Keep your distance! Swimming Pools and Receptacles.

Electricity and water can be a bad combination. So it is no surprise that when it comes to “in-ground” swimming pools there are some rules that come into play that specific to the pools. They have their own section in the NEC (Article 680 of the National Electrical Code).

One of the requirements is that lighting and receptacles must maintain proper distances from the pool.

During this home inspection I was well aware that the receptacles around the pool were rather close. When I measured them they were just under 5 feet to the inside surface. Since prior to 2008 the required distance was 10 feet for receptacles, which was then reduced to 6 feet in the 2008 cycle, this was obviously very close. Remember these distance are based on that most cord attachments to things (radios, hairdryers etc…) are 6 feet or less. This is also reason for the spacing rules for interior receptacles.  It should also be noted that these exterior receptacles were not GFCI protected.

As always I am a bit of a geek so I found that it was interesting when doing a little research that the requirements for electrical installations around swimming pools did not become formalized until the 1962 code. This also coincides with the first mention of ground-fault protection in the 1962 NEC with the introduction of Article 680 for swimming pools.

Here is what the 1965 NEC states, prior to the ’62 code there was no article specifically addressing swimming pools.

Fast forward to the present here is what the 2011 NEC states-

“680.22 Lighting, Receptacles, and Equipment.

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

(This changed From 2005 680.22(A)(2) and (3): The receptacles clearance was reduced from 10 ft to 6 ft.)

(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.”

So as you read this code you are required to have at least one receptacle for servicing the pool. It must be located between 6 to 20 feet of the pool.  It is also time for Sparky to come out and do a little updating to the electrical system around the pool.

“The learning and knowledge that we have, is, at the most, but little compared with that of which we are ignorant.”

Plato

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