Electrical Safety and Pools
Proper bonding and grounding of a pool's electrical and metal equipment is essential for the safety of patrons.
Pools rely on electricity to run necessary equipment. When electricity is not properly connected to pool equipment and metal fixtures in the pool, small amounts of electricity can compromise the safety of bathers. Bonding and grounding of the pool’s electrical system is an important but largely unknown element of pool safety. Electrical components such as pumps, and non-current-carrying metallic components, such as pool rails, are electrically interconnected (bonded) and grounded to the earth so that electrical potential cannot exist between them.
The primary purpose of bonding is to keep people and electricity separated. Bonding connects, contains and prevents the transmission of any harmful electrical voltage to pool equipment and people. Grounding is the process by which the bonded pool components are connected to the earth. The goal of grounding is to direct and dissipate any harmful electrical current to the ground and away from pool equipment, people and pets.
Together, proper bonding and grounding ensure the electrical safety of the pool. Without a bonding system in place, bathers have the potential to conduct stray electrical current when touching the metal pool rail or pool water.
