logo
    • News
    • Classifieds
    • Free Subscription
    • Book Store
    • Submit
      • Submit a Classified Ad
      • Submit an Educational Announcement
      • Submit a letter to The Editor
    • Past Issues
    • Regional Trade Shows
    • Testimonials
    • Contact
    • News
    • Classifieds
    • Free Subscription
    • Book Store
    • Submit
      • Submit a Classified Ad
      • Submit an Educational Announcement
      • Submit a letter to The Editor
    • Past Issues
    • Regional Trade Shows
    • Testimonials
    • Contact
News
November 10, 2022
Explaining electricity and swimming pools

By Consolidated Manufacturing International

Proper grounding and bonding around a swimming pool are critical because water conducts electricity. There are multiple grounding and bonding mistakes pool professionals commonly make when constructing a pool. Here’s how to avoid them: The first error usually encountered is not knowing the difference between grounding and bonding. Bonding is connecting metallic objects together. From a technical perspective, this keeps all metal at the same potential voltage, so without a difference in potential voltage, you have no current flow and will not get shocked. This is how a bird on a powerline does not get shocked. Grounding is providing an electrical path to the earth, like “bonding” to the earth, and an excess electric charge will disperse instead of building up and creating a potential hazard.

There are two general types of pool shells, Conductive pool shells like Gunite/Shotcrete/Concrete, and Non-Conductive pool shells like Fiberglass or Vinyl Liner. A common mistake is that pools need to be grounded and not bonded, when in reality, as stated by a utility industry expert, a conductive shell pool is the world’s best ground rod. The National Electrical Code, published by the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), requires all metal objects within 5 feet of the water to be bonded together, such as ladders, handrails, and metal light niches. This is referred to as equipotential bonding, and there is a difference between equipotential bonding (keeping all metal objects at equal potential voltage) and creating an equipotential plane.

When metal objects are bonded as mentioned, they are connected together, which ensures the objects stay at the same potential voltage. All the metal in the pool area, including the rebar reinforcement of a gunite pool, is all bonded together with a #8 solid copper wire and usually attached to the pump motor. The pump is powered from an electrical panel with circuit breakers, and that electrical panel is of course connected to the electric utility company’s distribution system, which includes the neutral wire. Therefore, whatever voltage is on the utility system neutral is now on the pool system. Think of the pool system altogether floating in the air at various heights. The various heights represent the various voltages on the pool. However, as long as you stand on the “platform” you won’t fall off and get hurt. It’s the same with standing on a pool system that is energized — as long as you stand in the water or on a bonded deck, you won’t “step off” onto a different potential voltage, make an electrical path connection, and get hurt. If that bird sitting on a wire were to be heavy enough to make it sag to the ground and touch the earth, which is at a different potential voltage, that bird will make a connection and a current will flow, hurting or killing that bird.

A fiberglass or vinyl liner pool protects the water from stray voltage in the ground. A gunite pool is conductive and exposes the swimmer to stray voltage in the ground. However, the rebar reinforcement of the gunite creates an equipotential plane around the body of water that protects the swimmer from this stray voltage, as it can’t pass through the equipotential plane.

Years ago, rebar was used in the concrete decks that extend the equipotential plane from around the body of water to underneath the deck. However, lots of builders now use fiber reinforced concrete, which is strong enough for a person to walk on without reinforcement. Pavers are also popular and have no need for steel reinforcing. Beware, this can be very dangerous because there is no equipotential grid in the deck to protect the swimmer who is now standing dripping wet, with one foot on the protected pool system and one foot off. All utility industry experts weighing in on the matter — including EPRI, IEEE, and NEETRAC — recommend a steel or copper grid in or under the deck to provide this protection. Again, this grid extends the equipotential plane from around the pool to a few feet out, increasing the size of the “platform”.

Creating an equipotential plane is often confused with equipotential bonding of all metal in the pool area using the #8 bond wire attaching the objects. It is important to understand that they are two separate issues, and both must be done. This will result in a very safe pool environment that is healthy and can be enjoyed for many years.

LATEST NEWS
Homes with pools raise price and sell speed
News
Homes with pools raise price and sell speed
Demand for houses with swimming pools remains strong in warm weather states
June 30, 2025
By Marcelle Dibrell As summer begins to heat up, so does the U.S. housing market — though not evenly across the board. Buyers and sellers are navigati...
this is a test
News
Final summer survey results tallied
June 30, 2025
Each year, Service Industry News takes the pulse of the pool and spa service sector through our comprehensive survey, and in this final installment of...
this is a test
during the pandemic peak. This ….
News
during the pandemic peak. This ….
June 30, 2025
during the pandemic peak. This has resulted in a widening gap between buyers and sellers. According to Redfin, there are approximately 1.9 million sel...
this is a test
News
Chem exposure sends 5 to hospital
June 30, 2025
Several patrons at a residential community swimming pool in Apache Junction, Arizona, were sent to the hospital following a hazardous materials incide...
this is a test
News
New Jersey city pool workers arrested
June 30, 2025
A group of municipal pool workers in New Jersey has been arrested for allegedly stealing chemicals from the Secaucus town pool to support their privat...
this is a test
Gators swim to escape heat wave
News
Gators swim to escape heat wave
June 30, 2025
As summer heats up across the South, pool technicians are being reminded that it’s not just algae or cloudy water that can cause a service delay. Some...
this is a test
Read Our Newsletter
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
Free Subscription
View Current Print Ads
Educational Announcements
Aquatic Training Institute

Educational Leverage

Foundation For Pool Industry Education

Locey Pool

Pool Chemistry Training Institute

Pool & Hot Tub Alliance

Portofino University

Underwater Pool Masters
Trade Show Dates
  • The International Pool Spa Patio Expo
    Nov. 12-14, Dallas, Texas
  • The Pool and Spa Show
    Jan. 28-30, Atlantic City, New Jersey
  • 35th Annual National Plasterers Conference
    Feb. 26-28, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
  • The Southwest Pool and Spa Show
    Feb. 4-8, Houston, Texas
  • The Western Pool and Spa Show
    Feb. 6-8, Long Beach, California
Books to Order
About Us Terms of Use Privacy Policy
We use cookies to ensure that our website gives you the best experience possible. By continuing to use this website, you agree to this use of cookies.OK