Swimming Pool Bonding

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norteastel

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I need to get it right once and for all. If you go to ten different inspectors you get ten different answers.

I am bonding a metal walled in-ground swimming pool. I have run a continuous #8 solid copper loop around the pool attaching to the metal braces which in turn are bolted to the metal walls of the pool which are all bolted together.

I have drilled the braces at four different area's around the pool and used approved direct burial fittings at these points. I have done this in the past and had no problems with inspection.

The new inspector did not pass the pool because I only went three-quarters around the pool and then back to the pump with the continuous loop. His reasoning was that I should have went completely around the pool!

I was always under the impression that the metal walls were bonded together by the attaching nuts and bolts and that bonding each panel by means of drilling and providing an approved lug was redundant.

As I previously stated, I have used the same approach for years and have never failed an inspection.

I would appreciate anyone's help with this as I really am at wits end. The code is so vague on this matter!

Thanks in advance!
 
Re: Swimming Pool Bonding

If the requirement is for a continuous loop it appears to me you have not met that requirement as its not a loop.
 
Re: Swimming Pool Bonding

There are no requirements to encircle the pool with 8 solid, or that the 8 AWG solid be continuous.

680.26(C) Common Bonding Grid. The parts specified in 680.26(B) shall be connected to a common bonding grid with a solid copper conductor, insulated, covered, or bare, not smaller than 8 AWG. Connection shall be made by exothermic welding or by pressure connectors or clamps that are labeled as being suitable for the purpose and are of stainless steel, brass, copper, or copper alloy. The common bonding grid shall be permitted to be any of the following:

(1)The structural reinforcing steel of a concrete pool where the reinforcing rods are bonded together by the usual steel tie wires or the equivalent

(2)The wall of a bolted or welded metal pool

(3)A solid copper conductor, insulated, covered, or bare, not smaller than 8 AWG

(4)Rigid metal conduit or intermediate metal conduit of brass or other identified corrosion-resistant metal conduit
Click to expand...
The way I read (2) is that if you have a bolted or welded metal pool you could use that as the bonding conductor. That being the case I do not see why you would not pass inspection on the pool you described.

You could bond the pool pump to the metal wall of the pool and then run a separate bonding jumper from the metal wall of the pool to the diving board at the opposite end of the pool.
 
Re: Swimming Pool Bonding

The only place in the NEC that I know of requiring a continuous conductor is the GEC. With that said the conductor(s) used to bond the pool can be bonded (connected) using many pieces. As George has said, the pool metal shell only requires one connection to the bonding grid. So why does this inspector require completely encircling the pool?

There are some new requirements in the '05 regarding bonding of pools that are made of nonmetallic materials. It is in my opinion a significant change and if your jurisdiction is adopting the '05 you should pay particular attention to it.

Pierre
 
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