Pool Pump Motor GFCI Protection FYI:

This is from UL 1081 (Standard For Safety For Swimming Pool Pumps, Filters, and Chlorinators).

52.5 Unless otherwise indicated, the instructions shall be in the exact words specified or shall be in equally definitive terminology to the following items. No substitutes shall be used for the words "WARNING" and "CAUTION ." The items may be numbered. The first and last items specified below shall be first and last respectively. Other important and precautionary items determined appropriate by the manufacturer may be inserted. Notes to the manufacturer are in parentheses.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

When installing and using this electrical equipment, basic safety precautions should always be followed, including the following:

1) READ AND FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS

2) (For all units) WARNING - To reduce the risk of injury, do not permit children to use this product unless they are closely supervised at all times.

3) (For storable pool pumps) WARNING - Risk of Electric Shock. Connect only to a grounding type receptacle. This product is provided with a ground-fault circuit-interrupter. If replacement of the plug or cord is needed, use only identical replacement parts.

4) (For all permanently-installed units intended for use on 15 or 20 ampere, 125 volt or 240 volt, single phase branch circuits) WARNING - Risk of Electric Shock. Connect only to a branch circuit protected by a ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCI). Contact a qualified electrician if you cannot verify that the circuit is protected by a GFCI.

5) Deleted March 31, 2010.

6) Deleted March 31, 2010.

7) (For all permanently installed units intended for use on 15 or 20 ampere, 125 volt or 240 volt, single phase branch circuits) The unit must be connected only to a supply circuit that is protected by a ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCI). Such a GFCI should be provided by the installer and should be tested on a routine basis. To test the GFCI, push the test button. The GFCI should interrupt power. Push the reset button. Power should be restored. If the GFCI fails to operate in this manner, the GFCI is defective. If the GFCI interrupts power to the pump without the test button being pushed, a ground current is flowing, indicating the possibility of an electric shock. Do not use this pump. Disconnect the pump and have the problem corrected by a qualified service representative before using.

8) (For storable pool pumps) The unit is provided with a ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCI). To test the GFCI, push the test button. The GFCI should interrupt power. Push the reset button. Power should be restored. If the GFCI fails to operate in this manner, the GFCI is defective. If the GFCI interrupts power to the pump without the test button being pushed, a ground current is flowing, indicating the possibility of an electric shock. Do not use this pump. Disconnect the pump and have the problem corrected by a qualified service representative before using.

9) (For units intended for above-ground storable swimming pools) Do not bury cord. Locate cord to minimize abuse from lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, and other equipment.

10) (For all cord- and plug-connected units) WARNING - To reduce the risk of electric shock, replace damaged cord immediately.

11) (For units intended for above-ground storable swimming pools) WARNING - To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not use extension cord to connect unit to electric supply; provide a properly located outlet.

12) (For units intended for above-ground storable swimming pools) CAUTION - This pump is for use with storable pools only. Do not use with permanently-installed pools. A storable pool is constructed so that it is capable of being readily disassembled for storage and reassembled to its original integrity. A permanently-installed pool is constructed in or on the ground or in a building such that it cannot be readily disassembled for storage.

13) (For swimming pool pumps intended for use with permanent swimming pools or spas) CAUTION - This pump is for use with permanently-installed pools and may also be used with hot tubs and spas if so marked. Do not use with storable pools. A permanently-installed pool is constructed in or on the ground or in a building such that it cannot be readily disassembled for storage. A storable pool is constructed so that it is capable of being readily disassembled for storage and reassembled to its original integrity.

14) (For hot tub and spa pumps) Do not install within an outer enclosure or beneath the skirt of a hot tub or spa.

15) SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS.


Items 4 - 7 revised March 31, 2010. Items 9 - 14 revised May 28, 2009. Revised item 3 and added items 4, 7, and 8 effective May 28, 2011.




1) Is there a "grand father" period to use up the existing motors that are already manufactured before the May 28, 2011 date?

(A)There is not really a "grandfather" period, basically any product manufactured prior to this date that was able to bear the UL Listed mark, is still considered UL Listed and in compliance with the UL 1081 requirements. However products manufactured after this date must comply with the marking requirements to be able to bear the UL Listed mark and would require the GFCI protection requirements in the installation instructions.

2) Should the motor have a manufacture date on the nameplate? (I have looked at several motors and have not seen a date of manufacture on pool pump motors)

(A)Yes, UL 1081 contains the following requirement for the manufacture date, see the requirements covered by UL 1081 clause 50.1.1 b);

50.1 General
50.1.1 A unit shall be legibly and permanently marked with:

a) The manufacturer's name, trade name, or trademark;

b) The day or other dating period of manufacture not exceeding any three consecutive months;

c) A distinctive catalog or model number or the equivalent; and

d) The electrical ratings as described in Storable Pool Pumps, Section 48, and Permanently-Installed Units, Section 49.

Exception No. 1: The manufacturer's identification may be in a traceable code if the unit is identified by the brand or trademark owned by a private labeler.

Exception No. 2: The date of manufacture is not prohibited from being abbreviated or in an established or otherwise accepted code.

