Ddubbs103,
You stated in post #4: ?I really want to understand this article any help is appreciated thank you?
?For what it is worth, you are not alone. There are a large number of people (including me) who believe that applying Section 680.26 is pretty unclear for some installations and when applying it to spas and hot tubs it seems to get even less clear. I do want to say that CMP 17 has done an excellent job in providing some of the best language for this section in the 08 NEC. I just believe it needs more work (more language) to make it easier to apply, or to just ignore, for some installations. ? Many of us have been struggling with this for many Code cycles? (all of my comments are based upon the 08 NEC?)
I would never say that I have this all figured out (because I don't), but just responding to this helps me continue to work this out in my own mind? In addition, I have had many discussions on this and the input I have received from others has helped me considerably in understanding this. The following has helped me a great deal toward grasping all of Section 680.26?
First let me clarify that within Part IV of Article 680, the NEC refers to three different kinds of spas and hot tubs (other than therapeutic or hydrotherapeutic which are not in Part IV):
Self contained (defined in the NEC Article 680)
Package (defined in the NEC Article 680)
Field assembled (not defined, but should be self evident?)
The requirements of section 680.26 do apply to all of the above types regardless of whether these three types of spas or hot tubs are installed indoors or outdoors ? See Sections 680.42 & 680.43 (both refer you to Part II of Article 680 where Section 680.26 resides)?
In applying any of the requirements of Section 680.26 to ANY installation:
It may be helpful to remember that all of the prescriptive requirements in Sections 680.26(B) and (C) are only in the NEC to satisfy the performance requirements of Section 680.26(A). The language in (B) & (C) is only there to ?reduce voltage gradients in the pool, spa and hot tub area? ?as noted in (A).
This ?area? (for me) can be defined as three specific locations in and around the specified body of water:
1. The entire area inside the specified body of water including the conductive shell (assuming the shell is conductive, because some are totally nonconductive) and the water itself [Sections 680.26(B)(1) and (C)].
2. The perimeter area within 5 feet horizontally of the inside wall of the pool, spa hot tub [Section 680.26(B)(2)]. ?(for me, this is a reach distance?) ...yes ... the perimeter surface only extends out to a distance of 3 feet, but any conductive surface or object within 5 foot requires equipotential bonding...
3. All of the pool, spa, & hot tub associated electrical equipment regardless of its location [Section 680.26(B)(6)]. ?While my item 3 is certainly not an ?area? it denotes required equipotential bonding which could exist well beyond the 5 foot reach path noted within Section 680.26 ?
? All that being said, do select installations exist where applying ANY of the prescriptive requirements in Section 680.26(B) have absolutely no contribution toward satisfying the performance requirements of Section 680.26(A)? Personally, I believe there are some select installations where this is true. Nothing accomplished in Section 680.26(B) will do anything to satisfy the requirements of Section 680.26(A) ? for some select installations.
I do not believe you can just say: ?the requirement for any equipotential bonding around any prefab. prepackaged hot tub is ludicrous?. Unfortunately it is not quite that simple of a demarcation as to whether equipotenital bonding is necessary (? at least for me?). Personally, I can think of both package and self contained installations where equipotenital bonding is quite necessary. For example: When either of these units are installed outdoors on a concrete slab (and said slab is extending beyond the immediate side walls of the body of water), and said slab is in contact with the earth, the likelihood of encountering voltage gradients within 5 foot of the inside wall of the specified body of water exists? (this is just a single example) When the likelihood exists, I believe the equipotential bonding is necessary.
One example which comes to mind (where equipotential bonding is totally unnecessary) is a spa or hot tub installed indoors on the first floor of a wood frame structure above a basement and having a minimum 5 foot reach path from the inside wall of the spa to any conductive surface. For this select installation (I believe), there is nothing in 680.26(B) which contributes anything to satisfying the performance requirements of Section 680.26(A).
From here, the question is: are there other installations for which the performance requirements are not needed at all or only needed in part? I believe there certainly are (such as a spa or hot tub installed on an elevated wood deck which creates a nonconductive minimum 5 foot reach path, which is expected to remain nonconductive for the life of the installation...), but this is where it gets gray for more people, installers and enforcement alike.
This is just an insight of just some of the application of this Section, and this certainly does not address each and every installation you will encounter. I do hope others will contribute toward our mutual understanding of this difficult Section (personally, I need the help...).
Each individual installation needs to be examined to determine if ALL or ANY parts of Section 680.26(B) will make a contribution toward satisfying the performance requirements of Section 680.26(A).
Please forgive my loong post? many say I have trouble collecting my thoughts ...
? it could also be an example of just how involved the application of this Section can be for some select installations?
But, I do hope this is helpful, it is certainly helpful for me to just type it out?
mweaver
