have had to get into the water of a pool to get the light out so it can be relamped. It's not bad in the summer, but the winter months can be a real pain.


- Greg
 
Greg,

You have probably seen the spa and pool lights where you couldn't get to them without getting into the pool in many installations. The code just changed to this requirement with the 2005 edition. It is to ADDRESS the concern over a person having to be in the pool in order tho change lamps.(this was quoted from the 2005 NEC Handbook on 680.23(B)(5)).
Now, you only have to jump in the water for pools that were built prior to the 2005 NEC being adopted in your area.

We are sticking with our 24" maximum depth to the center of the fixture for all spas and pools (custom).

Thanks for all of the input!
 
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