All references are based on the 2023 edition of the NEC.
Problems at the Pool
If you look closely at the photo, you may notice the gray PVC junction box directly above the underwater light and in the dirt just outside the concrete wall of the pool. That junction box is not the correct type of box and cannot be located there.
Junction boxes connected to a conduit extending directly to the forming shell of a wet-niche light or the mounting bracket of a no-niche light must be listed, labeled, and identified as a swimming pool junction box as specified in Sec. 680.24(A)(1). As for the location of the box, it is required to be placed no less than 4 ft horizontally from the inside wall of the pool in accordance with the provisions of Sec. 680.24(A)(2). For luminaires operating above the low-voltage contact limit as defined in Art. 100, Sec. 680.24(A)(2)(a) requires the junction box to be located no less than 4 in. above the ground or pool deck or no less than 8 in. above the maximum water level of the pool — whichever is higher. For low-voltage luminaires, Sec. 680.24(A)(2)(c) permits boxes to be installed flush with the deck if the box is filled with a potting compound and is located no less than 4 ft from the inside wall of the pool. This box is installed way too close to the pool!
A Disappearing Act
If those vines keep growing, it won’t take long for the service disconnect and the metering equipment to be completely enveloped and unrecognizable. I feel bad for any workers needing to work on that disconnect, especially if there is any poison ivy growing amongst those vines. I’m itchy just thinking about it.
While this installation may have complied with Sec. 230.70(A)(1) requirements to be “readily accessible” when it was initially installed, the vines and other vegetation growing all over the side of this building currently create obstacles that would need to be removed in order to access the equipment. This equipment is no longer “readily accessible.” Would a person be able turn off the power quickly in an emergency? Or would those vines restrict the movement of the disconnect handle? There are not many Code rules written about vegetation, but installers must be aware of the surroundings and the possibility of any future vegetation growth that may create problems or hazards for the electrical installation. In this case, the vegetation should be cut back and maintained in a manner that permits safe, Code-compliant access to this electrical equipment.
