Outdoor and indoor pools operating after dark must have artificial lighting installed, making the maindrains visible at all times. First, the owners of these facilities often have cost concerns. Receptacles for pumps and motors must be located between 6 and 10 feet from the pool walls, and they must be GFCI-protected and locked. Many facility designers overlook light levels on the deck, which is important to ensure that signage is readable, Osinski adds. I called the property manager to let him know and he is sending out his handyman to add a GFCI receptacle at the junction box, not an electrician. Finally, there are special rules for spas and hot tubs that are stand-alone units rather than integrated with a swimming pool: By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. The National Electrical Code Article 680-20a1 states that a pool light fixture over 15 volts must be GFCI Protected. Outlet receptacles can be no closer than 6 feet from a hot tub or spa, and they must be GFCI-protected if they are less than 10 feet away. %
Greater than 5 feet high. Lighting, especially in commercial Is this in fact copper and what do I ask for when I go purchase it? Illumination levels can be measured using a light meter or photometer. The first requirements address whether ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCI) protection is required for the luminaire and associated circuit. Background: Lara, a Homeowner from La Porte, Texas. // LiaJavaInput Outlet receptacles within 20 feet of a pool or spa, Underwater pool lights greater than 15 volts, Outlet receptacles for pool pump motors at all distances from the pool, Light fixtures less than 10 feet from a pool or spa edge, unless the fixture is more than 5 feet above the water level. Having trouble finding time to sit down with the latest issue of This is a bad idea for a number of reasons. In a commercial setting, avoid colored lighting. You have also stated that the 120 volt light is fed from a 220 volt pump circuit. For your application be sure to review all the applicable NEC Codes for your project, with special attention to NEC Article 680.2. Inform pool owners and operators that too many burned-out bulbs can come back to haunt them if an accident occurs. %
"eA0X &$c:-bbsMHg`A /?=3jL
5\\
/Filter /FlateDecode
Thanks for your electrical question Lara. Precaution: Identify the circuit, turn it OFF and Tag it with a Note before working with the wiring. Explain to those in charge of maintenance that they should not wait until half the lights are burned out to begin replacing bulbs. //help_ftr_01_05 = new Image(38, 28);help_ftr_01_05.src = '/images/help_nav.gif'; The wire gauges are shown on the side of the tool so you know which slot to use for stripping insulation. //-->, Lighting Requirements for Pools and Spas Constructed or Renovated on or After the Effective Date of this Subchapter. // function that displays status bar message 10 0 obj
<>
endobj
Daves Reply: Public pools equipped with underwater lighting are required to have no less than 500W/1000W per square foot of the pool surface area. There are some exceptions when the wiring attaches to the pool or spa to serve equipment or lighting. Decreasing voltage levels below the low-voltage contact limits through listed low-voltage transformers diminishes shock hazards and eliminates the requirement for installing GFCI protection, thus reducing expenses. Instead, they can be on poles around the pool perimeter.). These are covered in article 680 of the NEC code. This article reviews the National Electrical Code (NEC) requirements that apply to underwater LED luminaires installed in swimming pools. S
=a&;)X'
uU*0r~1a Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. This is a testing tool that is a Non-contact tester that I use to easily Detect Voltage in Cables, Cords, Circuit Breakers, Lighting Fixtures, Switches, Outlets and Wires. Underground wiring is not allowed under a pool or spa, and can be run no closer than 5feet from any sidewall of a pool or spa. The bonding connection within a metallic forming shell must be encapsulated in a listed potting compound to protect the connection from the deteriorating effects of pool water. But these codes can prove to be outdated. Rather than placing lights directly above the pool, they can be installed on the perimeter and angled toward the water. I am a first-time pool owner and am learning all of the nuances of owning a pool. GFCI protection is not required on the 12-volt (V) AC side of the transformer supplying the luminaire as long as the output does not exceed the low voltage contact limit as 680.2(1) defines. Using nonmetallic forming shells with listed LED wet niche luminaires (as compared with traditional metallic forming shells) eliminates the requirement for bonding to the equipotential bonding grid; therefore, removing a bonding connection to a metallic forming shell and the bonding connection creates vulnerability to the deteriorating effects of pool water. New equipment is developing quickly and is not only more efficient to install and maintain, but