1. (a) Electrical equipment and lines. Electrical equipment and lines at pools and spas constructed or renovated after the effective date of this subchapter shall comply with:

   1. (1) the NEC adopted by TDLR at the time of construction or renovation of the pool or spa; or
   2. (2) the local electrical code to the extent the local electrical code is more restrictive than the NEC; and
   3. (3) electrical requirements for aquatic facilities in accordance with NFPA 70.
2. (b) Licensed electrician. A pool or spa electrical system shall be installed, maintained, repaired or replaced by a licensed electrician in accordance with the Texas Electrical Safety and Licensing Act, Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1305 and related rules.
3. (c) National testing and listing of electrical equipment. Electrical equipment for pools and spas shall be approved and listed for use in pools and spas by a nationally recognized electrical testing laboratory, such as UL, at the time of installation.
4. (d) Manufacturer's instructions for installation of electrical equipment. Electrical equipment and related electrical components for pools and spas shall comply with the manufacturer's installation instructions.
5. (e) Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) required. All electrical outlets in the pool or spa yard and in dressing or sanitary facilities serving a pool or spa shall be protected with a GFCI. Each electrical line to an underwater light in a pool or spa shall be protected with a GFCI 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) GFCI compliance with the NEC. All GFCIs and circuit breakers shall comply with the NEC. Other electrical equipment, including pumps, must be grounded and bonded in accordance with the NEC. Pumps shall be both internally and externally grounded.
7. (g) Bonding. Pools and spas shall be bonded in accordance with the NEC or with UL 1563 as applicable.
8. (h) Plastic coated rebar. Plastic coated or epoxy coated rebar in pools or spas is prohibited.
9. (i) Indoor aquatic facilities and interior chemical storage spaces. For purposes of compliance with the NEC, an indoor aquatic facility and interior chemical storage spaces shall be considered wet and corrosive environments.
10. (j) Wet and corrosive chemical storage. Electrical conduit shall not enter or pass through an interior chemical storage space, except as required to service devices integral to the function of the room, such as pumps, vessels, controls, lighting and safety devices.
11. (k) Sealed and inert. Where required, the electrical conduit in an interior chemical storage space shall be sealed and made of materials that will not interact with any chemicals in the chemical storage space.
12. (l) Protected lighting. Lamps, including fluorescent tubes, installed in interior chemical storage spaces shall be protected against breakage with a lens or other cover, or otherwise protected against release of hot materials.
13. (m) Overhead wiring and lines. Overhead wiring and power lines shall be elevated over the indoor or outdoor pool or spa in compliance with the NEC and NESC.
14. (n) Service personnel electrical disconnects. Electrical disconnects for pools and spas intended to protect service personnel shall be accessible to service personnel, located within sight of the pool and spa equipment and located at least 5 feet away from the inside walls of a pool or spa. Each disconnecting means shall disconnect all ungrounded conductors to the equipment it serves. 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.

15. (o) Emergency shutoff switch required for spas only.

    1. (1) An emergency shutoff switch shall be provided to disconnect power to circulation and jet system pumps and air blowers in a spa.
    2. (2) Emergency switches shall be accessible to users, located within sight of the spa and located not less than 5 feet, but not greater than 10 feet from the inside walls of the spa.
    3. (3) A sign notifying users of the location of the spa emergency shutoff switch shall be posted in a location that is visible from the spa and that meets the requirements in §265.208(e) of this subchapter (relating to Certain Requirements for Spas).

Source Note:The provisions of this §265.195 adopted to be effective January 1, 2021, 45 TexReg 9529.