NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY
AFFAIRS
Division of Housing and
Community Development
RULE
NO.:
RULE TITLE:
9B-3.0477
Electrical Bonding of Pools.
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: To adopt an
alternative means for electrical bonding of swimming pools than that provided in
the 2005 edition of the National Electrical Code.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF
ESTIMATED REGULATORY COST: (If one
has been
prepared) Any person who wishes to provide
information regarding the statement of estimated regulatory costs, or to provide
a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within
21 days of this notice.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: s. 1, Chapter 2007-187, Laws of
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 553.72 FS.
553.73(2), 553.73(3), 553.73(7), 553.73(9) FS, s. 1, Chapter 2007-187, Laws of
Florida.
A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE
DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: August 21, 2007, 1:00 p.m., or as soon
thereafter as the matter comes before the Commission pursuant to its
agenda.
PLACE: Embassy Suites
Pursuant to the provisions of
the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations
to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 7
days before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Mo Madani, Planning Manager, Department
of Community Affairs,
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED
REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Mo
Madani, Planning Manager, Department of Community Affairs,
THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED
RULE IS:
9B-3.0477 Electrical
Bonding of Pools.
National Fire
Protection Association [NFPA] 70 - 05: National Electric Code, Article 680
(Swimming Pools, Fountains, and Similar Installation), Section 680.26,
Equipotential Bonding, as adopted within Chapter 27 of the Florida Building
Code, Building Volume; and to NFPA 70A - 05: National Electric Code, Article 680
(Swimming Pools, Fountains, and Similar Installation), Section 680.26,
Equipotential Bonding, adopted within Chapter 33 of the
(1) Performance.
The equipotential bonding
required by this section shall be installed to reduce voltage gradients in the
pool area.
(2) Bonded
Parts. The parts specified in
subparagraphs (a) through (g) hereof shall be bonded together using solid copper
conductors, insulated covered, or bare, not smaller than 8 AWG or with rigid
metal conduit of brass or other identified corrosion-resistant metal.
Connections to bonded parts shall be made in accordance with Section 250.8 of
the National Electrical Code as adopted within the
(a) Conductive Pool
Shells. Bonding to conductive
pool shells shall be provided as specified in subparagraphs 1. or 2. hereof.
Poured concrete, pneumatically applied or sprayed concrete, and concrete block
with painted or plastered coating shall all be considered conductive materials
due to water permeability and porosity. Vinyl liners and fiberglass composite
shells shall be considered to be non-conductive
materials.
1. Structural
Reinforcing Steel. Unencapsulated structural reinforcing steel shall be bonded
together by steel tie wires or the equivalent. Where structural reinforcing
steel is encapsulated in a nonconductive compound, a copper conductor grid shall
be installed in accordance with subparagraph 2.
2. Copper Conductor
Grid. A copper conductor grid shall be provided and shall comply with the
following conditions:
a. Be constructed of minimum 8 AWG bare
solid copper conductors bonded to each other at all points of
crossing.
b. Conform to the contour of the pool and
the pool deck.
c. Be arranged in a 300 mm (12 in.) by 300
mm (12 in.) network of conductors in a uniformly spaced perpendicular grid
pattern with a tolerance of 100 mm (4 in.).
d. Be secured within or under the pool no
more than 150 mm (6 in.) from the outer contour of the pool
shell.
(b) Perimeter
Surfaces. The perimeter
surface shall extend for 1 m (3 ft) horizontally beyond the inside walls of the
pool and shall include unpaved surfaces as well as poured concrete and other
types of paving. Bonding to perimeter surfaces shall be provided as specified in
subparagraph 1. or 2. hereof, and shall be attached to the pool reinforcing
steel or copper conductor grid at a minimum of four (4) points uniformly spaced
around the perimeter of the pool. For non-conductive pool shells, bonding at
four points shall not be required.
1. Structural
Reinforcing Steel. Structural
reinforcing steel shall be bonded in accordance with subparagraph
(2)(a)1.
2. Alternate
Means. Where structural
reinforcing steel is not available or is encapsulated in a nonconductive
compound, copper conductor(s) shall be utilized where the following conditions
are met:
a. At least one minimum 8 AWG bare solid
copper conductor shall be provided.
b. The conductor(s) shall follow the contour
of the perimeter surface.
c. Only listed splices shall be
permitted.
d. The required conductor shall be 450 to
600 mm (18 to 24 in.) from the inside walls of the
pool.
e. The required conductor shall be secured
within or under the perimeter surface 100 to 150 mm (4 to 6 in.) below the
subgrade.
(c) Metallic
Components. All metallic
parts of the pool structure, including reinforcing metal not addressed in
subparagraph (2)(a)1., shall be bonded. Where reinforcing steel is encapsulated
with a nonconductive compound, the reinforcing steel shall not be required to be
bonded.
(d) Underwater
Lighting. All metal forming
shells and mounting brackets of no-niche luminaires shall be bonded except that
listed low-voltage lighting systems
with nonmetallic forming shells shall not require
bonding.
(e) Metal
Fittings. All metal fittings
within or attached to the pool structure shall be bonded. Isolated parts that
are not over 100 mm (4 in.) in any dimension and do not penetrate into the pool
structure more than 25 mm (1 in.) shall not require
bonding.
(f) Electrical
Equipment. Metal parts of
electrical equipment associated with the pool water circulating system,
including pump motors and metal parts of equipment associated with pool covers,
including electric motors, shall be bonded except that metal parts of listed equipment
incorporating an approved system of double insulation shall not be
bonded.
1. Double-Insulated Water Pump Motors.
Where a double-insulated
water-pump motor is installed under the provisions of this rule, a solid 8 AWG
copper conductor of sufficient length to make a bonding connection to a
replacement motor shall be extended from the bonding grid to an accessible point
in the vicinity of the pool pump motor.
Where there is no connection between the swimming pool bonding grid and
the equipment grounding system for the premises, this bonding conductor shall be
connected.
2. Pool Water
Heaters. For pool water
heaters rated at more than 50 amperes and having specific instructions regarding
bonding and grounding, only those parts designated to be bonded shall be bonded
and only those parts designated to be grounded shall be
grounded.
(g) Metal Wiring
Methods and Equipment. Metal-sheathed cables and raceways, metal piping, and
all fixed metal parts shall be bonded except:
1. Those separated from the pool by a
permanent barrier shall not be required to be bonded.
2. Those greater
than 1.5 m (5 ft) horizontally of the inside walls of the pool shall not be
required to be bonded.
3. Those greater
than 3.7 m (12 ft) measured vertically above the maximum water level of the
pool, or as measured vertically above any observation stands, towers, or
platforms, or any diving structures shall not be required to be
bonded.
(3) Pool Water. An
intentional bond of a minimum conductive surface area of 5806 square mm (9 square in ) shall be installed in
contact with the pool water. This bond shall be permitted to consist of parts
that are required to be bonded in (2).
Specific Authority s. 1,
Chapter 2007-187, Laws of
NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING
PROPOSED RULE: Mo Madani, Planning
Manager, Department of Community Affairs,
NAME OF SUPERVISOR OR PERSON
WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Janice Browning, Director, Division of Housing
and Community Development.
DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY
AGENCY HEAD: June 27,
2007
DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE
DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: June
8, 2007