I recently shared my thoughts with you on the danger of electric shock in bodies of water in our August 2014 issue. Although I briefly touched on the topic of swimming pools in this earlier editorial, my main focus was really on ponds and lakes where docks and marinas are located. After discussing the danger electricity poses at these locations and reviewing the terrifying issue of electric shock drowning, we now turn our attention to electric shock hazards in and around swimming pools.
These three headlines all appeared within the last three months.
• “Pool Repairman Dies in Suspected Electrocution in Florida” — a pool repairman died while working on a pool light at a private residence in Panama City Beach, Fla.
• “Pennsylvania Town Closes Pool After Shocks Reported” — a town shut down its pool after a patron reported feeling electrical currents while sitting on the pool deck.
• “Children Shocked in Public Pool in Philadelphia” — a city shuts down public pool after three children were shocked. Area residents said children had complained for the past month or so of tingling or “pins and needles” sensation when swimming.
We reported on these events via news posts on our website. Although they’re a small sample size of what’s taking place around the country, they do reinforce the need for proper design and construction techniques, enhanced maintenance and testing procedures, and widespread training on the proper bonding and grounding techniques for swimming pools. For those of you performing electrical work on swimming pools at any type of facility, these types of stories help drive home the importance of your work.
Article 680 of the NEC covers effective bonding and grounding requirements, the use of GFCIs, and proper installation of luminaires and receptacles in close proximity to or directly associated with the pool. Protection techniques include the use of GFCI devices, double-insulated equipment, equipotential bonding grids, and insulation and isolation techniques. Anyone involved in the design or construction of pools should be intimately familiar with the latest requirements set forth in this 2014 edition of the NEC.
Although all of these requirements are critical to a successful installation, the spotlight of late seems to be focused on lighting systems. With the proliferation of LEDs in the market, debates are now taking place with regard to the pros and cons of traditional incandescent-based luminaires (120V systems) vs. LED or even fiber-optic low-voltage type units. Codes and standards, as well as education initiatives among the installation and inspection community, are struggling to keep pace with the introduction of these new technologies. The concern is that new rules and regulations get adopted that lock designers/installers into using a specific technology, which ultimately may or may not prove to be as safe. A more detailed review of these factors and several others are outlined in this month’s cover story, written by Tom Zind, “Pool Shock Peril Resurfaces.”
Just as I noted in my August editorial, maintenance and testing of these protective systems is a crucial component for the everyday safety of swimmers. Corrosion and deteriorated bonding and grounding connections often expose swimmers to shock and electrocution hazards. Many times, these faulty connections can be traced back to the use and installation of non-listed connectors and poor workmanship, which ultimately lead to a breakdown in the overall protective system.
