Home > Library > What to Know Before Wiring a Hot Tub Electricity and water can be a dangerous combination. Electricians and contractors need proper training, familiarity with code and an understanding of the basics such as motors, GFCI and wiring before installing hot tubs. Water and electricity don’t mix — unless you’re dealing with something like a hot tub. And because the potential dangers involved with wiring a hot tub may make most homeowners give pause, there is quite a market for qualified contractors. “When it comes to wiring electricity around water, that’s a big problem,” says Mike Holt, an author and electric code expert. Know the NEC Hot Tub Electrical Code Electricians and contractors need to read and understand the National Electric Code (NEC), especially the sections pertaining to hot tubs. Holt, who receives telephone calls from puzzled electricians on a regular basis, knows firsthand that many haven’t mastered the code as it relates to swimming pools, spas and hot tubs.

In response, Holt created a document that distills the complex language of the NEC for swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, fountains and similar installations and offers it free of charge through his Web site. Scott Hartke, who co-owns Alliance Electrical, based in Wichita, Kan., installs hot tubs frequently. “Once you get the basics down, it’s not hard at all,” he says.Puma Shoes In Montreal There are specific technical requirements to ensure hot tub installers and occupants remain safe. Homes For Sale By Owner 32092Although electricians should consult the NEC for complete code requirements, there is code that pertains specifically to hot tubs, according to Holt’s document:White Schipperke Puppies For Sale Emergency shut off: A clearly labeled emergency spa or hot tub water recirculation and jet system shutoff must be accessible to users and located not less than 5 feet away, but adjacent to and within sight of the hot tub.

The maintenance disconnecting means or a pushbutton that controls a relay can be used to meet this requirement. Flexible connections: Listed packaged spa or hot tub equipment assemblies or self-contained spas or hot tubs are permitted to use flexible connections as follows: flexible conduit; liquid-tight flexible metal conduit or liquid-tight flexible nonmetallic conduit in lengths of no more than 6 feet; and cord-and-plug connections with a GFCI-protected cord that is not longer than 15 feet. Bonding: Bonding is permitted by mounting equipment to a metal frame or base. Metal bands that secure wooden staves aren’t required to be bonded. Interior wiring for outdoor spas or hot tubs: Any wiring method, which is outlined in a previous chapter of the NEC, containing a copper equipment grounding (bonding) conductor that is insulated or enclosed within the outer sheath of the wiring method and not smaller than 12 AWG is permitted for the connection to motor, heating and control loads that are part of a self-contained spa or hot tub

, or a packaged spa or hot tub equipment assembly. Hot Tub Installation Don’ts Don’t install a hot tub under any power lines. “A lot of people don’t think about that,” Hartke says. “I know when they buy their tub, it’ll say that on their brochures, but I still see people all the time sticking them under power lines.” Not only is it unsafe, but the practice also violates the NEC. Don’t use underground wiring under outdoor hot tubs. If space constraints prevent wiring from being at least 5 feet away, underground wiring should be installed in rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit or a nonmetallic raceway system that is listed for direct burial. Then it must be buried. The minimum depth is 6 inches for metal raceways and 18 inches for nonmetallic raceways. Don’t install low-voltage lighting within 10 feet of the hot tub, even if it is GFCI protected, which is required by code. Don’t forget to consult state and local codes in addition to the NEC.

Be sure to join the Lowe’s ProServices LinkedIn Group to read additional content and interact with other Construction/Trade and MRO professionals. NEXT ARTICLE5 Strategies to Improve Safety in Your SPREVIOUS ARTICLEConverting Residential Homes into CommerAstorable pool is typically purchased by the user and not professionally installed. This may seem like something that should not concern electricians. However, the NEC has requirements for storable pools that must be followed when making any electrical installation in the vicinity of a storable pool. Parts I and III of Art. 680 apply to storable pools [680.30]. A storable pool includes one of the following characteristics [680.2]: It's constructed on or above the ground and is capable of holding up to 42 in. of water, or It has nonmetallic, molded polymeric (plastic) walls or inflatable fabric walls, regardless of dimensions. For storable pools, cord-connected pumps must be double insulated and have a means to bond the internal metal parts to an equipment grounding conductor run with conductors in the cord.

