ground rod required?

[flakeysbrian]

There has been debate here on the use of ground rods, specifically with swimming pools. There are several here who state that while installing pool equipment that a ground rod be installed at the pool equipment area and have it tied to the pool bond. It was always my understanding that this is not required / not good practice. Where in the 2005 NEC can this be proved or disproved.

 

[haskindm]

If the pool is installed "in the earth" how would anything be improved by installing a ground rod? It is already in contact with the earth.

 

[bphgravity]

There is nothing on article 680 that requires the pool or its equipmnet be grounded. The requiremenr in 680.26 is to establish an equiportential bonding grid. The earth places no role in this requirement.

Short of the possibility of that the pool and its equipment is located as a "separate structure", then perhaps 250.32 could come into play.

But in general, a ground rod will serve no purpose at a pool.

 

[petersonra]

There is nothing on article 680 that requires the pool or its equipmnet be grounded. The requiremenr in 680.26 is to establish an equiportential bonding grid. The earth places no role in this requirement.

Short of the possibility of that the pool and its equipment is located as a "separate structure", then perhaps 250.32 could come into play.

But in general, a ground rod will serve no purpose at a pool.

I would guess a substantial percentage of pools would qualify as separate structures.

 

[tom baker]

There are several here who state that while installing pool equipment that a ground rod be installed at the pool equipment area and have it tied to the pool bond.

I suspect that part of this comes from that some feel an ground rod is an electron sink, and installing one will cause any extra electrons to go to the earth via the rod. True for lightning but not stray voltage. What we need for stray voltage at pools is an electron source that removes extra electrons

 

[haskindm]

I would guess a substantial percentage of pools would qualify as separate structures.

Unless the pool is supplied by a "feeder" a grounding electrode would still not be required. See 250.32(A) Exception....

 

[petersonra]

Unless the pool is supplied by a "feeder" a grounding electrode would still not be required. See 250.32(A) Exception....

its still a seperate structure. whether a GES is required is a seperate issue.