NEC 680.26(C). Just had a walk-in pool contractor with a catalog cut-sheet for a 'pool water bonding kit'. This NEC change slipped by me although I haven't heard any mention of it. I am having a tuff time believing that a 9 sq. inch piece of stainless steel can bond flowing pool water. Has anyone read the NFPA documentation on this??

Reminds me of an inspector years ago that required a 12" piece of brass pipe above the water heater to bond the water when plastic plumbing was used.

The pool water bonding orignated from a report published by the National Electric Energy Testing Research and Application Center and submitted to the NFPA under proposal 17-122 of the 2007 ROP.

In short, the study performed by them basically shows that pool acts musch like a battery. The mix of conductive elements, water, and chemicals will allow the flow of current across the body of a human within the water. Tests showed that an intentional bond to the water elminated this hazard.

In most cases, other bonded items such as ladders, handrails, pool ight shells, etc. will serve as the bond. When those items are not present, another means must be provided such as a metal plate imbedded in the side or bottom of the pool, or perhaps a short section of metallic piping within the circulating system.

So with modern pools most have swim outs not ladders.
Light niches are becoming plastic.
Skimmer is plastic.
Most pool filters are plastic.
Forgive me fiberglass.
Very few hand rails extend into the water from the deck
So you are looking for where is 9 square inches of metal now.

Looks like another task for the inspector to followup on.
And of course as Bryan suggested (metallic pipe) the most prevalent fix will probably be a short piece of metallic pipe at the filter since it will most likely be caught on the final.

Only pool shells that are not considered conductive need to have the pool water intentionally bonded. Shot, poured and block concrete are considered conductive (680.26(B)(1) and it is not necessary to have an additional 9 sq. in. of metal in contact with the water. Non-conductive pool shells however, must have the water bonded as well as spas installed outside that are non-conductive.


Ray

Okay Ray I tend to agree so add to my comment fiberglass pools/spas and vinyl liner pools. Oh plastic again.

And without a light or any other metal part that could serve as the required 9 sq. in. Had an outdoor spa that required the bond and that caught the manufacturer off guard. A section of bonded metal piping was used to remedy the situation.

Ray

Humm??? outdoor spa.
If it was a spa pack (all electric)usually the heater element is in a short raceway and it is bonded from the factory.
Or was this a field built spa?

I believe that if you have a non conductive pool/spa and a wood or non conductive deck around it you would not need to install the 9 sq. in metal part.

Thanx. That is what I guessed. Now combine this with the 2008 Virginia-Graham-Baker Act that deals with the new anti-entrapment act which is incorporated into the 2007/9 FBC as ANSI/APSP 7 that requires pool pump calculations...

680.26(c) requires the pool water to be bonded. It doesn't matter what the pool shell or deck is made of. Conductive or non-conductive, the water still needs to be bonded. This shall be permitted by metal parts like handrails, ladders, forming shells of wet-niche fixtures, etc. that are connected to the equipotential bonding grid. If there are no metal parts in the water that are bonded, than 9 sq. in. of metal needs to be installed in the water and bonded to the equipotential bonding grid.