National Electrical Installation Standards

Standards as High as Your Own

 
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Friday, September 9, 2022

Question:

Hello CQD and thank you for providing this great information every day. We recently installed the wiring for a new sauna located in the indoor pool area of a hotel. The inspector has red-tagged the installation, stating the control panel is too close to the pool. The sauna control panel is just over 6ft from the pool water edge. I thought 5ft was the required distance for electrical equipment, is there a code article that supports the inspector's call?

Thanks,

Ron Perlman

A

Answer:

Ron, thank you for your question and we are glad you enjoy the CQD. The inspector is correct in this instance. The sauna control panel meets the definition of an "Outlet" in Article 100 of the 2017 NEC, therefore the control panel would be considered "Other Outlets" per Section 680.22(D). The required distance from the water edge of a pool to other outlets is 10ft(measured per 680.22(A)(5). 

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