swimming pool and bonding

[Dan Reed]

We manage over 1000 swimming pool facilities in the U.S. . We have been providing electrical audits to our swimming pools this winter. One item that we cannot seem to get an answer for is whether portable equipment (within 5ft of the pool water) needs to be bonded.

We have Lifeguard platforms and handicap chair lifts that are on wheels. These are moved around the pool throughout the day as conditions change. Do these require bonding and, if so, how?

Any advise would be appreciated.

 

[GoldDigger]

Does this equipment (which is plug and cord connected?) have a grounding wire (EGC) in the cord and will it be plugged into a GFCI protected three wire receptacle?
The lifeguard platforms are portable??

 

[Dan Reed]

Neither is plugged into any facility service. The lift is powered by a DC battery.

Does this equipment (which is plug and cord connected?) have a grounding wire (EGC) in the cord and will it be plugged into a GFCI protected three wire receptacle?
The lifeguard platforms are portable??

 

[Dan Reed]

Sorry, I just noticed the second half of your question. The Lifeguard stand are movable. They have wheels so they can move to where the swimmers are more concentrated.

Handrails leading to the pools, and other metal objects, need to be bonded per code. However, I cannot find anything pertaining to items that are metal but not permanent to the pool's deck or structure.

Does this equipment (which is plug and cord connected?) have a grounding wire (EGC) in the cord and will it be plugged into a GFCI protected three wire receptacle?
The lifeguard platforms are portable??

 

[GoldDigger]

As a practical rather than a code matter, the danger from metal objects near the pool comes from one of two things:

1. They may become energized from power which is supplied to them from the outside.

2. They are connected to either the electrical GES or the local earth, but those may not be at the same potential as the rest of the environment because they are not connected to the equipotential grid of the pool.

If the lifts or the lifeguard stand meet either of those possibilities, then they should connect to the equipotential grid.
But under the NEC, it seems to me that they need to be connected to the pool grid regardless. Unless the fact that they are not fixed in position exempts them.
A wire to "ground" might be exactly the wrong thing.
Terminals connected to the pool grid around the perimeter of the pool to which they can be attached via a jumper cable might work.

 

[Dan Reed]

I'm not an electrician and I hesitate getting a copy of the code book as I may not interpret it correctly. However, I understand that it states that "All fixed metal parts shall be bonded. and "2014 NEC 680.26 (B)(5): All metal fittings within or attached to the pool structure ". I am not sure if "within" applies pool's deck or actually within the pool bowl itself.

I get what you mean by the practical aspect of the bonding of this equipment, and I like the use of the jumper cable. But some of my clients will want to "see it in the code".

As a practical rather than a code matter, the danger from metal objects near the pool comes from one of two things:

1. They may become energized from power which is supplied to them from the outside.

2. They are connected to either the electrical GES or the local earth, but those may not be at the same potential as the rest of the environment because they are not connected to the equipotential grid of the pool.

If the lifts or the lifeguard stand meet either of those possibilities, then they should connect to the equipotential grid.
But under the NEC, it seems to me that they need to be connected to the pool grid regardless. Unless the fact that they are not fixed in position exempts them.
A wire to "ground" might be exactly the wrong thing.
Terminals connected to the pool grid around the perimeter of the pool to which they can be attached via a jumper cable might work.

 

[iwire]

I'm not an electrician and I hesitate getting a copy of the code book as I may not interpret it correctly. However, I understand that it states that "All fixed metal parts shall be bonded. and "2014 NEC 680.26 (B)(5): All metal fittings within or attached to the pool structure ". I am not sure if "within" applies pool's deck or actually within the pool bowl itself.

I get what you mean by the practical aspect of the bonding of this equipment, and I like the use of the jumper cable. But some of my clients will want to "see it in the code".

It does not sound like the parts you describe are either fixed or attached. No bonding required.