Questions on 680.70 Hydromassage bathtub

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GerryB

Senior Member
Location
woodbridge, ct. USA
Two questions. The last few years or more I thought you could no longer install a gfi in the tub base itself, even with the acess door, and that a disconnect switch was required in the bathroom 5 feet away. So typically a dead front gfi was installed above the other bath switches and a duplex in the tub enclosure. I do not see that .
The other question is for example 2nd floor massage tub, all plastic plumbing, is the #8 ground required and where would it go?
 
1st, a GFCI is required to be located in a readily accessible location. Here is how the NEC defines "readily accessible"
Accessible, Readily (Readily Accessible). Capable of being
reached quickly for operation, renewal, or inspections without
requiring those to whom ready access is requisite to take
actions such as to use tools (other than keys), to climb over or
under, to remove obstacles, or to resort to portable ladders,
and so forth.
Click to expand...

So if you need to use a screw driver to access the space under the hydro-massage bathtub then that would render that space not readily accessible.

The motor for the hydro-massage bathtub is required to have a disconnecting means located within sight of the motor but a standard receptacle covers that requirement and 680.73 addresses that.

680.73 Accessibility. Hydromassage bathtub electrical equip‐
ment shall be accessible without damaging the building struc‐
ture or building fnish. Where the hydromassage bathtub is
cord- and plug-connected with the supply receptacle accessible
only through a service access opening, the receptacle shall be
installed so that its face is within direct view and not more than
300 mm (1 ft) of the opening.
Click to expand...

2nd, the bonding requirement, The 2017 NEC has revised this section. Here is what the 2017 NEC says;

680.74 Bonding.
(A) General. The following parts shall be bonded together:
(1) All metal fttings within or attached to the tub structure
that are in contact with the circulating water
(2) Metal parts of electrical equipment associated with the
tub water circulating system, including pump and blower
motors
(3) Metal-sheathed cables and raceways and metal piping that
are within 1.5 m (5 ft) of the inside walls of the tub and
not separated from the tub by a permanent barrier
(4) All exposed metal surfaces that are within 1.5 m (5 ft) of
the inside walls of the tub and not separated from the tub
area by a permanent barrier
(5) Electrical devices and controls that are not associated
with the hydromassage tubs and that are located within
1.5 m (5 ft) from such units
Exception No. 1: Small conductive surfaces not likely to become ener‐
gized, such as air and water jets, supply valve assemblies, and drain
fttings not connected to metallic piping, and towel bars, mirror frames,
and similar nonelectrical equipment not connected to metal framing
shall not be required to be bonded.
Exception No. 2: Double-insulated motors and blowers shall not be
bonded.
Click to expand...

Chris
 
raider1 said:
1st, a GFCI is required to be located in a readily accessible location. Here is how the NEC defines "readily accessible"


So if you need to use a screw driver to access the space under the hydro-massage bathtub then that would render that space not readily accessible.

The motor for the hydro-massage bathtub is required to have a disconnecting means located within sight of the motor but a standard receptacle covers that requirement and 680.73 addresses that.



2nd, the bonding requirement, The 2017 NEC has revised this section. Here is what the 2017 NEC says;



Chris
Click to expand...

That is pretty clear. Thanks. I was talking with a plumber the other day about "readily accessible" The situation was a gas fireplace shut off. It is supposed to be readily accessible and within 6 feet, and in this case the shutoff was below the fireplace "within 6' but on a different floor" . I told him our NEC definition as you referenced uses the words "capable of being reached quickly". Theirs does not have that word "quickly", so they are still debating if this gas shutoff met the plumbing code.
 
GerryB said:
The other question is for example 2nd floor massage tub, all plastic plumbing, is the #8 ground required and where would it go?
Click to expand...

Under the 2014 the #8 isn't required unless the water circulation system is metal piping. The 2017 version is much more detailed on what needs to be bonded.
 
GerryB said:
That is pretty clear. Thanks. I was talking with a plumber the other day about "readily accessible" The situation was a gas fireplace shut off. It is supposed to be readily accessible and within 6 feet, and in this case the shutoff was below the fireplace "within 6' but on a different floor" . I told him our NEC definition as you referenced uses the words "capable of being reached quickly". Theirs does not have that word "quickly", so they are still debating if this gas shutoff met the plumbing code.
Click to expand...

I am confused here. A fireplace doesn't need gfci so the disconnect does not have to be readily accessible.

In response to the hydro tub- we install a dead front gfci in the room that the tub is in.... There is not a 6 foot rule. What am I missing here?
 
Dennis Alwon said:
I am confused here. A fireplace doesn't need gfci so the disconnect does not have to be readily accessible.

In response to the hydro tub- we install a dead front gfci in the room that the tub is in.... There is not a 6 foot rule. What am I missing here?
Click to expand...

Dennis,

The OP is referring to the International Fuel Gas Code.

IFGC Section 409.5.1 Requires a gas shut off valve for a gas appliance to be located within the same room as the appliance and the be within 6' of the appliance.

I think he was just comparing the NEC requirement for the Hydro-massage bathtub to the fuel gas code requirement for a gas shut off valve for a gas appliance.

Chris
 
raider1 said:
Dennis,

The OP is referring to the International Fuel Gas Code.

IFGC Section 409.5.1 Requires a gas shut off valve for a gas appliance to be located within the same room as the appliance and the be within 6' of the appliance.

I think he was just comparing the NEC requirement for the Hydro-massage bathtub to the fuel gas code requirement for a gas shut off valve for a gas appliance.

Chris
Click to expand...
Sorry about the confusion, I was comparing the two. I will ask my plumber friend how he missed the part about being in the same room.
 
GerryB said:
Sorry about the confusion, I was comparing the two. I will ask my plumber friend how he missed the part about being in the same room.
Click to expand...

Yes readily accessible in the NEC and in the same room aren't the same.
 
raider1 said:
Dennis,

The OP is referring to the International Fuel Gas Code.

IFGC Section 409.5.1 Requires a gas shut off valve for a gas appliance to be located within the same room as the appliance and the be within 6' of the appliance.

I think he was just comparing the NEC requirement for the Hydro-massage bathtub to the fuel gas code requirement for a gas shut off valve for a gas appliance.

Chris
Click to expand...


Thanks Chris. I have not had to deal with those issues before.
 
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