2020 Nec Code For Swimming Pools

Luminaires Lighting Outlets And Ceiling

These must comply with Sec. 680.22 through . For example:

• Luminaires and lighting outlets installed within 5 ft horizontally from the inside walls of a permanently installed pool must be at least 12 ft above the maximum water level , as shown in Fig. 2.

• Existing lighting outlets within 5 ft horizontally from the inside walls of a permanently installed pool must be at least 5 ft above the surface of the maximum water level, rigidly attached to the existing structure, and GFCI protected .
• When determining the dimensions for luminaires, the distance to be measured is the shortest path an imaginary cord connected to the luminaire will follow without piercing a floor, wall, ceiling, doorway with a hinged or sliding door, window opening, or other effective permanent barriers .

Nec Rules On Swimming Pools And Spas

The installation requirements of Art. 680 help keep people safe when theyre using swimming pools, hot tubs, spas, fountains, or hydromassage bathtubs. With the 2011 NEC revision, the definition of dry-niche luminaire now includes floor-mounted units to accommodate newer designs. The 2011 Code also adds a definition for low-voltage contact limit. The new definition contains the voltages discussed in Chapter 9 tables, so you dont have to go to the back of the NEC to find the values.

New Language Regarding Pool And Spa Lifts And Low

The 2017 edition of the National Electrical Code has been published.

Most changes to the NEC, which is updated every three years, contain clarifications on some issues, as well as specifics on items such as pool lifts, which have been addressed less directly in the past. The code, which must be adopted by a jurisdiction in order to take effect there, also now clarifies requirements for certain electrical components that are buried in corrosive environments. Now, grounding and bonding terminals used in pools and spas should be identified for use in wet and corrosive environments, and listed and labeled for direct burial use.

The writers also consolidated existing requirements for corrosive environments and placed them in one section for easier reference.

The document now directly addresses the bonding and grounding of electrically powered pool and spa lifts. Before, it was understood that this equipment was to be bonded like other metallic items.

The NEC now states that electrically operated pool and spa lifts must be bonded, with some exceptions listed in the code. If its attached to the pool structure, it has to be bonded, Hamilton says.

If the lift is connected to the wiring on the premises and operates above the low-voltage contact limit, it must be bonded and installed with ground fault circuit protection for personnel .

The writers also consolidated requirements for corrosive environments and placed them in one section for easier reference.

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Electrical Outlet Receptacles Requirements

Youll find the information relating to where you can position the pool pump and pool equipment power outlets in Section E4103.1.X

Heres a summary:

• Pump and equipment receptacles must be wired with a grounded #12 AWG or larger cable.
• Receptacles for pool pumps must be GFCI protected when located between 6 and 10 feet from the inside of the pool or spa wall and shouldnt be located more than 6 feet, 6 inches above the floor.
• The receptacles must be locked .
• Pump receptacles should not be located within 6 feet of the pool or spa wall.
• GFCI protection can be a direct connection or by the receptacle.
• Pool pump cords should be double insulated and not exceed 3 feet in length unless they are for a storable pool, hot tub, or for underwater lighting.

Can You Install Lights Above Swimming Pools Or Hot Tubs

For outdoor pools and hot tubs, no lights, fans, or lighting outlets are allowed to be suspended over the water unless they are more than 12 feet above the maximum water level or more than 5 feet from the edge of the pool or spa.

For indoor pools, lights, lighting outlets, and fans must be at least 7 feet 6 inches higher than the water level and be protected by a GFCI unless they are lights suitable for damp locations. This includes lights within 5 feet from the edge of the pool or spa.

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& 68021 Gfci Protection

Code Change Summary: New code section requires GFCI protection for replacement pool pump motors.

In the 2020 NEC, the revised code language in 680.21 goes considerably further than the 2017 code language did by expanding the GFCI protection requirements to apply to ALL pool pump motors supplied from branch circuits rated 150 volts or less to ground and 60 amperes or less, single- or 3-phase. Previously, the requirement was only for single phase 120-volt through 240-volt branch circuit applications.

Additionally, new section 680.21 now requires GFCI protection for pool pump motor replacements. Adding GFCI protection requirements for existing pool pump motors that are replaced, even if GFCI protection was not required when the pool pump motor was originally installed, will help to ensure future pool safety.

The above code changes are greatly needed to ensure lives are not lost from easily preventable pool electrocutions.

Below is a preview of the NEC. See the actual NEC text at NFPA.ORG for the complete code section. Once there, click on their link to free access to the 2020 NEC edition of NFPA 70.

2017 Code Language:

680.21 GFCI Protection. Outlets supplying pool pump motors connected to single-phase, 120-volt through 240-volt branch circuits, whether by receptacle or by direct connection, shall be provided with ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel.

