Ensuring pool safety through proper electrical bonding

Effective equipotential bonding of swimming and spa pools is essential for the protection of pool users against the effects of electricity under fault or abnormal conditions.

Even a very low voltage and/or minor electric shock can cause muscle spasms, leading to serious risks, including drowning.

The role of AS/NZS 3000 Wiring Rules

To reduce the risk of electric shock in swimming and spa pools, AS/NZS 3000 (the Wiring Rules) provides specific requirements for electrical bonding of concrete steel reinforcing and other conductive metal parts located within arm’s reach (1.25m) of the pool edge (such as metal fencing and/or metal spigots or poles supporting non-metal fencing).

It’s crucial for pool installers to work closely and consult with electricians from the initial design stage to determine whether bonding is required. The electrician will need to know:

• the location and type of electrical equipment being installed
• the location of any conductive fittings within or attached to the pool, such as pool ladders and diving boards
• the location of any fixed conductive parts within 1.25m of the pool edge, (such as pool fences and light poles and shade support structures).

Only a licensed electrician can install electrical bonding conductors.

Planning bonding early

To avoid delays where equipotential bonding is required, electricians should attend the site while the reinforcing is still exposed, and before concrete is poured or sprayed, to carry out the required electrical work and testing.

Some installers may attempt shortcuts by leaving a length of reinforcing steel or bonding conductor tail out of the pool shell for the electrician to later connect the bonding conductor. This is unsafe, as it prevents necessary testing to ensure the pool shell itself is effectively bonded.

Responsibilities and compliance

Effective electrical bonding is key to ensuring pool safety. Pool installers must ensure that when the pool is installed it is electrically safe and complies with the requirement of the Wiring Rules.

A standard pool building contract may exclude electrical work other than the installation of a bonding conductor connected to the reinforcing mesh of the pool shell or bond beam. Irrespective of this contract condition, the pool installer has a duty under the Electrical Safety Act 2002 to ensure their business or undertaking is conducted in a way that is electrically safe.

This includes ensuring that there is an effective and electrically continuous connection between the electrical installations earthing system and any point required to be equipotentially bonded.

Always consult with your electrical contractor to ensure suitable bonding arrangements are put in place and always obtain a certificate of test from your installing electrical contractor – this should confirm the electrical work complies with the Wiring Rules, has been tested, and is electrically safe.