GFCI near whirlpool

[Darin Redding]

Gonna make someone's hair curly. House built 1989 so does fall under the 1996 NEC change which prohibits outlets within the space of showers or tubs.

What do you guys think?

I think I will write it up as a safety issue but not a requirement based on the age of the home.

[KEVIN WOOD]

This will help.

[Robert Ernst]

I would agree with that. They will probably remove the plug and change it to a light with a pull chain.

[Christopher Currins]

Originally Posted by rernst1

I would agree with that. They will probably remove the plug and change it to a light with a pull chain.

And that would be safer?

[Marcel Gratton]

Originally Posted by rernst1

I would agree with that. They will probably remove the plug and change it to a light with a pull chain.

Or replace it with a switch for the lighting fixture above...

[Darin Redding]

Thanks all for your comments. There is no overhead light fixture served by this outlet. Instead, this GFCI feeds an outlet located inside the tub enclosure that provides power to the pump (which is not bonded, incidentally).

[Christopher Currins]

Originally Posted by mgratton

Or replace it with a switch for the lighting fixture above...

That's not allowed either, at least in the U.S.A.

[Robert Ernst]

Christopher it's sarcasm.

[Cameron C. Anderson]

For the most part, when it comes to electrical I don't consider what year the house was built as compared to the NEC changes. It's my butt on the line if something electrical kills someone. I know contractors sometimes argue against my reports by bringing that up and they throw around the "grandfathering" term. When that happens I encourage my clients to request a letter from the contractor stating "This issue is not a safety hazard." As expected, they go ahead and fix it after that.

[Darin Redding]

As expected, they go ahead and fix it after that.

Yes I suppose they would

I agree - I usually make a strong recommendation for safety when it comes to electrical issues. I might says things such as "while the home MIGHT not have required X when it was built, for the safety of the building occupants it is strongly recommended that you modify/install/upgrade blah blah".

[Robert Meier]

Originally Posted by dredding

Thanks all for your comments. There is no overhead light fixture served by this outlet. Instead, this GFCI feeds an outlet located inside the tub enclosure that provides power to the pump (which is not bonded, incidentally).

Just curious about the pump not being bonded, what do you mean?

[Marcel Gratton]

Originally Posted by ccurrins

That's not allowed either, at least in the U.S.A.

Not allowed in Canada either; it must be a minimum of 3 feet from the tub.

[Jim Port]

Since it was said this GFI protects the tub, this should be changed to a dead-front GFI. Problem solved.

Marcel, in the NEC as long as the switch is outside the footprint of the tub or shower it would meet the code.

The bonding may not be an issue. Most tubs have non-metallic piping that does not require bonding.

[Darin Redding]

The bonding may not be an issue. Most tubs have non-metallic piping that does not require bonding.

Thanks for that.

[Robert Meier]

Originally Posted by Jim Port

The bonding may not be an issue. Most tubs have non-metallic piping that does not require bonding.

Originally Posted by dredding

Thanks for that.

Jim brings up a good point about the bonding. There's quite a bit of confusion as to what is required to be bonded on a hydromassage tub. Often I see bonding jumpers from the pump to the metallic hot/cold water pipes supplying the tub. The NEC does not require this although the wording in 680.74 is a little confusing. It looks like the NEC CMP has tentatively accepted a proposal for the 2014 NEC to change the wording of this section to make it clear that only the metallic piping in contact with the circulating water is required to be bonded to the pump enclosure.