2020 Code Language:

Outdoor Pools & Hot Tubs

There are a few key regulations for lighting for outdoor pools and hot tubs in NYS. For outdoor pools, Section E4103.4.1 of the 2010 Residential Cost of NY states:

• No lights or lighting outlets are to be suspended over a pool unless they are more than 12 feet above the maximum water level.
• No lights or lighting outlets should be within 5 feet from the inside walls of a pool unless they are 12 feet above the water.

Swimming pool with underwater pool lights .

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Special Regulations For Self

Finally, there are special rules for spas and hot tubs that are stand-alone units rather than integrated with a swimming pool:

• Outlet receptacles can be no closer than 6 feet from a hot tub or spa, and they must be GFCI-protected if they are less than 10 feet away.
• Lights or ceiling fans must be at least 12 feet above the spa or hot tub if there is no GFCI protection, or at least 7.5 feet away if there is GFCI protection.
• Any wall switches must be at least 5 feet from the water.
• Any outlet or direct-wired circuit that powers the motor or heater in a self-contained spa or hot tub must be GFCI protected, no matter how far away from the spa or tub.

Indoor Pools & Hot Tubs

The lighting requirements for indoor pools, hot tubs, and spas in New York state are a little different from the rules for outdoor.

• Lights and lighting outlets within 5 feet from the edge of a pool or above a pool need to be at least 7 feet 6 inches above the water level. They must also have GFCI protection.
• If they are a minimum of 12 feet above the maximum water level, they do not require GFCI protection. This includes ceiling fans.

Exceptions: Lighting may be installed lower than 7 feet 6 inches from the pool water level if they are suitable for damp locations. They must also have a glass or plastic lenses and be nonmetallic or have electrically isolated metal trim.

Indoor hot tub with lights.

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Equipment Bonding And Grounding

Electrical equipment must be bonded per Part V of Art. 250 and connected to the equipment grounding conductor per Parts VI and VII of Art. 250 .

Terminals used for bonding and equipment grounding must be identified as suitable for use in wet and corrosive environments . Field-installed terminals in damp, wet, and corrosive environments must be copper, copper alloy, or stainless steel and be listed for direct burial use.

When Do You Need A Gfci

Pool pumps and other water pump motors located between 6 and 20 feet of the pool must use a ground fault circuit interrupter to protect them. Either the receptacle needs to be protected or it can be a direct connection to GFCI.

Other power outlets , within 20 feet from the inside of the pools wall, must have GFCI.

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Technical Details Of Bonding A Pool

This wiki is a supplement to the Bonding vs Grounding article in TFP Pool School.

Pool electrical code requirements are described in the National Electric Code section 680. The NFPA provides free access to the NEC and other codes.

Also How to Verify That a Pool is Safe from Electric Shock In Accordance with the National Electrical Code from Mike Holt.

For Pool Water Bonding required by NEC Article 680.26C, concrete pools are considered conductive due to the porosity of concrete and the bonding of rebar. No additional bonding is required. Vinyl liner and fiberglass composite shells are considered non-conductive and require a water bond.

The 2020 Nec Allows Electrical Inspectors To Periodically Inspect Swimming Pools And Similar Equipment After Installation

By: Jerry Durham | Jan 07, 2020

680.4 Swimming Pools, Fountains, & Similar Installations. Inspections After Installations.

The 2020 Code Making Panel has introduced a new and unprecedented Code section for this 2020 Code cycle that may prove controversial once time allows this directive to play out.

This new requirement found in Section 680.4 of the 2020 NEC allows the Authority Having Jurisdiction to return to a home or business for follow-up inspection even after the swimming pool, fountain, or similar has passed final inspection, and the job is complete.

The Code section reads:

The authority having jurisdiction shall be permitted to require periodic inspection and testing.

Groundbreaking for the NEC

The idea of granting permission for electrical inspectors to return periodically, indefinitely after the electrical installation and applicable inspections are complete, is new for the National Electrical Code.

The reasoning for such radical new permission is rooted in the understanding that swimming pools are liquid conductors. The water in the pool that is capable of carrying electrical current passes through one or more electric pumps is illuminated by one or more submerged electric luminaires, and is in contact with the earth, which can periodically experience surging voltage.

Equipotential Plane

installed under the walkway must then attach to all other conductive exposed metals measuring within 5 feet of that same interior pool wall.

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Bonding An Above Ground Pool

Questions often come up asking if an Above Ground Pool needs to be bonded. The NEC does not refer to Above Ground Pools. The NEC says permanently installed swimming, wading, immersion, and therapeuticpools constructed in the ground or partially in the ground, and all others capable of holding water in a depth greater than 42 in., and pools installed inside of a building, regardless of water depth, whetheror not served by electrical circuits of any nature must be bonded.

