Pool and Spa Wiring Part II
Published on August 26, 2015 by JADE Instructor
Last month we discussed common electrical items that cause swimming pool inspections to fail. As we get closer to fall, many people will be installing hot tubs to enjoy a warm retreat from the cool weather. Most spas and hot tubs, other than those that qualify as a "storable hot tub", are covered in Part IV of Article 680. Here is a list of the most common electrical mistakes made when installing a hot tub outdoors.
1. Missing or improperly located emergency shutoff switch.
Section 680.41 requires an emergency shutoff switch for all occupancies other than single family dwellings. The switch must be located within sight of but no closer than 5 feet to the hot tub. It also must be clearly labeled as to its purpose. In a single family dwelling, an emergency shutoff is not required.
2. Equipotential bonding grid for perimeter surfaces missing or incorrectly installed.
Section 680.42 specifies that outdoor hot tubs also have to comply with Part II of Article 680 which includes the bonding of perimeter surfaces. Equipotential bonding of the perimeter surfaces is not required if the installation meets the following conditions in 680.42(B) 1-4:
- The spa or hot tub shall be listed as a self-contained spa for aboveground use.
- The spa or hot tub shall not be identified as suitable only for indoor use.
- The installation shall be in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and shall be located on or above grade.
- The top rim of the spa or hot tub shall be at least 28 in. above all surfaces around the hot tub that are within 30 in., measured horizontally from the spa or hot tub. The height of nonconductive external steps for entry to or exit from the self-contained spa shall not be used to reduce or increase this rim height measurement
A spa or hot tub must be listed by one of the third party testing agencies like UL, Met Labs, or ETL and meet all of the conditions in 680.42(B) if an equipotential bonding grid is not installed. There are many manufacturers of spas and hot tubs that fail to have their product listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. The unlisted units are cheaper but do not comply with this section of the NEC. Be sure to check the label to make sure it is a listed unit.
No equipotential bonding grid required.
3. Missing GFCI protection for hard wired hot tub outlets.
GFCI protection required for outdoor self-contained hot tub outlets.
Section 680.44 requires ground-fault circuit interrupter protection for the hot tub "outlet". A receptacle is always considered an outlet, but an outlet can be something other than a receptacle. Article 100 defines an "outlet" as a point on the wiring system where power is taken to supply the equipment. This includes both hard wired installations and cord-and-plug connected units. 50 and 60 amp GFCI protected disconnecting switches are commercially available at stocked at most supply houses as well as large big box hardware stores.
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