NFPA Journal - May/June 2017 - 40

In Compliance
Different rules apply if the new occupancy is of the same or lesser hazard
category than the existing occupancy. If
a warehouse is changed to a nightclub
with an occupant load of more than 300,
for example, then the new nightclub
must meet the criteria applicable to an
existing assembly occupancy for everything but sprinklers, alarms, and the
main entrance/exit, which must meet
the requirements for a new assembly
occupancy. Sprinklers must meet those
more stringent requirements because
the assembly occupancy is, specifically,
a nightclub; an alarm system with voice
communication is required because the
occupant load exceeds 300; and the
main entrance/exit must accommodate a
minimum of two-thirds of the occupant
load because the assembly occupancy is,
specifically, a nightclub.
Given that the code requirements
vary depending on the occupancy
classification, it is important to utilize
the permitting process any time the
occupancy changes so that the resulting
features, systems, and other protective
elements provided are those necessary
for life safety for the new occupants.
Ron Coté is NFPA technical services lead for life
safety. NFPA members and AHJs can use the
Technical Questions tab to post queries on NFPA 101
at nfpa.org/101.

NFPA 70 + 70E

Electrical safety

NEC changes for electrical
safety in swimming pools
By Derek Vigstol

his is the time of year
to inspect and maintain
swimming pool equipment to make sure that
life saving measures
such as ground-fault circuit interrupter
(GFCI) protection and all grounding
and bonding systems are functioning
properly. For new installations, the 2017
National Electrical Code® (NEC®) has
been revised to improve pool safety.

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40 | NFPA JOURNAL * M A Y / J U N E 2 0 1 7

Article 680 of the NEC contains the
requirements for electrical installations
associated with and in close proximity
to swimming pools. New for the 2017
edition of the code is Section 680.4,
which requires all electrical equipment
installed in the water, walls, or decks of
pools to follow the requirements found
in Article 680. This section also requires
equipment and products installed in
the water, walls, or deck to be listed,
which assists the authority having jurisdiction in determining the suitability of
the equipment for a given installation.
The listing requirement becomes especially helpful in areas that are included
in 680.14, another new section that
requires certain pool-related areas to
be considered "corrosive environments"
due to use and storage of pool sanitation
chemicals. Equipment used in those
areas must be able to withstand a corrosive environment, and the listing will
help AHJs make that determination.
GFCI protection has also been
expanded in the 2017 edition. Previously,
certain receptacles that supplied power
to the circulation and sanitation system
could be located further than 10 feet
from the inside wall of the pool and not
require GFCI protection. For 2017, the
10-foot distance has been removed and
now all receptacles supplying circulation
and sanitation system equipment must
be at least six feet from the inside wall
of the pool and must be of the grounding type and GFCI protected. Another
new section also requires GFCI protection for circuits above the low-voltage
contact limit that supply gas-fired pool
water heaters. GFCI protection is now
essentially required for all receptacles
that supply power above the low-voltage
contact limit to equipment that handles
pool water. This requirement is in addition to the GFCI protection required for
120V through 240V, single-phase pool
pump motors.
Other GFCI requirements for pools
remain unchanged in the current edition. GFCI protection is still required
for all underwater luminaires operating over the low-voltage contact limit
and all 15 and 20 ampere, 125-volt,
single-phase receptacles located within
20 feet of a pool. Certain luminaires,

lighting outlets, and paddle fans also
require GFCI protection based on their
location relative to the inside wall of the
pool and the maximum water level.
With all of this GFCI protection
required for electrical equipment associated with swimming pools, chances
of being shocked or electrocuted in a
swimming pool have been reduced dramatically. However, it is important to
note that GFCI devices require maintenance according to the manufacturer's
instructions. Following the recommended maintenance schedule ensures
that the GFCI protection functions when
needed. Around swimming pools, the
maintenance of GFCI devices is just as
important as their installation.
The 2017 NEC has also taken steps to
protect the integrity of the grounding
and bonding systems associated with
swimming pools. (Equipment grounding conductors provide the effective
ground-fault current path in order to
quickly operate fuses and circuit breakers during a fault; the bonding system
simply connects conductive materials
together so that they are electrically the
same.) Recognizing that areas in and
around pools are subject to severe corrosive conditions, the code now requires
grounding and bonding terminals to be
identified for use in wet and corrosive
environments. During pool inspections I
often found equipment grounding conductor terminals on circulation pump
motor housings to be so corroded that
there was no longer an effective connection, if there was a connection at all-a
significant problem, since it provides
an effective ground-fault current path
to facilitate the operation of the circuit
breaker or fuse. Likewise, the equipotential bonding system-a conductive
grid within the pool shell and around
the perimeter-is installed to equalize
any voltage gradients in and around a
pool, and it is equally important that
these terminations retain their integrity.
Differences in potential around a swimming pool due to broken connections
can have tragic results.
Derek Vigstol is an NFPA technical lead, Electrical
Tech Services. NFPA members and AHJs can use the
Technical Questions tab to post queries on NFPA 70E
at nfpa.org/70E.
http://www.nfpa.org/101 http://www.nfpa.org/70E
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NFPA Journal - May/June 2017
