When talking about safety-specific products, something thats often taken for granted in the whole equation is lighting. 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. What they should be doing is [placing lights] on the sides, all the way to the point where it becomes too shallow to install a fixture, Weathers says. Some state and municipal codes only call for 3 foot candles well below that called for by the IES. stream Hi Josh Great Question! *1 J "6DTpDQ2(C"QDqpIdy~kg} LX Xg` l pBF|l *? Y"1 P\8=W%O4M0J"Y2Vs,[|e92se'9`2&ctI@o|N6 (.sSdl-c(2-y H_/XZ.$&\SM07#1Yr fYym";8980m-m(]v^DW~ emi ]P`/ u}q|^R,g+\Kk)/C_|Rax8t1C^7nfzDpu$/EDL L[B@X! Timothy Thiele is an IBEW Local #176 Union Electrician with over 30 years of experience in residential, commercial, and industrial wiring. pools, should be designed not only to set a mood, but also to help The metallic forming shell must be bonded to the equipotential bonding grid covered in Section 680.26. This way, the glare is reduced and its much easier to change the bulbs. There are some exceptions when the wiring attaches to the pool or spa to serve equipment or lighting. Getting the best possible light may require designers to incorporate new habits. In a commercial setting, lighting becomes even more important, as it illuminates signs and helps lifeguards identify when people are in distress. 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. %PDF-1.6 % After last month, we continue to explore the many changes in the 2018 edition of IEEE 1584, Guide for Performing Arc-Flash Hazard Calculations. >> 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. Section 680.23(A)(5) addresses underwater luminaire location and requires the luminaire be at least 4 inches below the normal water level and not more than 18 inches below the normal water level. J~]%+0:dX~tA H[ l&(/H !\A3c776e(##=VC+Kas)9XJp{jWp)y4?roX']QPQUho"7iY-#a Instead, they can be on poles around the pool perimeter.). When you do calculations based on square footage of surface area, sometimes you have dark places between fixtures, Weathers says. 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. {{{;}#tp8_\. } image by Sergey Mostovoy from. endobj But the light beam will fade progressively the farther it travels, so the shallow end wont be well lit. Communications cable must be at least 10 feet above the water level or diving platform. Bathers use the shallow end more often than the deep, so make sure that area is well-lit. The listed cord assembly with the wet niche luminaire must include an insulated copper equipment grounding conductor not smaller than 16 AWG. } Codes may require a certain number of watts every so many square feet, but this doesnt take into account the beam spread and how much coverage the lights will provide. /Length 2596 The goal not only is to help swimmers read signs and avoid hitting the bottom of the pool, its also to help rescuers see when someone needs help. The IES suggests a minimum of 30 foot candles be detected at eye level on the deck. //-->, Lighting Requirements for Pools and Spas Constructed or Renovated on or After the Effective Date of this Subchapter. I have done some research and found out that this can cause a dangerous situation, possible electrocution of people in the pool if something happens. 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. Michael Johnston is NECAs executive directorof standards and safety. } Every time I see one of those pools with the lights over them, I look up and about five of them are burned out, Osinski says. xwTS7PkhRH H. endstream endobj startxref Ive been involved in litigation where lights were burned out, which gave a false indication of the pool depth, and someone dove in and hurt themselves., Rebecca Robledo is deputy editor of Pool & Spa News and Aquatics International. Your local building inspector can let you know what the most current guidelines are for electrical safety around pools and spas. hWmo8+UN7ie-jJ)xim7c ,=d=3ccxve+ `6p"v9%rLK:], y0fyiQFx)qRg ~~y'Q(38"am602I#h2@ZZHs:L4pA=)#6f&9 |+:'KAJbq"[)p i@oFAwP-e^9.dV7aiVx]Aj}s]liPl8KA^IRiTcIu0?Ja>ejEG$ d9$F CQL6uQoDT(sK,VI/I>d7'eUIzo| _kqR endobj I have been told that I have a porch light too close to my swimming pool. ,jny5cvC9{p]O=@5|g5hVZ68Y0@uycMa2j>Ko. I would also notify the pool company who uses this other person and inform them of their inadequacies and the liable position their actions are placing onto the referring pool company. Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. Ground-fault interrupters are required for all electrical outlets and pool lights surrounding the entire pool complex, including equipment rooms and dressing rooms. Then it goes to a breaker box by the pump that is dedicated to the pool equipment (pump and light only). Dave. 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. document.returnValue = true; I hope this helps, nE';0%F\u~8>mYEoz^,\iqubLN N8aFc;KKr}8cG,Se,2)%x[B|DI 1:7`]: