Pool bonding question for Inspectors

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Cavie

Cavie

Senior Member
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SW Florida
We all know that we must bond all steel within 5' of the pool. We do bond the footer steel for the pool cage and any retaining walls within 5' of the pool to the pool shell. Now, what happens when the pool transforms into a shallow wadeing area right up to the house footer. The footer and the wall of the house become the outside formboard for the pool shell. The question is, Do you require the house footer steel to be bonded to the pool steel???? This is in a new home so the builder is aware of the bonding methods. My thinking is ,Yes, the steel of the pool must be bonded to the steel of the house footer. The two concrete structures are touching each other. Another example is,we know that the window that is within 5' must be bonded. That means that the footer of the house is now within 5' of the pool again right? Bonded? How about the independent column holding up the lanai roof that has an independent footer but is with in 5' of the pool. All this stuff will be tied together with brick pavers or concrete. Think very large Multi $$$$ home.
 
Cavie said:
Think very large Multi $$$$ home.
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Cavie, why would the dollar amount matter?

Is it more wrong to kill a rich person with a potential difference than a not so rich person?

Wouldn't it be the same for any price range home?

Roger
 
NO NO!! The dollar amount was to help draw a picture. Think large, expencive home and pool with fountians and waterfalls. Not your run of the mill 13x28 4' deep pool. I was trying to discribe the pool touching the house. Some inspectors never see this type of instalation.
 
It's always easier to identify materials when viewed personally but all of the metal parts that you describe appear to fall under the requirments of 680.26 (B), I think they are required to be bonded per section (C) at a minimum.
 
Cavie, I was just joking, and I think Charlie is right.

Roger
 
Assumeing that I am right, how do I require the bonding be done after it is all poured??? Option #1 is to jackhammer the house footer and expose the steel, bond it, then patch the footer. Option #2 is to run a #8 copper wire from the light J-box back thru light transformer with the light conductors then back to the pool panel thru the conduit feeding the transformer to the pool subpanel. This will meet up with the usually #8 Insulated ground wire going back to the service equipment which in turn is conected to the ufer which is just what we are looking for!. Now if you do not have a pool subpanel, this will not work. Any thoughts?
 
Why do you bond all steel within 5' of the pool? Only electrical equipment and raceways within 5' needs to be bonded, or exposed steel that is ATTACHED to the pool structure, or steel that is part of the pool structure. Defining the pool structure may be a little tough (is a handrail bolted to the pool deck bolted to the structure? I'd say yes, obviously, bond it, but is the deck pool structure?).

I see no reason to bond a retaining wall 5' away from the pool. If the house footer is part of the pool structure, then it needs to be bonded. But if it is just a "form board", then bond the wall that is poured next to the house foundation wall. Perhaps, put an inch of foam insulation between the footer and the new pool wall to show they are not structurally connected.

The only difficulty I see is how to do the bonding grid that extends 3' past the pool perimeter. Is this required on a vertical space (like the existing house wall if concrete or stucco)? How do you embed the grid in the existing footing that is within 3' of the pool edge and how high up do you have to go if it is conductive concrete, stucco, or aluminum siding?
 
We had the same question come up with existing patios when a pool is added. The problem is this, flat work does not require a permit, it's also not required to put steel in flat work, so do you have them jackhammer their patio to look for steel, that may not be there, to bond to or do you just mark it on the permit as existing and hope nothing happens?
 
Cavie, I was made aware today that a TIA is being released very shortly that will revise this section again. Apparently, all the wording regarding the paved deck will be removed. I cannot verify the accuracy of this information. Just thought I would pass it on.
 
I think the word "steel" should be substituted for "metallic" objects first off. I also believe that a pool cannot " come up " to a house, is not a 3" walkway required around pool?

Quote:Why do you bond all steel within 5' of the pool? 680.26 B1-5?????????
 
Swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs present special shock hazards to people. Measures are prescribed in Article 680 of the code, that if carefully followed, will reduce the electric shock hazards to an acceptable level. One of these measures is the bonding together of conductive portions of the pool and metal parts of electrical equipment associated with the pool, The goal is to provide a means of equalizing the potential of all equipment and parts so there will be no current flow betwen parts. This is accomplished by connecting all parts together by an adequately-sized and properly-connected copper conductor. This concept is often called equipotential bonding or grounding.

Stolen from the "Soares Book on Grounding".
 
In Maryland pools are not allowed within 16 feet of the house. I thought that was a rule everywhere.

Learn something new everyday.
 
Nope, these pools start out as fountians right up against the house. This then transforms into a small wadeing pool with steeping stones about 2' deep for the small kids to play in then it spills over into the main pool.
 
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