it also is often an increase in personnel safety. } But this component allows swimmers to see where theyre headed and how far they can swim or dive before bumping into the walls and floor. Public swimming pools must meet the standards of the National Electrical Code (NEC). // The java used for navigation in the Public OM page Any wall switches must be at least 5 feet from the water. foster these goals. Colored lights can interfere with quick recognition of a struggling person. Lighting should not be excessively bright to avoid causing glare or blindness. A swimming pool or spa installation must follow a couple of rules when it comes to overhead electrical lines: For these rules, the water level is defined as the highest point water can reach before it spills out of the pool or spa. Tracy Hodge has been a professional writer since 2007. ^|s
e? It creates a serious glare problem for lifeguards, Osinski says. nE';0%F\u~8>mYEoz^,\iqubLN N8aFc;KKr}8cG,Se,2)%x[B|DI 1:7`]: Some aquatic facilities will install lighting directly over the water not on poles around the pool perimeter, but rather on rafters, catwalks and other structures reaching across the vessel. The low-voltage luminaire is supplied through a listed low-voltage transformer that is either an isolation-winding type or one that includes a system of double insulation. Many public swimming pools have lights for swimming at night. Should the light be on a GFCI circuit? Copyright 2022 Zonda Media, a Delaware corporation. Thats all a cost game.. Hi Josh Great Question! You can justify improving your lighting if you can drop the cost of doing it, says Alison Osinski, president of Aquatic Consulting Services in San Diego. Electrical Question: We have a pool with a 120 volt light. After last month, we continue to explore the many changes in the 2018 edition of IEEE 1584, Guide for Performing Arc-Flash Hazard Calculations. All rights reserved. Any outlet or direct-wired circuit that powers the motor or heater in a self-contained spa or hot tub must be GFCI protected, no matter how far away from the spa or tub. VERY IMPORTANT: PLEASE Turn OFF the circuit to your swimming pool light or electrical outlets that are NOT GFCI Protected, call a Qualified Licensed Electrician and have the necessary Ground Fault Protection installed. Concrete or Vermiculite for Vinyl-Liner Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples Receives 2022 AI Dream Designs Honor, Check Out This Year's Dream Design Waterparks, These Family Aquatics Centers Take Dream Designs Recognition, See These Other Categories That Took Dream Designs Honors, The Cove at The Piazza Pool Awarded 2022 AI Dream Designs, Housing Market Slows as Fed Takes Aggressive Approach to Combat Inflation, When Hidden Defects Complicate a Simple Deck Replacement, A Deck Builder's Guide to 'Google My Business', JLC Rolls Out Deck and Railing Skills Workbook, Webinar: What You Need to Know About Decking. My pool light recently went out and we had a pool guy come out to replace it. Anyone can install a GFCI, since in most cases a permit MUST be pulled and the building Inspector will either pass it or fail the job. 49 0 obj
<>stream
I ask this question because it WAS on a GFCI and a bad rainstorm tripped it and an electrician came out and said that is your problem, it is on a GFCI and they fluctuate too much. Virtually all codes on the books contain lighting requirements based on watts, prescribing a certain wattage per so many square feet. {r%Kp&>uR%XV@m6p/ haVLCF^tMSi[l.\X:xIV1*Puw/}*~I1 >
endstream
endobj
startxref
%PDF-1.6
%
ew. document.returnValue = false; Bathers use the shallow end more often than the deep, so make sure that area is well-lit. Getting the best possible light may require designers to incorporate new habits. If the goal is to detect the human form in distress as quickly as possible, Ebro says, its best to have as much contrast as possible. Employing new technologies for swimming pool installations is a definite safety enhancement in aquatic environments, such as when used in swimming pool applications. A Look Back: Top Retail and Service Stories from 2019, 3 Safety Tips to Secure the Backyard Pool, NSF Adds Safety Flooring Language to Pool/Spa Standard. Dave, Electrical Questions and Electrical Answers, Light Fixture and Ceiling Fan Switch Wiring, Common Electric Appliance Repair Espresso Machine. Your local building inspector can let you know what the most current guidelines are for electrical safety around pools and spas. You want to be able to see a body underwater, or a person whos in distress, Weathers says. It seems like the biggest evolution is occurring in lighting, and it brings many benefits with it. The listed cord assembly with the wet niche luminaire must include an insulated copper equipment grounding conductor not smaller than 16 AWG. <>
