Above ground pool half buried?

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JohnDS

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Electrician
I guess this would be considered a semi in-ground pool. Do you need to bond this type of pool all the way back to the main panel or can you just bond to pump motor. How many bonding points on pool?
 
Doesn't matter the depth, if it is in the ground then it is a permanent pool and must be bonded. Going from memory here
 
Here it is
Permanently Installed Swimming, Wading, Immersion,
and Therapeutic Pools. Those that are constructed in the
ground or partially in the ground, and all others capable of
holding water in a depth greater than 1.0 m (42 in.), and all
pools installed inside of a building, regardless of water depth,
whether or not served by electrical circuits of any nature.
Click to expand...
 
Dennis Alwon said:
Here it is
Click to expand...

I have seen above ground pools that are installed on a hill where one side has the hill dug out so that the base of the pool is level. They're technically not buried, I would guess that a standard above ground pool is not even designed to be partially buried (meaning having dirt up against one side).
 
Thanks guys. So I will be bonding this pool, however I am still unclear if the #8 bare copper ground needs to be terminated at the circuit panel after bonding to the pool, pool pump and anything else metal within 5' of water edge, or if I am simply bonding the pool, pool pump and anything else metal and not terminating at the circuit panel at all. Also how many bonding points on pool, 2 or 4?
 
JohnDS said:
Thanks guys. So I will be bonding this pool, however I am still unclear if the #8 bare copper ground needs to be terminated at the circuit panel after bonding to the pool, pool pump and anything else metal within 5' of water edge, or if I am simply bonding the pool, pool pump and anything else metal and not terminating at the circuit panel at all. Also how many bonding points on pool, 2 or 4?
Click to expand...

Your EGC goes back to the panel not the #8 equipotential bonding conductor.
 
#8 circling the pool 18" - 24" from inside walls of pool
4" - 6" below sub grade
hit 4 points around the pool, equal distances apart
Tie to pump motor, water (skimmer is best with 9" sq bondable metal, they make a bonding kit for this) anything else metal within 5' of pool
Bond wire (#8) does not go back to the panel
 
Little Bill said:
#8 circling the pool 18" - 24" from inside walls of pool
4" - 6" below sub grade
hit 4 points around the pool, equal distances apart
Tie to pump motor, water (skimmer is best with 9" sq bondable metal, they make a bonding kit for this) anything else metal within 5' of pool
Bond wire (#8) does not go back to the panel
Click to expand...

Hey thank you.
I was wondering,
1) can you start at one bonding point on pool and work your way around the pool and dead end at pump(or other point), as opposed to bringing the two ends eventually together at some point?
2) do your 4 bonding points necessarily have to be toward bottom of the pool and/or buried, or is it ok to bond higher toward top pool rail?
 
To encircle the pool and cover all areas of the perimeter bonding would have to bring them together. Whether they need to be tied together I am not certain-- We do it but I don't think it is necessary
 
I usually circle the pool and end at the pump end. I use a split bolt to hold the circle, then take the remaining #8 to the pump and whatever else may be there. As for the bonding points around the pool, I don't "weave" in and out, I split bolt a jumper to the points I'm bonding. I usually also use a jumper up to the water bond. The bond I use is a round brass piece that has a solid (#8) attached to it. The straight piece of the bonding piece either sticks out a hole you drill in the skimmer or in the pump basket. The pump basket has a plug that you remove and insert the solid piece from the inside out, then put your jumper onto that.

This is it (or similar)

watermark


The bonding points don't have to be buried, just find a convenient place that is metal and put your lug on it. Then run your jumper bond to that. For looks, I usually try to bond low so the wire doesn't show after they backfill or place whatever they are using around the pool.
 
infinity said:
I have seen above ground pools that are installed on a hill where one side has the hill dug out so that the base of the pool is level. They're technically not buried, I would guess that a standard above ground pool is not even designed to be partially buried (meaning having dirt up against one side).
Click to expand...

The definition does not say anything about "buried". Is says "partially in the ground". IMO a pool that is dug into the side of a hill is "partially in the ground". The instructions for some pools like this allow them to be installed in such a manner.
 
Just to add to this. Since the pool in question is capable of holding water at a depth greater than 42", it is considered a permanently installed pool and requires the bonding described even if it were not partially buried.
 
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