3) There is a "Pentex" multi speed motor being used in our area that will not work with GFCI protection on the branch circuit. Will this pool pump motor also be required to be GFCI protected? Do you know if they are working to correct this problem? (the 2010 Florida Energy Code will require multi speed motors on new pools or replacement pool motors as of 12/31/2011, and we are foreseeing a problem with these motors).

(A)Yes, if the pool pump is listed to UL 1081(Standard For Safety For Swimming Pool Pumps, Filters, and Chlorinators), there are no exceptions to the GFCI protection requirements.

All permanently installed pool pump units intended for use on 15 or 20 ampere, 125 volt or 240 volt, single phase branch circuits, the unit must be connected only to a supply circuit that is protected by a ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCI). Such a GFCI should be provided by the installer and should be tested on a routine basis. If the GFCI interrupts power to the pump without the test button being pushed, a ground current is flowing, indicating the possibility of an electric shock. Do not use this pump. Disconnect the pump and have the problem corrected by a qualified service representative before using.

For storable pool pumps, the unit is provided with a ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCI). If the GFCI interrupts power to the pump without the test button being pushed, a ground current is flowing, indicating the possibility of an electric shock. Do not use this pump. Disconnect the pump and have the problem corrected by a qualified service representative before using.

If these motors are UL Listed to UL 1081 and will not work on a GFCI protected circuit, we will need to have you file an AHJ Product Incident report.

Bryan,

After reviewing this and so other information, I talked this over with my Building Official and we agreed to enforce this. Actually this was very enlightening as once I started paying attention to the listing on the motors, I found that some of our pool contractors were using motors UL listed under UL 788 and not UL 1081. 788 is for general purpose water circulation motors (ie, well, or recirculation, etc.) When you read 788 it clearly says that it is NOT to be used for swimming pool or spa motors (which I assume is that 788 motors are not built to the enhanced standard of pool motors).
I suppose I could do this job unlit eternity and never stop being surprised at the stuff folks do to save a buck.
The ol' inspector got educated again...

There is no good reason to have ground leakage in any motor. If you are tripping a GFCI, you have a fault.
I bet if you could actually look at the component parts you would find the motors are the same.
I also bet the listing standard attached to the motor is just a bookkeeping thing to be sure each price adequately covers the cost of obtaining and maintaining the listing, over the expected life of the motor line ... plus profit.

Greg's statement is true for any and all utilization equipment. There is not a single electrically operated appliance, motor, luminaire, or any other equipment that should have leakage current that would trip a Class A GFCI device, unless there is something wrong with the equipment or with the device.

And, I also think his statement on product listing is partially valid. Back when "WR" type receptacles were coming onto the market, I asked a representative of a "major" receptacle manufacturer what changes needed to be made to their "standard" receptacles to get them listed as "WR" type. His response, "nothing they passed the certification tests as made"...

In some cases, products exist that WOULD meet another product standard IF they were tested to that standard. In many cases, it is no economical reason or benefit for a manufacturer to have a product listed to a host of standards even though their product may be suitable for more than one standard or use without any modifications at all.

So are you saying that there is no good reason to not accept a motor listed under UL788 when installed at a swimming pool. If that is the case then I really don't need to worry about the GFCI protection because UL 788 does not require it.

Until Florida revisits their change of the GFCI rule, it is clear the intent of the code as written here, not to require a GFCI.
Right or wrong, that is what the legislature said.
You are just trying to twist the code around to require it against that intent.
Why not just 90.4 it, if that is how you want to go.

The intent of the code IS to have a G.F.C.I.

That may be true everywhere else in the world (that uses the NEC) but not in Florida

2705.1 NFPA 70-08: National Electric Code, Article 680 (Swimming Pools, Fountains, and Similar Installation), Section 680.22(B), GFCI Protection, is amended to read as follows:

(B) GFCI Protection. Outlets supplying pool pump motors from branch circuits with short-circuit and ground-fault protection rated 15 or 20 amperes, 125 volt or 240 volt, single phase, whether by receptacle or direct connection, shall be provided with ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel.

Exception: One-and two-family dwellings.

The legislature specifically amended the code to take that requirement out.

I suppose the pool lobby's money was well spent.

Yes, I know that. But it is still "the code".

Just because a state legislature (as you say) pulls a funky trick to relax the code in one respect, it doesn't really change "the code." The code remains the code.

As for me, I'm tired of coddling whiney swimming pool contractors. They may have won the battle [in Florida] and removed that particular article. But they did not change the intent of the code. The code is exactly the same. They are only fooling themselves.

That is how I see it too, Nick. I also tend to believe UL may well have revised their listing just to circumvent the Florida Legislature;s move. 110.3(B) states that items shall be installed according to their listing. I would have a tendency to believe the requirements for Swimming pool pumps would be more stringent then for a general water pump (ie double insulated, etc.)
It me the issue comes down to safety and if by installing a GFCI breaker you can save anyone from electrocution, I see it as a small price to pay.
It is hard tp feel real sympathy for a pool contractor that generrally charges $40k for a concrete hole in the ground and usually requires their money up front. It is not the material costs here that drive the price... but then they argue about GFCI, use motors that are not suitable for the use.
Per 90.1 the code is for practical safeguarding - isn't thet what we're talking about here?

We City of North Port / City of Venice have been enforcing GFCI protection of swimming pool pumps since May 28, 2011 to comply with the changes to ANSI/UL 1081...