Reasons for Bonding & Grounding a Swimming Pool
Did you know that about 400 people are electrocuted at home each year? Have you ever noticed that pool electrocutions are relatively unheard of?
Despite all the wires and equipment that go into a pool build, they are safe to use when built correctly. Electricity and water don’t mix, but there is a reason that swimming pools make it work.
The safety solution involves the processes of grounding and bonding. Does a pool need to be grounded or bonded? Keep reading to find out.
Why Are Grounding and Bonding Necessary?
Does a pool need to be grounded or bonded? Yes!
Grounding and bonding are both crucial parts of every new pool construction. Without them, the electrical components in the pool become dangerous to function.
Grounding and bonding stop pumps and motors from interacting with the ions in the pool water and creating a shock hazard.
If one of the wires connected to your pool equipment is frayed or broken, an electrical current will seek a path of lesser resistance to reach a positive charge. When this happens, electricity flows toward other pool components.
Metal and wooden components are most susceptible because they have a positive charge. If someone touches the components when the current reaches them, they’ll get shocked.
Bonding and grounding can prevent this from happening. These processes provide currents with a low-resistance path that leads to the ground. This means the electricity can safely discharge.
A lack of grounding and bonding can lead to electrocution, shocks, and even death. Don’t let this step slip if you want to protect yourself and your family.
What Is Bonding?
You might be wondering, “what’s the difference between bond and grounding a pool?” To learn, you’ll need to know how pool bonding works.
Pool bonding, otherwise known as equipotential bonding, involves connecting a pool’s metal components together with a copper wire. The components can include the following:
- Ladders
- Handrails
- Pumps
- Motors
Connecting these components with a wire places them on the same bonding grid or network so that they have a path back to the power source.
Bonding prevents electrical currents from taking alternate routes through the metal components in the pool. It greatly reduces the risk of pool safety hazards involving shocks.
What Is Grounding?
Once the pool is bonded, the grounding process can begin. This involves connecting the pool’s electrical network to the electrical panel. It is then connected to the ground through a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI).
The GFCI breaker allows currents to rush toward the ground instead of using people to conduct electricity during a fault or short.
If the GFCI breaker detects a fault or short, it cuts power to the component malfunctioning by interrupting the circuit. It provides a ground path for the electricity protecting everyone in the pool from shocks.
Does a Pool Need to Be Grounded or Bonded?
So, does a pool need to be grounded or bonded? Yes! A pool requires both grounding and bonding to protect you and your guests from electrocutions and shocks.
When you opt for new pool construction, choosing a reputable company that works with an electrician who can ground and bond your pool is essential.
Look no further for top-notch pool products and services. Contact the experts at Escape Pools now to build the pool of your dreams.