The attachment plug must have integral GFCI protection [680.31]. GFCI protection is required for all receptacles that supply the electrical equipment used with storable pools [680.32] ( Fig. 1 ). Receptacles must be located at least 6 ft from the inside walls of a storable pool. This distance is measured using the shortest path a cord could follow without passing through a wall, doorway, or window [680.34]. A spa or hot tub is a hydromassage pool or tub designed for recreational use, which is typically not drained after each use [680.2]. Electrical installations for outdoor spas and hot tubs must comply with Parts I and II of Art. 680 along with the special provisions included for outdoor spas and hot tubs in Part IV [680.40]. The special provisions in Part IV for outdoor installations are: Flexible connections and cord-and-plug connections that meet certain criteria are allowed [680.42(A)]. Bonding through the use of metalto-metal contact on a common frame or base is permitted. The metal bands that secure wooden staves are not required to be bonded [680.42(B)].

Wiring to an underwater light must comply with 680.23 or 680.33. A clearly labeled emergency shutoff for the recirculation and jet system must be supplied for all spas and hot tubs, except in a single-family dwelling. The disconnect must be readily accessible to users and not less than 5 ft away, but adjacent to and within sight of the spa or hot tub [680.41]. A push button that controls a relay can be used to meet this shutoff requirement. The purpose of the emergency shutoff is to protect users because deaths and injuries have occurred even in shallow water due to individuals becoming stuck to the water intake openings ( Fig. 2). Indoor installations of spas and hot tubs must also comply with Parts I and II of Art. 680, except as modified by Part IV. You can use any Chapter 3 wiring method for indoor spas and hot tubs [680.43]. Listed packaged spa and hot tub units rated 20A or less are permitted to be cordand plug-connected. The emergency shutoff switch requirements previously mentioned apply to indoor installations as well as outdoor spa and hot tubs [680.41].

At least one 15A or 20A, 125V receptacle must be installed at least 6 ft (measured horizontally), but not more than 10 ft, from an inside wall of the spa or hot tub [680.43(A)]. Other receptacles must be located not less than 6 ft from the nearest inside wall of the spa or hot tub. If within 10 ft of an inside wall, 125V receptacles rated 30A or less must be GFCI protected. All receptacles that provide power for an indoor spa or hot tub must be GFCI protected [680.43(A)(3)]. Luminaires and ceiling fans within 5 ft (measured horizontally) of an inside wall of an indoor spa or hot tub must be at least [680.43(B)(1): 12 ft above the spa or hot tub if not GFCI protected. 7½ ft above the spa or hot tub if GFCI protected. Luminaires and ceiling fans are allowed to be less than 7½ ft above the indoor spa or hot tub if they are GFCI protected, and the luminaire is either: Recessed with a glass or plastic lens, nonmetallic or electrically isolated metal trim, and suitable for use in damp locations.

Surface-mounted with a glass or plastic globe, a nonmetallic body, or a metallic body isolated from contact, and suitable for use in damp locations. Switches must be at least 5 ft from any inside walls of an indoor spa or hot tub [680.43(C)]. The following metal parts of the indoor spa or hot tub must be bonded together [680.43(D)]: Fittings within or attached to the spa or hot tub structure. Metal parts of electrical equipment associated with the water circulating system. Metal surfaces, metal raceways, and metal piping that are within 5 ft of an inside wall of an indoor spa or hot tub and not separated from it by a permanent barrier. Nonelectrical equipment, such as towel bars or mirror frames, which aren't connected to metallic piping. Metal parts of a listed self-contained spa or hot tub. Metal parts of a spa or hot tub are allowed to be bonded by means of: Threaded metal piping and fittings. Metal-to-metal mounting to a common frame or base. A solid copper conductor at least 8 AWG.

