1. (a) National Electrical Code (NEC) for post-10/01/99 pools and spas. Electrical equipment and lines at post-10/01/99 pools and spas and at restrooms, equipment rooms and other facilities serving post-10/01/99 pools or spas shall:

   1. (1) comply with the 1996 NEC if the pool or spa was constructed between October 1, 1999 and September 1, 2004; or
   2. (2) comply with applicable provisions of this section, applicable local electrical codes, and the 2002 NEC if the pool or spa was constructed on or after September 1, 2004; or
   3. (3) comply with the local electrical code to the extent the local electrical code is more restrictive than the NEC.
2. (b) National Electrical Code (NEC) for pre-10/01/99 pools and spas. Electrical equipment and lines at pre-10/01/99 pools and spas and at restrooms, equipment rooms and other facilities serving pre-10/01/99 pools and spas shall comply with applicable provisions of this section, local electrical codes, and the NEC in effect on the original construction date of the pool or spa. If a pool or spa was built before June 13, 1965, the pool shall comply with good public health engineering and safety practices in effect at the time, applicable local electrical codes, and subsections (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (j), (k), (l), and (m) of this section to the extent they are applicable to pre-10/01/99 pools.
3. (c) National testing for electrical equipment for post-10/01/99 pools and spas. Electrical equipment for post-10/01/99 pools and spas shall be approved by a nationally recognized electrical testing laboratory, such as UL, at the time of installation, evidenced by the listing or labeling on the equipment. Junction boxes shall comply with applicable provisions of UL-1241 regarding Junction Boxes for Swimming Pool Fixtures at the time of installation. Pumps, filters, and chlorinators shall comply with UL-1081 regarding Swimming Pool Pumps, Filters and Chlorinators, at the time of installation.
4. (d) Manufacturer's instructions for proper installation in post-10/01/99 and pre-10/01/99 pools and spas. Electrical equipment and related electrical components for post-10/01/99 and pre-10/01/99 pools and spas shall comply with the manufacturer's installation instructions for such equipment and components.
5. (e) Ground fault circuit interrupters in post-10/01/99 and pre-10/01/99 pools and spas. Each electrical outlet in the pool yard or spa yard of a post-10/01/99 or pre-10/01/99 pool or spa and in a dressing or sanitary facility serving a post-10/01/99 or pre-10/01/99 pool or spa shall be protected with a ground fault circuit interrupter (commonly referred to as a "GFI" or "GFCI"). Each electrical line to an underwater light in a post-10/01/99 or pre-10/01/99 pool and spa shall be protected with a ground fault circuit interrupter that is located in the circuit breaker for the light at the breaker box or in an outlet through which the power for the light passes.

6. (f) Location of ground fault interrupters. If a switch that serves lights or equipment (other than pumps and underwater lights) in a post-10/01/99 or pre-10/01/99 pool or spa is between 5 and 10 feet from the wall of the pool or wall of the spa, each electrical line to such switch shall be grounded and shall have a ground fault circuit interrupter located:

   1. (1) in the circuit breaker for the light; or
   2. (2) in the equipment circuit that powers the switch at the breaker box; or
   3. (3) in an outlet through which the power for the switch passes.
7. (g) NEC compliance with ground fault circuit interrupters. All ground fault circuit interrupters and circuit breakers in all pool yards and spa yards shall comply with 2002 NEC requirements. Other electrical equipment, including pumps, must be grounded in accordance with subsection (h) of this section.
8. (h) Bonding and grounding in post-10/01/99 and pre-10/01/99 pools and spas. To reduce electrical shock, electrical equipment serving a post-10/01/99 or pre-10/01/99 pool or spa shall be grounded according to ANSI/UL 1563-1995 "Standard for Electric Hot Tubs, Spas and Associated Equipment" and the 2002 NEC. All post-10/01/99 pools shall comply with applicable bonding and grounding requirements of the 2002 NEC. All post-10/01/99 spas and hot tubs shall comply with bonding and grounding requirements of ANSI/UL 1563-1995 "Standard for Electric Hot Tubs, Spas and Associated Equipment. Pumps in post-10/01/99 and pre-10/01/99 pools and spas shall be both internally and externally grounded. If a pool or spa was built between October 1, 1999 and September 1, 2004, and if the 2002 NEC requirements referred to in this subsection are more restrictive than the 1996 NEC, the 1996 NEC requirements shall apply.
9. (i) Plastic-coated or epoxy-coated rebar in pools or spas constructed on or after September 1, 2004, shall not be used.

10. (j) Electrical line clearances for post-10/01/99 and pre-10/01/99 outdoor pools, spas, pool yards, and spa yards. For outdoor post-10/01/99 and pre-10/01/99 pools, spas, pool yards and spa yards, electrical line clearances shall comply with the following:

