bonding hydromassage tub

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sparkadaddy

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If there is 10 feet of copper coming into a house and from there it is plastic water lines, do you still have to bond the pump to the 6 inches of copper lines that came with the tub?
 
it is a metal pipe and when the idiot throws his toaster into the tub and electrocutes himself the investigation will show that the metal pipe was not bonded per code and there will be a problem

I did not write the code you asked for a code reference and I gave it to you it goes on to say that all metal attached to the tub will be bonded.

do not shoot the messenger
 
I agree it really doesn`t make alot of scense if there is plastic piping but the code does say all metal piping systems and the metal piping of the hydro tub will be bonded together with nothing smaller than a #8.Since 10 ft or more of CU piping must be grounded and if it is wired in conduit and a # 8 is pulled for the ground then that part would be covered correct !!!
 
Re: bonding hydromassage tub

sparkadaddy said:
If there is 10 feet of copper coming into a house and from there it is plastic water lines, do you still have to bond the pump to the 6 inches of copper lines that came with the tub?
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Where in the system is the 6" piece of copper located? Is it part of the metal piping system in contact with the circulating water?
 
I think the answer depends on which code year you are on.

2002 NEC than yes I believe you would have to bond it.

Here is the 2005 rule with highlighting by me. :)

2005 NEC
680.74 Bonding. All metal piping systems and all grounded metal parts in contact with the circulating water shall be bonded together using a copper bonding jumper, insulated, covered or bare, not smaller than 8 AWG solid.
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In my opinion an isolated section of metal pipe is not a 'metal piping system' it's just a 'hunk of pipe'.

Notice also that only metal parts that are both in contact with the circulating water and are already grounded need to be bonded.

So IMO under the 2005 NEC there is no requirement to bond this isolated section of metal water pipe unless it is both in contact with the circulating water and are already grounded.

Bob
 
As usual Bob nailed it. Those 6" isolated pieces of pipe are not piping systems. I might also doubt that they are grounded. So under 2005 NEC no bonding required.
I would also say no under 2002 as I don't see this tub as having a metal piping system as written in 02.
 
hydro tub

hydro tub

In inspecting I still find installation instructions provided with the hydro tub that direct the motor to be bonded to the copper piping supply.
 
the 6 inches of pipe is right under the faucets from there it is plastic. The whole house is plastic except where the water service enters house is copper.
 
I recall reading something in the ROP/ROC on this issue. I believe the submitter claimed the pumps and systems installed on hydromassage tub are of a different design than those of pool and hot tub systems. I'll have to re-read the proposals and comments but I think Bob is correct with his interpretation.
 
Now there is a differance between bonding the motor and bonding the water pipe. If the motor has a bonding lug then it is required to be bonded, but a lot of the new tubs have the double insulated motors and they are not required to be bonded.

My thought about the some of the other comments is this. The metal water piping is already bonded at the main panel. If the motor is grounded properly then it is also connected to the cold water pipe. I also agree that sections of pipe are not required to be bonded.

Also remember that when you require the piping to be bonded then you must also make sure that the connection point is accessible. You can't just bond it at the faucet, run the #8 over to where the motor is going and drop in the spa tub. They either need an access panel at the point of connection or they can run a line over to where the motor is.

This came up in one of our IAEI meetings where the owner was going to run PEX for the water system and of course some one came up with the question of would you then have to bond each faucet because of the metal in them. NO.

Remember "..that may become energized..."
 
sparkadaddy said:
the 6 inches of pipe is right under the faucets from there it is plastic. The whole house is plastic except where the water service enters house is copper.
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Even if the faucet were connected to a copper supply I don't see how it would require bonding. Although it fills the tub, it does not contact the circulating water.
 
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