Hot tub bonding

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grlmopz

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Hi all,

We are about to install a Caldera hot tub on an existing wooden deck that is surrounded by a wooden rail.
The only place it will work is with two sides flush against the railing. The other two sides would be open.

I'm looking at 680.42, and parts (1), (2), and (3) are all fine.

My question is about (4) -- the requirement for the top rim to be 28" above all perimeter structures within 30 horizontal inches of the spa.

Does a wooden railing count as a "perimeter structure"? If so, I assume that bonding is necessary. If that's the case, what would it entail to bond a hot tub on a wooden deck? (My electrician said he wasn't worried about it because the rail is entirely made of wood, but the code doesn't appear to include that exception.)

Thanks in advance.
 
Ignoring it may be fine but if you go by code then I would do the perimeter bonding. If you can reach it from the tub and it is within 30" then bond it. It can't hurt
 
LarryFine said:
How do you bond wood? :unsure:
Click to expand...

You don't technically bond the wood you bond the earth below by installing an equipotential bonding . This bonding is what is required and will supposedly keep the wood at the same potential all around. Personally I am not sure I buy it but that is what is required
 
Here is the issue. This is a pre-existing elevated deck (1-5 feet off the ground). Some deck boards will be (briefly) removed to allow for the reinforcement of the deck. This is the only time that the ground underneath the area will be exposed.

Electrician doesn't believe that bonding will be necessary. Do I ask him to install a bonding grid in the cramped area under the deck anyway? I don't even know how he'd crawl under there to do so.

Or, could we just remove the railing?
 
If I were doing I would cover my butt because around here in some areas they would make you bond it. You don't want to find out later that you have to do the bonding. Tell him you'll pay him what it takes to bond it.

You could remove the railing unless that causes a building code issue
 
This debate has been going on for years, one would think it should have been reconciled a long time ago, but doesn't seem to have been. Still question how to bond a wooden deck, and what practical purpose served by bonding gound beneath deck? Is the bonding via induction to decking material above even possible or practical, it seems that if bonding is in ground below, protection is relying on induction.
 
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