July 5 , 2007

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New Florida Law Permits Single-Wire Alternative to Bonding Grid for Pools

On June 19, Governor Charlie Crist of Florida signed SB 2836, the Florida Building Commission bill. Section 1 of the bill related to bonding and grounding systems for swimming pools. Upon becoming law, the bill’s provisions became effective immediately. The bill authorizes the commission to review the bonding requirements in the 2005 National Electrical Code (NEC) and adopt an alternative to that 2005 NEC rule. Until the commission takes action, the bill allows the use of a single #8 bare copper wire around the perimeter of a pool as an alternative to a bonding grid.

On June 27, the Florida Building Commission held a rule development workshop on the bonding of swimming pools where they unanimously supported the recommendation of the commission’s Electrical Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) to follow Section 680.26 of the 2008 National Electrical Code (NEC) as an alternative to the current 2005 NEC bonding grid language. The 2008 NEC language is expected to be finalized next month and provides for the #8 single wire around the perimeter of the pool. The commission will hold a rule adoption hearing on this in August 2007.

The new law provides that, until the commission adopts an alternate rule, the use of the #8 single bare copper wire around the perimeter of a pool is permissible in Florida as an alternative to a bonding grid. "Therefore, as provided in SB 2836, the single wire alternative is in effect statewide," says Jennifer Hatfield, Director of Government and Public Affairs for the Florida Swimming Pool Association (FSPA).