Storable Pool

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O

olly

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Berthoud, Colorado
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Master Electrician
Could someone help put code into layman's terms. Ive trying to correctly bond an above ground/ storable pool. From what I can tell you just bond all of the internal metal legs and anything else metal that is not bonded. From what I have read you don't even have to take the #8 AWG back to the service, panel board or to an electrode. This pool has a 120v cord plug connection to the filter and pump and that's it. It seems a little weird that you just bond all of the metal together with out giving it a path to ground? Unless you also take the #8 to the pump which at that point the #12 EGC would be your path? What am I missing?
 
I find the pool bonding requirements to be as convoluted as some of the stuff in article 725.

I think you will find that the primary reason for the bonding is that they want to eliminate potential differences so that there is no potential difference between say the side of the pool and the ground along side it. Or the ladder and the ground.

With a storable pool, I don't know how you enforce any of the requirements since it is really intended for the consumer to install and take down.
 
Storable pools are section III 680 installs. 680.30 states they must comply with sections I and III of article 680. Equipotential bonding is in section II, and 680.24 is not referenced in section III. The ground in the cord is the ground. Bonding various parts of the pool is to eliminate any potential between them. Spas are much the same way; the heater, pumps, frame, any metal really, is bonded to a block usually attached to the control panel box.

Note that storable pools are required to have double insulated (or equivalent) pumps, EGC, and as of the 2008 NEC, an integral GFCI on the plug (680.31). All receptacles within 20' have to also be GFCI (680.32). Lights of any voltage cannot have exposed metal parts (680.33 A and B) and must comply with 680.23(A). No receptacles closer than 6' (680.34)
 
Is this truly a storable pool. Is the max water level 42" or less? If so no equipotential bonding is required as mention above
 
as JFletcher mentioned

680 III (30-34) does not cover bonding
680 I (1-12) does not cover bonding

NEC2014

if it came with a over-edge metal ladder then running a wire from ladder to frame is a good idea. otherwise, plug-&-play.
 
petersonra said:
why is a storable pool less dangerous so it does not need the bonding?
Click to expand...

its an interesting snafu of things.
a "portable/storable" pool is usually an item that is purchased in a box/kit. these items sometimes have UL listings and are plug-in/swim method of use. we hope they are safe.

if one is truly making their own storable pool, then paying attention to bonding is important. as example. one might have parts of the pool from various garage sales, and the big guy wants a metal ladder because those are more sturdy. as the parts of the pool come together in the build, the metal ladder may be overlooked.

many portable/storable pools have a gravel ring around them, doesnt hurt to put bonded wire under that gravel.
 
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