Wenatchee Home Inspections

Electrical equipment, wiring methods and pool chemicals always seem to be bad bedfellows. The 2017 Electrical code added a new article to address this situation.

2017 NEC new code article-

680.14 Corrosive Environment.

(A) General. Areas where pool sanitation chemicals are stored, as well as areas with circulation pumps, automatic chlorinators, filters, open areas under decks adjacent to or abutting the pool structure, and similar locations shall be considered to be a corrosive environment. The air in such areas shall be considered to be laden with acid, chlorine, and bromine vapors, or any combination of acid, chlorine, or bromine vapors, and any liquids or condensation in those areas shall be considered to be laden with acids, chlorine, and bromine vapors, or any combination of acid, chlorine, or bromine vapors.

(B) Wiring Methods. Wiring methods in the areas described in 680.14(A) shall be listed and identified for use in such areas. Rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit, rigid polyvinyl chloride conduit, and reinforced thermosetting resin conduit shall be considered to be resistant to the corrosive environment specified in 680.14(A).

Pools and the chemicals that are required to maintain them  can be highly corrosive to electrical wiring and equipment. In the photo above you can see the chemicals are reacting with the tin plating on the main lug material.

Chlorine, bromine and muriatic acid in the pool water can give off corrosive fumes that will eat away at the coatings on terminals, raceways and fittings.

Acids and chlorine storage associated with pool maintenance are reactive to many wiring methods and materials and special care should be taken to ensure proper protection of conductors and equipment installed in these areas.

Here is a video discussing pool chemical safety and storage.