The number one concern of any pool professional has to be the safety of all pool swimmers. Professional builders should all be aware they must bond every pool. However, fewer builders are aware of water bonding requirements. The National Electrical Code (NEC) has mandated that pool water “shall be electrically bonded,” not just metals in the structure of the pool itself. These NEC bonding requirements apply to all swimming pools.
WHAT IS POOL BONDING?The goal of bonding is to keep people and electricity separated. According to electrical code expert Mike Holt, bonding can be defined as, “The permanent joining of metallic parts together to form an electrically conductive path.” The primary purpose of bonding is to control currents. In an improperly bonded pool stray currents are out of control. Imagine a pipe with high pressure at one end and low pressure at the other. Water flows in the direction of the lower pressure. A bonded pool balances the electrical “pressure.” This keeps currents flowing outward into a bonding wire or grid where they are safely disbursed.
WHAT DOES THE NEC SAY SPECIFICALLY ABOUT WATER BONDING?Since 2008 NEC Section 680.26(C) mandates that pool water must be electrically bonded. Specifically, a water bond:
- Must consist of at least nine square inches of conductive material
- Shall be in contact with the water 24/7, whether the circulation system is running or not
- Connector (lug) must be unable to “back off” at any time
The NEC defines the minimum safety requirements. It is important to be aware of local requirements as some exceed NEC requirements. Inspectors, insurance companies, and courts will consider all requirements when making decisions regarding electrical installations.
WHAT CAN I USE AS A WATER BONDING DEVICE?Traditionally the “water bonding device” has been the pool light. Typical incandescent pool lighting is housed in a metal “wet niche.” The metal niche should be bonded, and by creating a wet niche bond the water is also properly bonded. According to NEC, the device can consist of metal parts that have already been bonded. In these cases all requirements are met at the pool light.
In the past five years, plastic wet niches and nicheless LED lighting have become extremely common. Some industry statistics show nicheless lighting gaining on “wet niche” lighting. This significantly affects water bonding during pool construction. If you use nicheless lighting or plastic niches with no changes to pool bonding, then the pool may not be safe.
Once the metal wet niche is not available as a bonding solution, you must find an alternative. Other pool components can function as a water bond, but, what is considered “water bonding material” varies by location. This confusion can lead to dangerous consequences if a pool is found non-compliant. The best solution is to attach a certified pool water bonding device to the system. This ensures the pool will always meet water bonding requirements.
WATER BONDING PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE TO KEEP POOLS SAFEOptions are available to make water bonding an easy, inexpensive pool addition. Products include water bonded skimmers, inline water bonds, and simple options for above ground pools. All water bonding products should be certified to select UL and CSA standard certified products.
When building a recreational pool, safety MUST be the highest concern. Pool professionals should meet these requirements for all pool service and installations. By installing an NEC compliant water bond device, pool owners can enjoy a fun, relaxing and SAFE pool.
