Hi, this is my first time so be gentle with me.There has been something bugging me most of the summer and half the fall,I wired an above the ground pool and was lucky enough to be able to bond the track the pool walls fit into before the wall was installed. I used beaver tooth lugs with stainless hardware,hit 4/6 times around and back to pump motor.The AHJ came out that day and was happy to see what a nice job I did, bonding the track is not always possible after the walls are in,great the only problem is there is no continuity between the sections of track, when did I find this out?When the pool was full of water about a week later.At that time I also found out there was no cont. between the top and bottom track, so much for the nice bond.Well, to make along story short, I have come to the conclusion that what I wired was a storable pool albeit not a very convenient thing to store, it in fact could be disassembled and shoved somewhere.Now for the Question. Can someone out there tell me where I could find a good interpretation of what a storable vs. permenant pool is. Thanks! marc
storable or permenant?
- Thread starter cram
- Start date
- Status
david
Senior Member
- Location
- Pennsylvania
Re: storable or permenant?
Permanently Installed Swimming, Wading, and Therapeutic Pools.
Those that are constructed in the ground or partially in the ground, and all others capable of holding water in a depth greater than 1.0 m (42 in.), and all pools installed inside of a building, regardless of water depth, whether or not served by electrical circuits of any nature.
Storable Swimming or Wading Pool.
Those that are constructed on or above the ground and are capable of holding water to a maximum depth of 1.0 m (42 in.), or a pool with non-metallic, molded polymeric walls or inflatable fabric walls regardless of dimension. See the commentary following 680.30 and Exhibit 680.16.
NEC HANDBOOK 2002 Edition
Originally, storable pools were not specifically addressed in the NEC. Article 680 was written to provide guidance relative to permanent, in-ground pools and their unique construction requirements because of the unusual earth-water-electricity-human body environment created in the finished product. The conductivity of moist concrete or metal walls buried in the ground, the incorporation of large masses of reinforcing steel, and the inclusion of stainless-steel handrails and diving-board stands as well as 120-volt lights in the pool structure all called for the strict wiring, bonding, and grounding requirements of Article 680.
Storable pools, on the other hand, are intended to be temporary structures, without the need for special wiring or modification to the pool site. They are usually sold as a complete package, consisting of the pool walls, vinyl liner, plumbing kit, and pump/filter device. A storable pool is often disassembled and stored during the winter months. Regional preferences, weather patterns, economic considerations, and design characteristics of the pool are all factors influencing this action. The original Article 680 definition of a storable pool was ?One that is so constructed that it may be readily disassembled for storage and reassembled to its original integrity.?
Part III of Article 680 was created to address the special equipment specifications of storable pools, and Underwriters Laboratories developed testing and labeling criteria for listing the pump/filter units designed especially for these pools. This equipment has the following notable aspects:
(1) It must have an approved system of double insulation or the equivalent.
(2) It is permitted to have a flexible cord equipped with a parallel-blade, grounding-type attachment plug for electrical connection.
(3) It must have a grounding conductor included in the flexible cord.
(4) The flexible cord is not limited to 3 ft, as required in 680.7, and is specified by UL to be not less than 25 ft long. This length was chosen to discourage the use of extension cords.
The UL labeling requirement for these listed units includes the wording ?Do Not Use with Permanently Installed Pools.? In some cases, consumers and members of the swimming pool industry, however, have found it desirable to use these pump/filter units on any aboveground or on-ground pool, regardless of the pool's dimensions or ?storability.?
Storable pools are supplied as two distinct types. One type is intended to be disassembled at the end of each swimming season. The second type, by the nature of its construction, can be disassembled, but manufacturers recommend leaving it assembled. The pools in the latter category frequently require special modification to and preparation of the pool site, making them impractical to disassemble. Draining these pools, especially the larger ones, increases the likelihood of costly damage caused by shrinkage of the vinyl liner material.
The main factor differentiating the two types of pools is wall height. Generally, pools, other than the inflatable type, intended to be disassembled at season's end have wall heights of 42 in. or less, while those not intended for disassembly have wall heights of 48 in. or more. The surface area of the pools is not a factor. Inflatable pools are treated as storable pools regardless of their wall height.
Permanently Installed Swimming, Wading, and Therapeutic Pools.
Those that are constructed in the ground or partially in the ground, and all others capable of holding water in a depth greater than 1.0 m (42 in.), and all pools installed inside of a building, regardless of water depth, whether or not served by electrical circuits of any nature.
Storable Swimming or Wading Pool.
Those that are constructed on or above the ground and are capable of holding water to a maximum depth of 1.0 m (42 in.), or a pool with non-metallic, molded polymeric walls or inflatable fabric walls regardless of dimension. See the commentary following 680.30 and Exhibit 680.16.
