Home > National Electrical Code > Code Quiz

Quizzes on the Code

Oct 1, 2002 12:00 PM, By Mike Holt, NEC Consultant

Choose the best answer:

You may not locate cables for _____ systems less than 10 ft from the water's edge of swimming and wading pools, diving structures, observation stands, towers, or platforms.
(a) telephone
(b) radio
(c) CATV
(d) all of these
You must locate overhead, network-powered broadband communications system conductors no less than _____ ft from the edge of swimming and wading pools or the base of diving structures.
(a) 22.5
(b) 25
(c) 27
(d) 30
The “maintenance” disconnect for pool equipment applies to all utilization equipment, including lighting.
(a) true
(b) false
You can install one 15A or 20A, single-phase, 125V receptacle at a dwelling unit not less than _____ ft from the inside wall of the pool (measured horizontally) if the dimensions of the lot don't allow for the required receptacle outlet to be located at least 10 ft from the water's edge.
(a) 3
(b) 5
(c) 6
(d) 8
You must provide GFCI protection for all receptacles supplying pool pump motors that are rated 15A or 20A, single-phase, and 120V through 240V, even if the receptacle is located more than 20 ft from the water's edge.
(a) true
(b) false
You must locate switching devices at least 5 ft from the inside walls of a pool unless the switch is listed as acceptable for use within 5 ft.
(a) true
(b) false
You must bond all reinforcing steel of a water structure to a common bonding grid.
(a) true
(b) false
You can't install a portable electric sign in or within _____ ft of the inside walls of a fountain.
(a) 3
(b) 5
(c) 10
(d) 12

Answers and Discussion

(d), all of these. The requirements of 680.8(B) apply to all communications, radio, and CATV cables within the scope of Art. 800 through 820.
(a), 22.5. The requirements of 680.8(C) don't prohibit a utility from installing overhead communications cables over a pool [90.2(B)(4)], but they do prohibit the installation of a pool under an existing utility-owned overhead supply. The utility installs its equipment and conductors per the requirements of the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC), not the NEC.
(b), false. A change to 680.12 clarifies that the maintenance disconnecting means doesn't apply to lighting equipment. All disconnecting means are switches (Art. 404), and switches must be located at least 5 ft horizontally from the inside walls of a pool, unless separated from the pool by a solid fence, wall, or other permanent barrier [680.22(C)].
(b), 5. A new rule [680.22(A)(4)] allows you to install the required 15A or 20A, single-phase, 125V receptacle for outdoor pools and spas associated with dwelling units [680.22(A)(3)] less than 10 ft, but not closer than 5 ft from the inside wall of the pool or spa (measured horizontally), if the dimensions of the property prevent you from locating the receptacle 10 ft away, as required in 680.22(A)(3).
(a), true. The revised text in 680.22(A)(5) states that GFCI protection is required for all 15A or 20A receptacles installed on 120V through 240V circuits that supply single-phase receptacles for pool pump motors. Since receptacles are rated 125V, 208V, and 250V, technically this rule doesn't apply to 250V receptacles.
(a), true. An example of a switch that meets this requirement would be a pneumatic switch listed for this purpose. The revised text in 680.22(C) allows you to install pneumatic, or non-electric, switches listed for this purpose within 5 ft of the water's edge.
(b), false. Although the revised text of 680.26(B)(1) requires you to bond all non-insulated reinforcing steel of the water structure to a common bonding grid, it doesn't require you to bond any reinforcing steel that is encapsulated with a nonconductive compound. If you decide to use reinforcing steel encapsulated with a nonconductive coating, you must provide an alternate means to eliminate voltage gradients.

However, no acceptable method is currently available to bond nonconductive-coated steel. So technically, you could have answered “true” and still been right. An NEC task group has been assembled to investigate this issue and provide data to the industry on how this could be accomplished and how to eliminate the vagueness of this rule.
(b), 5. Per 680.57, you can't install portable electric signs within 5 ft of the inside walls of a fountain because they pose a greater shock hazard than a fixed or stationary sign.