GFCI protection must be provided for the outlet supplying a self-contained indoor spa or hot tub, or supplying a packaged spa or hot tub equipment assembly, or any field-assembled spa or hot tub. Because this rule applies to all outlets and not just receptacle outlets, a hard-wired indoor spa or hot tub requires GFCI protection [680.44]. Additional GFCI protection isn't required for: A listed self-contained spa or hot tub or a listed packaged spa or hot tub assembly marked to indicate that integral GFCI protection has been provided for electrical parts within the unit or assembly [680.44(A)] [ Fig. 3 ]. A field-assembled spa or hot tub rated 3-phase or that has a voltage rating greater than 250V, or a heater load above 50A [680.44(B)]. Equipment that supplies a combination pool/hot tub or spa assembly [680.44(C)]. A fountain is defined as an ornamental, display, or reflection pool [680.2]. Fountain installations must comply with Parts I and V of Art. 680. Fountains that have water in common with a pool must also comply with Part II of Art.

The branch circuit that supplies luminaires, submersible pumps, and other submersible equipment must be GFCI protected, unless the equipment is listed for operation at not more than 15V and is supplied by a listed pool transformer that complies with 680.23(A)(2) [680.51]. A luminaire installed in a fountain must have the top of the lens below the normal water level, unless the luminaire is listed for above-water use [680.51(C)]. The maximum length of each exposed cord in the fountain is 10 ft. Any cord that extends beyond the fountain perimeter must be run in an enclosure approved by the authority having jurisdiction [680.51(E)]. Equipment must be capable of being removed from the water for relamping or for normal maintenance [680.51(F)]. However, equipment must be inherently stable or securely fastened in place [680.51(G)]. Metal piping associated with the fountain must be bonded to the equipment grounding conductor of the branch circuit that supplies the fountain equipment [680.53]. If equipment is supplied by a flexible cord, connect exposed metal parts to an insulated copper equipment grounding conductor that is an integral part of the cord [680.55(B)].

Flexible cords exposed to water must be of the hard-service type, as designated in Table 400.4, and must be marked with a “W” suffix to indicate they may be used in wet locations [680.56(B)]. Cordand plug-connected fountain equipment [680.56(A)]. Each circuit that supplies a sign installed within a fountain or within 10 ft of the fountain edge [680.57(B)]. All 15A and 20A, 125V through 250V receptacles located within 20 ft of the fountain edge [680.58]. A hydromassage bathtub is a permanently installed bathtub with a recirculating piping system designed to accept, circulate, and discharge water after each use [680.2]. 680 requirements it must comply with are those in Part VII [680.70]. Hydromassage bathtubs and their associated electrical components must be on an individual branch circuit protected by a readily accessible GFCI [680.71]. You must also provide GFCI protection for any 125V receptacles rated 30A or less, if they're within 6 ft of any inside wall of a hydromassage bathtub ( Fig. 4 ).

Luminaires, switches, receptacles, and other electrical equipment located in the same room and not directly associated with a hydromassage bathtub must comply with Chapters 1 through 4 [680.72]. In other words, treat a hydromassage bathtub like a regular bathtub for these purposes. For example, a 5 ft clearance isn't required for switches or receptacles, and the fixtures must be installed per 410.4(D). Electrical equipment for hydromassage bathtubs must be capable of being removed or exposed without damaging the building [680.73]. If the building contains a metal piping system, it must be bonded with a solid copper conductor, 8 AWG or larger, to the circulating pump grounding lug. Bonding to the pump isn't necessary if it's double insulated. The 8 AWG or larger copper equipotential hydromassage bonding jumper isn't required to be connected to any remote panelboard, service equipment, or electrode [680.74]. This concludes the series on Art. 680. Before you install any electrical equipment related to pools, spas, hot tubs or anything that will contain water and people, read through the definitions in 680.2 to see exactly what kind of installation you are dealing with.