NEC HANDBOOK 2002 Edition
Originally, storable pools were not specifically addressed in the NEC. Article 680 was written to provide guidance relative to permanent, in-ground pools and their unique construction requirements because of the unusual earth-water-electricity-human body environment created in the finished product. The conductivity of moist concrete or metal walls buried in the ground, the incorporation of large masses of reinforcing steel, and the inclusion of stainless-steel handrails and diving-board stands as well as 120-volt lights in the pool structure all called for the strict wiring, bonding, and grounding requirements of Article 680.
Storable pools, on the other hand, are intended to be temporary structures, without the need for special wiring or modification to the pool site. They are usually sold as a complete package, consisting of the pool walls, vinyl liner, plumbing kit, and pump/filter device. A storable pool is often disassembled and stored during the winter months. Regional preferences, weather patterns, economic considerations, and design characteristics of the pool are all factors influencing this action. The original Article 680 definition of a storable pool was ?One that is so constructed that it may be readily disassembled for storage and reassembled to its original integrity.?
Part III of Article 680 was created to address the special equipment specifications of storable pools, and Underwriters Laboratories developed testing and labeling criteria for listing the pump/filter units designed especially for these pools. This equipment has the following notable aspects:
(1) It must have an approved system of double insulation or the equivalent.
(2) It is permitted to have a flexible cord equipped with a parallel-blade, grounding-type attachment plug for electrical connection.
(3) It must have a grounding conductor included in the flexible cord.
(4) The flexible cord is not limited to 3 ft, as required in 680.7, and is specified by UL to be not less than 25 ft long. This length was chosen to discourage the use of extension cords.
The UL labeling requirement for these listed units includes the wording ?Do Not Use with Permanently Installed Pools.? In some cases, consumers and members of the swimming pool industry, however, have found it desirable to use these pump/filter units on any aboveground or on-ground pool, regardless of the pool's dimensions or ?storability.?
Storable pools are supplied as two distinct types. One type is intended to be disassembled at the end of each swimming season. The second type, by the nature of its construction, can be disassembled, but manufacturers recommend leaving it assembled. The pools in the latter category frequently require special modification to and preparation of the pool site, making them impractical to disassemble. Draining these pools, especially the larger ones, increases the likelihood of costly damage caused by shrinkage of the vinyl liner material.
The main factor differentiating the two types of pools is wall height. Generally, pools, other than the inflatable type, intended to be disassembled at season's end have wall heights of 42 in. or less, while those not intended for disassembly have wall heights of 48 in. or more. The surface area of the pools is not a factor. Inflatable pools are treated as storable pools regardless of their wall height.
mthead
Senior Member
- Location
- Long Beach,NY
Re: storable or permenant?
David gives a great explanation of the distinguishing characteristics of the storable v.s. permanent installation.However be sure to check w/inspector in your area re;the appropriate pump.
While it is true that some pool outfits may ahve decided it is convenient to package a storable pump with a pool that does not meet storable requirements-that doesn't make it a code compliant installation.
In N.Y. we are strictly enforcing the use of the correct pump with the correct pool.
The N.E.C. requires it[both in 680 and in 110-3 -equip. to be used as listed]and the N.Y.S.R.C. REQUIRES IT.
Remember,in the event of any accident around that pool,The first thing an insurance comp. looks for is a way out-if you were the last one working there [elec. of record]your installation better be correct or they can easily put the liability on you[it matters not wether that incorrect pump was the actual culprit-the fact that it is there wil make all of your work on that job suspect].
David gives a great explanation of the distinguishing characteristics of the storable v.s. permanent installation.However be sure to check w/inspector in your area re;the appropriate pump.
While it is true that some pool outfits may ahve decided it is convenient to package a storable pump with a pool that does not meet storable requirements-that doesn't make it a code compliant installation.
In N.Y. we are strictly enforcing the use of the correct pump with the correct pool.
The N.E.C. requires it[both in 680 and in 110-3 -equip. to be used as listed]and the N.Y.S.R.C. REQUIRES IT.
Remember,in the event of any accident around that pool,The first thing an insurance comp. looks for is a way out-if you were the last one working there [elec. of record]your installation better be correct or they can easily put the liability on you[it matters not wether that incorrect pump was the actual culprit-the fact that it is there wil make all of your work on that job suspect].
pierre
Senior Member
- Location
- Westchester County, New York
Re: storable or permenant?
I agree with Mthead, and will reiterate it for the purpose of protecting yourself. What I have found it two things, 1. most pool companies sell pools whatever way they can. They have a very short selling season here in NY and will push whatever they can. 2. The employees are trained to sell, they are not trained as to what is storable or not to the NEC. The bottom line is the bottom line!
Pierre
I agree with Mthead, and will reiterate it for the purpose of protecting yourself. What I have found it two things, 1. most pool companies sell pools whatever way they can. They have a very short selling season here in NY and will push whatever they can. 2. The employees are trained to sell, they are not trained as to what is storable or not to the NEC. The bottom line is the bottom line!
Pierre
- Status