    1. (1) overhead lines above outdoor post-10/01/99 pools and spas. Insulated overhead electrical lines above a post-10/01/99 pool or spa shall pass no closer than 22.5 feet to the water surface, deck, or permanently-anchored raft of the pool or spa as required in the 2002 NEC and shall pass no closer than 14.5 feet to the top of an observation stand, tower, diving platform, or diving board as required in the 2002 NEC. However, such lines may pass as low as 20 feet above the water surface, deck, or permanently anchored raft of the post-10/01/99 pool or spa if the pool or spa was built between October 1, 1999 and September 1, 2004. Non-insulated overhead electrical lines shall pass no closer to the pool or spa than the distances required in the 2002 NEC. A neutral wire for residential-type service is not considered a line for purposes of this subsection;
    2. (2) overhead lines above outdoor post-10/01/99 pool yards and spa yards. Insulated overhead electrical lines shall pass no closer than 20 feet to other surfaces of a pool yard or spa yard of an outdoor post-10/01/99 pool or spa. Non-insulated overhead electrical lines above such other surfaces shall pass no closer than the distances required in the 2002 NEC. A neutral wire for residential-type service is not considered a line for purposes of this subsection;
    3. (3) overhead lines above outdoor pre-10/01/99 pools and spas. Insulated overhead electrical lines above an outdoor pre-10/01/99 pool or spa shall pass no closer than 20 feet to the deck, water surface, or permanently-anchored raft of the pool or spa and shall pass no closer than 14.5 feet to the top of an observation stand, tower, diving platform or diving board. Non-insulated overhead electrical lines shall pass no closer to the pool or spa than the distances required in the 2002 NEC, unless the NEC in effect at the time of original construction of the pool or spa expressly allowed for a closer distance. A neutral wire for residential-type service is not considered a line for purposes of this subsection;
    4. (4) overhead lines above outdoor pre-10/01/99 pool yards and spa yards. Insulated overhead electrical lines shall pass no closer than 20 feet to other surfaces of an outdoor pool yard or spa yard of a pre-10/01/99 pool or spa. Non-insulated overhead electrical lines above such other surfaces shall pass no closer than the distances required in the 2002 NEC, unless the NEC in effect at the time of original construction of the pool or spa expressly allowed a closer distance. A neutral wire for residential-type service is not considered a line for purposes of this subsection; and

    5. (5) non-overhead lines. Non-overhead electrical lines that are inside a pool yard or spa yard or within 20 feet outside the perimeter of the pool yard or spa yard:

       1. (A) shall be at least 5 feet from the edge of the water in the pool or spa (except for lines serving underwater or overhead lighting); and
       2. (B) shall, to the point of connection with an overhead lines, be either underground, encased in concrete, or completely inside a wall, building or conduit.
11. (k) Electrical disconnects for service personnel in post-10/01/99 and pre-10/01/99 pools and spas. Electrical disconnecting means for the protection of service personnel for post-10/01/99 and pre-10/01/99 pool and spa equipment shall be accessible for service personnel, located within sight from the pool or spa equipment, and located at least 5 feet from the inside walls of the pool or spa as required by the 2002 NEC, Chapter 6, §680.12--Disconnecting Means. Each disconnecting means (i.e., turn-off switch) shall disconnect all ungrounded conductors (hot wires) to the equipment it serves. For example, a switch serving a 220-volt pump motor shall be able to turn off both hot wires at the same time. If electricity to equipment is supplied through a line that plugs into an outlet and if the line may be disconnected by removing the plug from the outlet, a separate disconnect switch is not required for that equipment.

12. (l) Location of other electrical equipment for post-10/01/99 and pre-10/01/99 pools and spas. Electrical equipment, including switches, outlets, deck lights, pumps, and other electrical equipment at post-10/01/99 and pre-10/01/99 pools and spas, shall be located at least 10 feet from the inside wall of a post-10/01/99 or pre-10/01/99 pool or spa unless:

    1. (1) the electrical equipment is at least 5 feet from the wall of the pool or spa and is separated from the pool or spa by a solid fence, wall or other permanent barrier at least 4 feet in height; or

    2. (2) the electrical equipment is at least 5 feet from the wall of the pool or spa and:

       1. (A) consists of only one outlet for an electrical line that is grounded, has a ground fault circuit interrupter, and has a locking mechanism covering the outlet;
       2. (B) consists of one or more switches serving electrical lines that are grounded and that have ground fault circuit interrupter protection that is located in the circuit breaker for the equipment at the breaker box or in an outlet through which the power for the equipment passes; or
       3. (C) consists of an electrical device other than an outlet or switch and complies with applicable NEC requirements at the time of installation.

13. (m) Emergency shutoff switch for post-10/01/99 and pre-10/01/99 pools and spas. On post-10/01/99 and pre-10/01/99 pools, a pump shutoff switch for use by pool users is not required. On post-10/01/99 and pre-10/01/99 spas, a pump shutoff switch for use by spa users is required and shall be:

    1. (1) clearly labeled as "Emergency Spa Shutoff";
    2. (2) located within sight of the spa, or, there shall be a sign visible from the spa, in letters at least 1 inch tall, stating the location of the emergency shutoff switch;
    3. (3) readily accessible to spa users;
    4. (4) not behind a locked door or gate; and
    5. (5) located no closer than 5 feet from the spa unless the switch is a non-electrical air switch.
14. (n) Electrical inspections during construction of post-10/01/99 pools and spas. The owner of a post-10/01/99 pool or spa constructed after September 1, 2004, shall have an electrician licensed in this state conduct a minimum of two inspections during and after the construction of a pool or spa to ensure that all electrical facilities serving the pool or spa are constructed in compliance with this section. The first inspection shall be conducted to assure proper bonding of the pool or spa shell prior to the concrete pour and another inspection shall be conducted after all electrical equipment is installed and operating and prior to opening the facility to users. The inspections shall be done by the licensed electrician who installs the bonding and grounding equipment or by a governmental inspector who is a licensed electrician.
15. (o) Electrical safety of underwater lights in post-10/01/99 and pre-10/01/99 pools and spas. Underwater lights are not required in post-10/01/99 and pre-10/01/99 pools and spas. If the lights have no epoxy insulation, have cracked insulation, have spliced connection cords, or have been modified in violation of an applicable electrical code, they shall be replaced with lights complying with this section.

Source Note:The provisions of this §265.192 adopted to be effective September 1, 2004, 29 TexReg 7704.