Code Q&A

Dec. 4, 2008

We had a new swimming pool installed at our house, and the electricians ran a cable to the pool equipment room panel. Is this legal?

Mike Holt

Q. We had a new swimming pool installed at our house, and the electricians ran a cable to the pool equipment room panel. Is this legal?

Ecmweb Com Nec Code Qa 12 04 08 Cq Amp Aweb

A. No. Feeder conductors to a panelboard for a permanently installed pool must be installed in rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit, liquidtight flexible nonmetallic conduit, or PVC conduit. Electrical metallic tubing is permitted where installed on or within a building, and electrical nonmetallic tubing is permitted where installed within a building [680.25(A)].

About the Author

Mike Holt

Mike Holt is the owner of Mike Holt Enterprises (www.MikeHolt.com), one of the largest electrical publishers in the United States. He earned a master's degree in the Business Administration Program (MBA) from the University of Miami. He earned his reputation as a National Electrical Code (NEC) expert by working his way up through the electrical trade. Formally a construction editor for two different trade publications, Mike started his career as an apprentice electrician and eventually became a master electrician, an electrical inspector, a contractor, and an educator. Mike has taught more than 1,000 classes on 30 different electrical-related subjects — ranging from alarm installations to exam preparation and voltage drop calculations. He continues to produce seminars, videos, books, and online training for the trade as well as contribute monthly Code content to EC&M magazine.