Equipotential Bonding Grid

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twtalbert

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Being that the State of Florida is going to adopt the 2005 NEC on Dec. 8,2006 the pool contractors are trying to figure out exactly what will be accepted for the bonding grid that will now be required for the deck per 2005 NEC 680.26[C]. I run the electrical code committee for Brevard County Florida and no one has come up with a firm answer to what is acceptable. Is anyone allowing welded wire mesh or are you requiring the rebar grid, copper wire mat. Any ideas will be a great help. Thanks Terry Talbert
 
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Hello Terry,

The way we see it here in the SW Florida area (IAEI Gulf Coast Division), the pool installer as three options.

1. They can extend the 12" on center structural steel that forms the pool out three feet around the exterior of the pool to be encased by the deck paving. Obviously this option can't be used if the pool is formed of non-conductive material

2. They can install the normal 6x6 Welded Wire Mesh if made continuous and bonded to the equipotential grid.

3. They can install the alternate means as specified in 680.26(C)(3).

Our only issues of contention is when the pool ends up within 36" of an existing paved surface, and how this effects outdoor packaged spas and hot tubs installed on an existing paved surface. We have not come up with a solution for these two issues.
 
Our department had come up with three solutions for the new deck bonding requirements in the 2005 NEC as desribed above. At the time, most of the local surrounding jurisdictions were onboard.

Now (following this post), a few of the other surrounding jurisdictions are objecting to us permitting the wire mesh to be used. They claim the bonding grid cannot be less than typical ?" rebar or #8 copper. They feel the wire mesh is not suitable.

I referenced the similar bonding requirements in Article 547 that clearly identify wire mesh, however they feel the section and allowance in this article cannot apply to pools or the deck.

What are thoughts on the issue? The wire mesh will certainly provide the equipotential gradients along the deck and satisfy what I believe is the intent of the section, though wire mesh is not specifically referenced in that section.

(On a side note, I have been hearing a rumor from a very good source that another TIA is soon being released removing this entire new wording all together - or at least the part about the paved decks)
 
the only question i have about the wire mesh, is it going to last the life of the pool, another thing i was thinking about is , what if over time you lose your connection between the pool wall and the grid
 
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