I am told by my City inspector that I need to have a 6" squared steel wire mesh as an equipotential Bonding grid around the perimeter of the pool. Question is, where can I get it from? I need approx. 100 feet.
Wire Mesh for Bonding Grid
- Thread starter Malibu07
- Start date
Google up Greaves bonding grid to see what it looks like. Like Bruce said, you should be able to find it locally.
Seems like your inspector is going to enforce it. Some do, some dont. :|
Seems like your inspector is going to enforce it. Some do, some dont. :|
Malibu07 said:Yeah, I don't understand why either. My pool has Polymer walls.
It really doesnt matter if you have polymer walls or not. While the walls in your case do not have to be bonded, the metal equipment around the pool does. The pump, heater, SWG (if you have them), ladder, hand rail, etc all have to be bonded. It keeps everything around the pool at the same potential. The deck didnt have to be bonded under earlier versions of the electrical code. Even now, some places do not enforce it, others do, although its becoming more common.
Malibu07 said:Yeah, I don't understand why either. My pool has Polymer walls.
Because of situations like these:
shock-therapy-free-with-pool-ouch-t9911.html?hilit=bonding rebar
stray-voltages-between-concrete-deck-and-pool-t9390.html?hilit=bonding rebar
electrical-shock-in-swimming-pool-t6697.html?hilit=bonding rebar
They Might. You can check with the eletrical inspector to see if he absolutely requires copper. A lot of time, the wire mesh thats used as underlayment for concrete will be sufficient. I know you can get that at HD or lowes.
When I asked the Inspector if we had to use Copper his reply was this;
You may supplement the number eight copper conductor with reinforcing six inch square steel mesh design for reinforcing concrete. All metal with-in five feet of the pool perimeter must connect to the number eight grid conductor.
Remember the metal coping made continous by a number eight copper conductor is not the perimeter grid conductor.
You may supplement the number eight copper conductor with reinforcing six inch square steel mesh design for reinforcing concrete. All metal with-in five feet of the pool perimeter must connect to the number eight grid conductor.
Remember the metal coping made continous by a number eight copper conductor is not the perimeter grid conductor.
Ok looks like he's going to let you use it. You just lay the mesh down around the pool and wire tie it to the # 8 every so often are ur good.
The city was making everyone use Copper until many pool builders complained. I had to write to the inspector three times until he could give me the answer I was looking for. I told him in one of my emails that I understood why they wanted everyone including those with Fiberglass and Polymer walled pools, to have the equipotential bonding but I didn't understand why they wanted us to use materials that would not hold up under cement. I explained to him that it has been proven that cement will eat through the copper thus defeating the whole purpose for having an equipotential bonding. Then I asked him point blank could I use stainless steel and that's when he sent me that reply.
Malibu07 said:
Yea, I dont know why some inspectors have to be that way. They would have a better reputation if they interacted with the public better.
bk406 said:
They don't care about their reputation 'cuz it really don't matter to them. They are not there to be helpful, not does their pay or next job depend on it. Unlike like most of us, being courteous and helpful is not really required from the inspectors since they just go to the next job on the docket and get it done. We, however, have to be civil and helpful so that we maintain our good reputations and get referred to the next job/customer/client/whatever.
Done bagging on inspectors. Folding soap box and going away now.....
Yea I know. I've dealt with them on and off for 25 years and found only a handful I actually liked.
blakeusa
In The Industry
It sounds like he wants you to take the #8 copper wire that should already be around your pool- connecting your lights etc to the wire mesh screen that Yes you can get at Home Dupo or Lowes. It's sold in rolls and is used in concrete decking. The copper wire needs to be connected with proper electrical lugs- and should be tied in more than one time.
blakeusa said:
thanks blakeusa, I will make sure that the guy helping us is aware of the proper lugs. He did already install the #8 Copper wire around the perimeter. That part was passed earlier by the inspector and that's when he told me we needed the bonding grid.
I'm just trying to get everything in place so when the weather breaks we can move on. I did pay for a 6 month extension on our Building Permit.
Holy mackeral; they charged you for an extension? Greedy buggers :xMalibu07 said:I did pay for a 6 month extension on our Building Permit.
bk406 said:Holy mackeral; they charged you for an extension? Greedy buggers :xMalibu07 said:I did pay for a 6 month extension on our Building Permit.
Yeah, it wasn't much, $40.00. I guess the City tries to squeeze what ever they can from their tax paying citizens.
Great, my husband looked in Home Depot for the wire mesh and reported they have it. It will cost approx. $100 for all that I need. Not bad considering the cost for Copper was 7x that amount!