Bonding requirements for above ground pools include:

• The bonding conductor must be 8 AWG bare solid copper
• You can not use sheet metal screws or rivits to connect the bonding conductor.
• The bonding conductor must be secured in or under the deck or unpaved surface within 4 in. to 6 in. below the subgrade and must be located between 18 in. and 24 in. from the inside walls of the pool.
• All fixed metal parts within 5 feet of the pool must be bonded to the equipotential grid, including but not limited to, “metal-sheathed cables and raceways, metal piping, metal awnings, metal fences, and metal door and window frames.”
• Attachments for the bonding wire must be listed for the application.
• The pool water must be bonded to the bonding loop with a device like:
• the Burndy BWB680AGRK Waterbug Pool Water Bonding Kit. You drill a hole through your skimmer and install it there.
• the Perma-Cast PB2008 Water Bonding Fitting PB-2008 in the pipe going to the pump on a tee fitting

Keeping Pools And Spas Safe Part 1 Of 2

Courtesy of www.MikeHolt.com. Based on the 2020 NEC.

The requirements in Art. 680 apply to the installation of electrical wiring and equipment for swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, fountains, hydromassage bathtubs, and electrically powered pool lifts.

Article 680 is divided into eight parts. Each of the last seven is dedicated to a different application. For example, Part II covers permanently installed swimming pools and Part VII covers hydromassage bathtubs.

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Does My Pool Or Hot Tub Need To Comply

Its important to note that the codes can be different depending on the type of pool. Were referring to residential swimming pools. And in addition to this, the rules may vary depending on the type of pool. Different kinds of pools include:

• Permanent Outdoor Pools
• Portable and Inflatable Pools
• Portable hot tubs and spas

Pool definition, as per Article 680.2, The National Electrical Code defines a pool as: constructed in the ground, or partially in the ground and capable of holding water in a depth greater than 1.0 m .

And the 2010 Residential Code of NY defines a pool as:Any structure, basin, chamber or tank which is intended for swimming, diving, recreational bathing or wading and which contains, is designed to contain, or is capable of containing water more than 24 inches deep at any point. This includes in-ground, above-ground, and on-ground pools indoor pools hot tubs spas and fixed-in-place wading pools.

E42036 Overhead Conductor Clearances

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Electrical Code Requirements For Swimming Pools & Spas

Timothy Thiele is an IBEW Local #176 Union Electrician with over 30 years of experience in residential, commercial, and industrial wiring. He has an associate degree in electronics and completed a four-year apprenticeship. He’s been writing for The Spruce on residential wiring and home installation projects for over eight years.

Kelly Bacon is a licensed general contractor with over 40 years of experience in construction, home building and remodeling, and commercial building. He is a member of The Spruce Home Improvement Review Board.

The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto

Pools and spas come in every shape and size, and most require some electrical equipment to maintain water quality, power lights, run pumps, and more. These electrical installations must be done according to the electrical code in your areaand usually must be installed by a licensed electrician. The following are just a few of the most common code requirements from the National Electrical Code . Local rules may vary, although they generally follow the NEC fairly closely.

Swimming Pools Ppt 2020 Ppt

Please enter your response below: Description

Item #: 343040 – In order to properly install and inspect the appropriate wiring methods for swimming pools, spas and hot tubs, and similar installations, one must be familiar with and understand NEC Article 680. This training presentation clearly explains the Code requirements such as equipotential bonding, GFCI requirements, luminaire and receptacle outlet placement, and more for these aquatic environments with detailed illustrations and photographs of actual installations. Based on NEC-2020, this PowerPoint presentation provides material for up to 8 hours of instruction.

Sign in to get the member discount.Please note: After we process your order you will receive an email with a link to download the presentation.

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Troubleshooting A Tingle Or Shock

Finding stray voltage sources take a lot of detective work. Here are two threads to give you ideas of what you are looking for:

Here is a thread that has been going on for 6 years trying to find the source of a tingle – A Slight Shock.

Here the voltage source was a streetlight connected to the house power line Bonding Issue In A Pool.

National Electrical Code Tips: Article 680

Humans have enjoyed swimming pools for thousands of years, but they haven’t always installed electric lights in them or circulated the water with pumps. Adding those and other electric features makes pools potentially lethal, and the requirements of Article 680 protect against such an outcome. This article covers similar installations, such as spas and hot tubs, too.

Similarly, we enjoy fountains in our cities and parks. We probably wouldn’t enjoy being shocked by them. And again, Article 680 provides requirements that protect people.

The main job Article 680 tries to do is keep electricity and water separated, so that when people are in the water or in contact with related equipment, they are also separated from electricity.

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