For instance, in indoor pools, a reading taken 6 inches above the waters surface should indicate a light level of at least 100 foot candles. Does a 120 volt pool light on a 220 line need to be GFCI protected? if (document.images) { Application: Swimming Pool Lights. Thus, the ideal scenario is a light-colored pool interior with white light. 03'{S:x3`:PxpwWY4}-@%2t hg}V^;a These older codes dont consider the actual light output, which affects safety more than anything. } Outlet receptacles for general use can be no closer than 20 feet from a poolor in-ground spa if they are not GFCI-protected, and no closer than 6 feet away if they are GFCI protected. On outdoor pools, that measurement should be at least 60 foot candles. 33 0 obj
<>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<462215443D2A4632C158015CA1B5EBE4><95E829FEA4C8B8409D44D990F1B31091>]/Index[10 40]/Info 9 0 R/Length 116/Prev 204069/Root 11 0 R/Size 50/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream
I have been told that I have a porch light too close to my swimming pool. Be Safe, zRk9;WRN2Qq"|p9EgcI*)T+T(PA}&a.W${Wt6B1VpbJf>4dq.|t2T)IW'r/UvyEgTxXNbe ?(gY[>n Will this provide the protection that we need? %%EOF
<>>>
When completing a pool and handing over the keys, so to speak, designers and builders should warn owners and operators about the need to clean bulbs and ballasts, and to replace lights. Electrical Contractor Magazine, Taking Care of the Farm: Protecting livestock from stray voltages, Examining Adjustments to Chapter 2: Accepting (NEC) change, part 6, Agricultural Building Wiring, Unlisted Appliances and More, Standard Under Construction: The 2024 NFPA 70E revision process continues, Circuit Review: Reclassifying Class 2 and Class 3 power sources to Class 1, Vaccination Room Requirements, Service Conductors Over Pools and More, Transformer Overcurrent Protection: How to safeguard 1,000V and less, Diving Into the Nitty Gritty: Accepting (NEC) change, part 5, Cabinets and Panelboards in Article 312: Be specific when it comes to panelboards, part 2, Arcing Short-Circuit Current: 2018 IEEE 1584, Part 2. The internet of things relates to many types of electrical utilization equipment, appliances, electronics, and so forth that are all connected to and controlled through the internet in some way. :d*-u'lq[*T}mV_llI :-C'?99%@KN "jt&c7? Public swimming pools must meet the standards of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Dave. You get so much coverage from each fixture, Weathers says. Although there are some very good handyman workers that do a variety of fine work, they are not typically not licensed electricians. Do you have to have a brass or plastic pool light J-box with a #8 in the pool light enclosure if the house is old, or can it go in to a bell box above the water line. Hi Kunney, MFk t,:.FW8c1L&9aX:
rbl1 IAdminfootr01a_01_02 = new Image(137, 28);IAdminfootr01a_01_02.src = '/images/txreg_nav.gif'; endobj
I hope this helps, Each ones different, so you have to really look at the beam spread on the fixture and be able to triangulate that so you dont have dark spots.. You need to space your fixtures correctly., On lazy rivers and other curvy, freeform aquatic elements, space the lights closer together than normal to make sure every inch is illuminated. @~ (* {d+}G}WL$cGD2QZ4 E@@ A(q`1D `'u46ptc48.`R0) <>
It also addresses the issue of installing an 8 AWG solid or stranded copper bonding conductor for metallic forming shells. Hodge also does ghostwriting projects for books, as well as poetry pieces. She currently writes content for various websites, specializing in health and fitness. The alleged electrician who removed this GFCI protection has placed himself in an extremely liable position. Wet niche luminaire requirements are in 680.23(B), which addresses wiring for the luminaire that is installed in either a metallic forming shell or a nonmetallic forming shell. A wire stripping tool used to safely strip electrical wires. hbbd```b``"@$f:DH R, Please note all three conditions that must be met. We've updated our Privacy Policy, which will go in to effect on September 1, 2022. But in the HMAC sector (hotel, motel, apartment and condo), this part of pool design is often done incorrectly. function dm(msgStr) { The in-ground pool design included the latest cleaning system, new LED lighting, a variable-speed pump motor, and interconnection to smart-home Wi-Fi systems. Lighting is required to be placed so that all areas of the swimming pool are clearly visible and without glare. /Length 2596
Swimming pools are only one of many types of equipment and new technologies that are connected to it. J~]%+0:dX~tA H[
l&(/H !\A3c776e(##=VC+Kas)9XJp{jWp)y4?roX']QPQUho"7iY-#a When there is insufficient space in the area to maintain a 5-foot separation, wiring may be closer than 5 feet if it is installed in a complete raceway (conduit) system. Having trouble finding time to sit down with the latest issue of ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR? The biggest problem I see is probably lack of underwater lighting., For this reason, installers should not rely solely on local codes to establish the minimum guidelines. This is great to troubleshoot a problem with outlet circuit wiring, is also used by most inspectors to test for power and check the polarity of circuit wiring.