New Construction- 2008 Pool Receptacles

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Hey Guys,

When inspecting around pools the 2008 NEC has gotten simplified for ya so I figured I would post something on it for you to enjoy.

Many people ( includeding me ) over the years wondered about the 5' minimum receptacle distance requirement and thought to myself....arn't most cords 6' in length and lord knows we don't want to rely on the GFCI to save us since most GFCI's are older pre 2003 UL 943 models.....BUT considering you would not put an OLDER GFCI in a new construction anyway...the move to 6' makes it safer....not fool proof mind you but technically safer because GFCI's can fail...MOV's do Fail.....and so on.

So......in 2008 the NEC has listened and now the 5' distance requirement on the receptacle has increased to 6'.....makes sense right....

Here is the NEC verbiage ( remember this is the ROC version, it might have changed from the published version )

680.22 Area Lighting, Receptacles, and Equipment.

(A) Receptacles.
(1) Circulation and Sanitation System, Location.

Receptacles
that provide power for water-pump motors or for
other loads directly related to the circulation and sanitation
system shall be located at least 3.0 m (10 ft) from the inside
walls of the pool, or not less than 1.83 m (6 ft) from the
inside walls of the pool if they meet all of the following
conditions: [ROP 17-85a]

(1) Consist of single receptacles
(2) Employ a locking configuration
(3) Are of the grounding type
(4) Have GFCI protection

(2) Other Receptacles, Location.

Other receptacles shall
be not less than 1.83 m (6 ft) from the inside walls of a
pool. [ROP 17-85a]

(3) Dwelling Unit(s). Where a permanently installed pool
is installed at a dwelling unit(s), no fewer than one 125-volt
15- or 20-ampere receptacle on a general-purpose branch
circuit shall be located not less than 1.83 m (6 ft) from, and
not more than 6.0 m (20 ft) from, the inside wall of the
pool. This receptacle shall be located not more than 2.0 m
(6 ft 6 in.) above the floor, platform, or grade level serving
the pool. [ROP 17-85a]

So.....the NEC is getting BETTER and BETTER.....go buy one today !

[Greg Fretwell]

Since the old rule was 10' minimum except for the pump (with the restrictions), how is this safer? Pushing the pump receptacle out a foot will only encourage people cheating on the cord length. These are generally above ground pool pumps and people still want them next to the pool.

[Paul W. Abernathy]

(2) Other Receptacles, Location.
Other receptacles shall
be not less than 1.83 m (6 ft) from the inside walls of a
pool. [ROP 17-85a]

Safer...........radio at 5' and 6' cord....and bad GFCI....

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Greg....we can't fix STUPID....It weeds out the gene pool....no pun intended.

[Speedy Petey]

Originally Posted by pabernathy

Many people ( includeding me ) over the years wondered about the 5' minimum receptacle distance requirement and thought to myself....arn't most cords 6' in length .......

This has been in the code for quite a while:

680.21(A)
(5) Cord-and-Plug Connections Pool-associated motors shall be permitted to employ cord-and-plug connections. The flexible cord shall not exceed 900 mm (3 ft) in length. The flexible cord shall include an equipment grounding conductor sized in accordance with 250.122 and shall terminate in a grounding-type attachment plug.

[Paul W. Abernathy]

I was more so speaking peter in regards to the reduction from 10' to 6' .....maybe safer was the wrong term as I am not speaking of pump cords......hmmm...I see what greg is saying now....10' is safer than 6'....but I was more so speaking of someone might not use an extention cord on a 6' location versus a 10' location if they wanted to get that radio closer...lol

Encouraged to use the cord that came with the radio versus putting it on an extention cord to get it closer was my methodology to the post....sorry for the confussion.

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Ok......ok....I have to confess something.....I posted this for a reason but i will digress..lool.....the electricians who are up on the 2008 NEC know where I am going with this...I think

in the 2008 NEC printed version we have the creation of a new area...

680.22 Area lighting, receptacles, and Equipment
(E) Other Outlets. Other outlets shall be no less than 3.0m ( 10 ft) from the inside walls of the pools. Measturements shall be determined in accordance with 680.22(A)(5)

Did anyone notice this addition.....

Other Receptacles are dealt with in 680.22(A)(2). Lighting outlets are dealt with in 680.22(B) and switching devices are addressed in 680.22(G)

Sorry.....I was hoping HI's would comment so I could elaborate into other areas.....as part of their inspection not really an electrical safety debate...sorry

[Greg Fretwell]

Florida is not going to adopt the 2008 according to current plans so I am not really studying it that much. I will probably get a copy from IAEI anyway if it is free.

[Greg Fretwell]

BTW I think the original 10-'20' rule was made to keep consumer products out of reach of anyone in the pool but still be close enough to listen to. If your radio has a 5' cord in a receptacle 6' away it is a foot from the pool. You can reach it while you are in the water.

[Paul W. Abernathy]

However...lets talk about 680.22(A)(1) then for a second...what if they used the plug for a radio....it could happen....5' better than 6'....?

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Potatoes.....potatos...lol........lets pray they dont do that.....same in a shower........

[Greg Fretwell]

Originally Posted by pabernathy

However...lets talk about 680.22(A)(1) then for a second...what if they used the plug for a radio....it could happen....5' better than 6'....?

They would have to unplug the pump first (single receptacle) and have a twist lock plug on the radio.

[Paul W. Abernathy]

it could happen....lol

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Man Greg.....can't you just love a brother for liking the move to 6' versus 5'......lol

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Actually Greg was a trying to lead into the question of " Other Outlets" with the opening question but I think it went array....was probably the wrong approach.

I was pleased with the addition of :

680.22 Area lighting, receptacles, and Equipment
(E) Other Outlets. Other outlets shall be no less than 3.0m ( 10 ft) from the inside walls of the pools. Measturements shall be determined in accordance with 680.22(A)(5)

Because it better deals with low voltage outlets and so on......or OTHER outlets like phone jacks and so on.....hmmm..probably not a good approach on a HI board...my bad